{"id":7829,"date":"2022-08-18T11:26:46","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T15:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/?page_id=7829"},"modified":"2026-03-06T17:29:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T22:29:11","slug":"academic-standing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/academic-resources\/academic-standing\/","title":{"rendered":"Academic Standing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Committee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Academic Standing Committee is responsible for evaluating petitions for exceptions to academic standards, policies, and procedures. Additionally, the Committee reviews requests for registration adjustments that are not considered purely administrative in nature.&nbsp; Students who believe their situation may warrant an exemption from an academic policy or requirement may submit a petition to the Committee on Academic Standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/dof\/governance-and-policies\/committees\/faculty-elected-appointed-committee-roster\/\">More information on&nbsp;Committee members<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I petition?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students must review the expectations and requirements for different types of requests (below) and submit the&nbsp;p<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">etition form <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with appropriate supplementary materials.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where approval, support or input from faculty and staff, Bates Health Services or Counseling and Psychological Services are required, the student is responsible for requesting that information and including it at the time the petition is submitted.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Petitions are typically reviewed weekly when classes&nbsp;are in session. Petitions and supplementary materials must be submitted by noon on Tuesday to be reviewed by the committee on Thursday (Winter Semester 2026 meeting schedule).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students will be notified of the Committee\u2019s decision, within a few days of the weekly meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The decisions made by the Academic Standing Committee are final unless there is new and relevant information that warrants further consideration.&nbsp;Whether information qualifies as new and relevant will be determined by the Committee.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/batescollege.na2.documents.adobe.com\/public\/esignWidget?wid=CBFCIBAA3AAABLblqZhBUr6CETDlBTbpwxFqFSj8zkQ05ySN0h4ns0OQZ8MmGaG_VtU9D6j97MMb8eqcu9pU*\">Petition Form<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct questions to <\/span><a href=\"mailto:academicstanding@bates.edu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">academicstanding@bates.edu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You do not need to submit your petition via email. Using the form link above will route the petition to the Committee administrator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Most Common Petitions and Considerations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"d7ee8a11-f50e-4aa8-9634-b469d924dd6c\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"grading-mode-change-after-the-deadline\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"d7ee8a11-f50e-4aa8-9634-b469d924dd6c\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Grading mode change after the deadline<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"d7ee8a11-f50e-4aa8-9634-b469d924dd6c\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete an ASC petition form explaining why the change is being requested and <strong>what prevented the change from being made prior to the deadline<\/strong>. &nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Concern for getting a low grade is typically not considered on its own as grounds for waiving the grading mode change deadline. There must be extenuating circumstances that prevented the grading mode change from being requested prior to the deadline and\/or a significant change in circumstances (typically a documented medical, mental health or personal emergency) after the deadline passed for the committee to consider a waiver of the grading mode change deadline. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A grade mode change from letter to pass\/fail is typically not permitted after the deadline unless there is a <strong>documented medical, mental health or personal emergency. <\/strong>A petition should include supplemental materials to support a request on this basis. Materials may include documentation from medical and mental health providers as well as Bates faculty or staff and should be attached when submitting the petition.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Petition must explain why this specific course is being identified for a grading mode change and identify a plan to account for any graduation requirements that the course may no longer fill<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decisions on the ability to apply a course taken in pass\/fail grading mode are made at the department level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Short term courses and courses taken to fill general education requirements, including MOIs cannot be taken pass\/fail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"00af22f7-0662-465c-bdf6-481e3460d60e\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"add-a-course-after-the-deadline\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"00af22f7-0662-465c-bdf6-481e3460d60e\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Add a course after the deadline<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"00af22f7-0662-465c-bdf6-481e3460d60e\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have been attending class prior to the add deadline, you do not need to petition the Academic Standing Committee. Complete a Late Registration Adjustment form through the Registrar<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have not been regularly attending the class you wish to add, you must complete an ASC petition form, explaining what prevented the course from being added prior to the deadline.&nbsp;<\/span><strong>Students must include written approval from the instructor with their petition. <\/strong>Late course additions will not be considered without explicit instructor permission. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"c2d5ecf8-037a-475a-8190-067da322b124\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"exception-to-general-educationgraduation-requirements\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"c2d5ecf8-037a-475a-8190-067da322b124\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Exception to general education\/graduation requirements<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"c2d5ecf8-037a-475a-8190-067da322b124\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requesting to complete a thesis out of residence&nbsp;<\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Must have the approval of the Department\/Program Chair and potential thesis advisor. Documentation of the communications should be included with the petition<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically only considered if documented medical, mental health, or personal emergency situation led to the need or student has been away from Bates for several years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adjustments to policies for writing requirements: <\/span>Considered if circumstances beyond the student\u2019s control prevented taking a W1, W2 or W3 on schedule<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waiver of concentrations, MOI&#8217;s, or other general education requirements<\/span> are typically not approved<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"bb6a4a1c-3c3c-493c-adcf-5e5682d24b93\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"request-a-deferral-for-the-extension-of-coursework-after-the-deadline\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"bb6a4a1c-3c3c-493c-adcf-5e5682d24b93\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Request a deferral for the extension of coursework after the deadline<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"bb6a4a1c-3c3c-493c-adcf-5e5682d24b93\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Request for coursework deferrals made prior to the standard deadline, are handled through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/student-affairs\/student-support-and-advising\/course-deferral-guidelines\/\">Office of Student Support<\/a>. Only after the request deadline has passed should a student submit a petition to the Academic Standing Committee <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">petition form <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">explaining why the deferral is needed and what prevented the deferral from being requested before the deadline<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Late deferral requests are typically only approved if a new situation emerged after the deadline has passed, or, if the student was unable, due to serious, documented medical or mental health issues, to request a deferral prior to the deadline. A petition should include supplemental materials from medical or mental health providers to support a request on this basis<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-garnet-bright-color\">Communications documenting the approval of the faculty member and noting an agreed upon due date (not to exceed 4 weeks past the last day of finals) must be included with the petition<\/mark><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deferrals are not permitted for Short Term courses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"28d7b890-8dd5-4783-b843-58ba80164376\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"request-a-ninth-semester-for-degree-completion\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"28d7b890-8dd5-4783-b843-58ba80164376\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Request a ninth semester for degree completion<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"28d7b890-8dd5-4783-b843-58ba80164376\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">petition form <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">explaining the reason for the request.&nbsp;<\/span>The petition should include an outline of the academic plan that illustrates what graduation requirements need to be met and how a 9th semester is required to facilitate that plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 9<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> semester is typically not approved unless there is a documented medical, mental health or personal emergency. A petition should include supplemental materials from medical or mental health providers to support a request on this basis<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other options including completing a thesis out of residence or transferring non-Bates credits should be considered<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"97806fa1-7ecf-449e-862d-398bacf79987\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"request-to-exceed-maximum-credit-registration\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"97806fa1-7ecf-449e-862d-398bacf79987\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Request to exceed maximum credit registration<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"97806fa1-7ecf-449e-862d-398bacf79987\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">petition form <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">explaining the reason for the request. A petition should ideally be submitted prior to the close of the registration period&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requests are typically not approved during a student\u2019s first semester, but will be considered in subsequent semesters if a student has demonstrated a strong academic record<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"709e6c7c-c5b3-4baf-b75c-6781ff6e836d\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"return-after-an-academic-dismissal\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"709e6c7c-c5b3-4baf-b75c-6781ff6e836d\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Return after an academic dismissal<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"709e6c7c-c5b3-4baf-b75c-6781ff6e836d\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">petition form <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and should demonstrate that time away from the college has adequately prepared them to return to Bates<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student&#8217;s should reference their dismissal letter which outlines the requirements to be met to be considered for return. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Petitions must include an academic plan to complete degree requirements in the remaining semesters<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Documentation from medical\/mental health providers may be helpful to provide additional context where appropriate <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"83660cd4-a4ed-4791-bfea-5e2b1b9625ab\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"return-after-an-extended-leave-of-absence-loawithdrawal\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"83660cd4-a4ed-4791-bfea-5e2b1b9625ab\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Return after an extended leave of absence (LOA)\/withdrawal<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"83660cd4-a4ed-4791-bfea-5e2b1b9625ab\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ASC petition form <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and should demonstrate that time away from the college has adequately prepared them to return to Bates. Records of courses taken elsewhere are helpful, but not required<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Petitions for readmittance must include an academic plan to complete degree requirements in the remaining semesters<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is required that returning students have no outstanding financial obligations to the college and no history of conduct or other issues which would preclude a return to Bates<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"2b91a206-c6f7-45f4-a694-75c5ab755907\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"exception-to-transfer-credit-policies\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"2b91a206-c6f7-45f4-a694-75c5ab755907\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Exception to transfer credit policies<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"2b91a206-c6f7-45f4-a694-75c5ab755907\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">petition <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">explaining the reason for the request.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policies are typically not waived unless there is a documented medical, mental health or personal emergency. A petition should include supplemental materials to support a request on this basis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"6c10f8b0-22bb-4ffd-8e7a-6e762890baa4\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"waiver-of-academic-dismissalsatisfactory-academic-progress-sap\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"6c10f8b0-22bb-4ffd-8e7a-6e762890baa4\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Waiver of academic dismissal\/satisfactory academic progress (SAP)<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"6c10f8b0-22bb-4ffd-8e7a-6e762890baa4\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">petition<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> explaining why the request should be considered. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waivers are not typically approved unless there is a documented medical, mental health or personal emergency that impacted a student\u2019s academic performance. A petition should include supplemental materials to support a request on this basis&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waivers are only considered if the student can demonstrate that the situation that led to the dismissal has been addressed and is unlikely to repeat itself<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee will typically want to know that the student has discussed their situation with an Academic Advisor or Student Support Advisor and understands the options for establishing a new path for degree completion.&nbsp; Waiver for not having met standard academic progress typically specify a deadline for when the student must have met the&nbsp;minimum credit requirements. Documentation of communications with faculty and advisors should be included with the petition where appropriate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"9c0f8483-15f7-48c8-81b8-90ad94c675ef\"><div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"withdraw-from-a-course-after-the-deadline\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"9c0f8483-15f7-48c8-81b8-90ad94c675ef\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Withdraw from a course after the deadline<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"9c0f8483-15f7-48c8-81b8-90ad94c675ef\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Student must complete a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">petition form<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> explaining what prevented the course withdrawal from being made prior to the deadline&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Withdrawal from a course after the deadline is typically not permitted unless there is a documented medical, mental health or personal emergency. A petition should include supplemental materials from medical or mental health providers to support a request on this basis <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About the Committee The Academic Standing Committee is responsible for evaluating petitions&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":7813,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_prepend":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_append":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_append_before_footer":false,"_dimp_site_id":"","_dimp_override_contact":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-7829","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7829"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9645,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7829\/revisions\/9645"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}