Petition Guidelines

A petition is a request for an exception to a current graduate education policy, usually due to an unusual situation beyond the control of student, staff or faculty. To submit a petition, please follow these steps:

  1. Petitions must be initiated by the graduate coordinator, graduate program director, department chair, or supervisory committee chair in the student's academic unit, using this form: Petition to the Graduate School(PDF Form).
  2. Petitions must be approved and signed by the student's academic unit and college.
  3. Completed petitions (including any supporting documentation) must then be submitted as a single PDF document online, via this petition submission webform: Graduate School Petition Upload Form.

Important Reminders!

  • Students cannot submit petitions. Any petition must come to the Graduate School directly from departmental staff or faculty.
  • Use of Adobe Digital Signatures is permitted and encouraged.
  • Graduate School staff review petitions in the order that they are received. Response time varies, depending on the complexity of the student's situation and/or the policy exception being requested.
  • Decisions are communicated to the petition's originator and college representative. The academic unit is responsible for notifying the student (and any other UF unit, if appropriate).