You can help speed up your search for answers at Buffalo State College by knowing the right person or office to ask. Here are some frequently asked questions about submitting an Academic Appeals Petition that should help you get quick answers:
I never attended a course, but it's still on my course schedule and I want it dropped. Can I petition that? Not unless there is an extenuating reason that prevented you from dropping the course through BANNER. As noted in the college catalog, non-attendance does not drop you from a class. Requests to drop or withdraw from a course simply because you did not attend will not be approved.
What is an extenuating circumstance? It is something that was beyond your control, such as a (severe) personal illness, the death or illness of an immediate family member, extreme personal emotional stress, and serious personal circumstances. You should document the extenuating circumstance you are listing on your petition by submitting a note (on official letterhead) from a doctor, counselor, or legal system representative.
What are the deadlines for petitions? Petitions requesting a retroactive drop of a course must be completed within one week of semester bills being sent out by the college (this deadline is flexible if there is a serious extenuating circumstance that prevents you from meeting the deadline). Petitions that are requesting a change be made to your account/transcript that involves money must be submitted one year from the start of the semester in question. Petitions that are requesting us to change anything involving your official transcript must be completed prior to graduation. The best way to avoid having to petition is to be aware of the College's deadlines for changes to your course schedule.
How can I speed up my petition? You can hurry your petition along by making sure it is completely filled out and your extenuating circumstance documentation has been submitted. You can also seek the written support of your instructor, advisor, and/or department chair prior to submitting your petition, and attach that documentation to the petition when you submit it - that way we won't have to send a referral to those folks and wait for their responses to come back before we can make a decision.
What is the timeline for petitions? It can take from one day to one semester for a petition to be reviewed. The length of time it takes for a petition to be reviewed varies based on many things such as time of year it is submitted, how long it takes for referrals to be returned by faculty and staff, and how long it takes for you to submit any information that is requested of you by our office. Your petition will be reviewed in the committee meeting following your submission once all referrals and supporting documentation has been received. The Academic Appeals Committee meets monthly.
What can't be petitioned? There are many things that can't be petitioned. Some of them include petitioning to: have List A courses waived (for GE2K students); waiving the number of credits (120) needed for graduation or for your major/minor; changing majors; waiving mandatory student fees, except for on-line only students; make a change to your account/transcript that involves money one year from the start of the semester in question; and change anything involving your official transcript after you have graduated.
