Academic Petition Appeals
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ADMISSIONS APPEALS: Applicants wishing to file an admissions appeal can find information on the Cal Poly Admission Decision Appeals page.
GRADE APPEALS: Students wishing to file a grade appeal may submit a request to the Cal Poly Academic Senate Fairness Board as per the process found here.
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Academic Petition Appeals: You may initiate an academic petition appeal after you have received a decision on a petition or other academic-related request, if you believe the decision is in error or that special circumstances were not adequately considered. Academic petitions may include, but are not limited to, issues related to:
- Academic disqualification
- Academic policy deviation requests
- Change of major
- Course and term withdrawals
Before initiating an appeal, be sure you have followed the petition process and addressed your concerns with the department / college responsible. If you have questions, contact your advisor or the Office of the Registrar to ensure you have followed all procedures and exhausted regular options.
Following a petition decision, and under limited circumstances, students may appeal to the Associate Provost for Academic Innovations and Programs (AIP) or their designee. The right to an appeal is not guaranteed and an appeal will only be considered if the student can show that one or more of the following are true:
- A requirement or policy was incorrectly applied to the petition.
- A requirement or policy is unclear or ambiguous.
- There are serious and compelling circumstances warranting the consideration of the appeal.
ACADEMIC PETITION Appeal Process
If you feel your case meets the above criteria, gather all documents and communications related to your case, including any petitions or forms. Briefly outline your situation and the steps you have taken to resolve it (a bulleted list is ideal), and state why you feel the denial of your request was the incorrect decision.
Send this information to the Office of Academic Programs and Planning (APP) at acadprog@calpoly.edu.
Your request will be reviewed, and additional information may be gathered from your advisor, department, college, or the Office of the Registrar. AIP/APP staff will contact you if needed.
The Associate Provost's decisions regarding appeals represent the University's final decision on academic petitions.
Contact APP (805-756-2246, acadprog@calpoly.edu) if you have questions or need additional information.
Updated: 7/25/2025