Types of Petitions
Students who have not registered in any courses prior to the start of classes are considered to be registering late and are assessed a late registration fee. See the fee information in the Financial Information chapter for full details. The late registration period corresponds to the add/drop period. For late registration after the add/drop period, a petition is required. You must provide a statement that outlines why you did not register. You must request approval for each course in which you plan to enroll. There is no guarantee that a department will allow you to enroll late in a course.
Special note: Petitions can take up to 7 -10 business days to be reviewed.
Undergraduate Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition.
In the fall and spring semesters, if you are a full-time student, you are required to maintain a minimum of 12 credits. If you add/drop courses during the first 10 business days of the fall or spring semester, you do not receive a withdrawal (W) on your academic record for any courses dropped. After the add/drop period ends, and through the end of the 9th week of the fall or spring semester, you may drop a course(s) and receive a withdrawal (W) on your academic record as long as you maintain a minimum of 12 credits. A “W” has no GPA impact and you do not earn credit for the course.
Approved requests for late withdrawals of individual courses are rare exceptions. If you wish to late withdraw from an individual course(s) in the current semester or a prior semester, you must document fully your inability to withdraw by the date specified in the academic calendar. Requests for late withdrawals of individual courses should include documentation that specifically links to the particular course(s) in question, and that demonstrates extenuating circumstances beyond your control.
Non-attendance in a course(s), the difficulty of course material, volume of work, or your academic performance in the course(s) as factors by themselves are not considered sufficient reasons to request a late withdrawal. The factors, individually and/or collectively, must be linked to a specific situation(s) beyond your control. For example, if you were in an accident that required you to go to physical therapy on a specific date and time, and resulted in missing a particular class or scheduled exam(s), provide medical documentation that specifically notes the dates/times of your therapy as well as a copy of the course syllabus that shows the conflict with the exam date. You may also provide a letter of support from your instructor that includes your last date of attendance in the course.
Note that if your request for a late withdrawal will reduce your semester enrollment to less than 12 credits, you will also need to request an underload.
Approval of a petition for a late withdrawal does not result in changes of financial liability. If you are approved for a late withdrawal of a class(es), you are responsible for all tuition and fees for that class(es). You may make a request in writing to the Bursar’s Office related to a tuition refund if there are extenuating circumstances, but only after a late withdrawal has been approved and processed.
Important Note: Undergraduate Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition. Your petition and all documentation pertaining to your petition must all be submitted at once in one petition. Make sure you have all documents together when submitting your petition.
In the fall and spring semesters, you have until 4 p.m. on the last day of classes to withdraw from the entire semester and receive a withdrawal (W) in all courses on your academic record. For winter and summer withdrawal deadlines, check the academic calendar. A “W” has no GPA impact and you do not earn credit for the course.
Approved requests for late withdrawals of full semesters are rare exceptions. If you wish to late withdraw from the entire current semester or a prior semester, you must document fully your inability to withdraw by the date specified in the academic calendar. Requests for late withdrawals of a full semester should include documentation that demonstrates extenuating circumstances beyond your control.
Non-attendance in a course(s), the difficulty of course material, volume of work, or your academic performance in the course(s) as factors by themselves are not considered sufficient reasons to request a late withdrawal from the semester. The factors, individually and/or collectively, must be linked to a specific situation beyond your control. For example, if you were hospitalized for a period of 2 weeks during the semester, and due to your absence from class, you missed several assignments and/or exams, you should provide medical documentation that specifically notes the dates of your hospitalization that connect with assignment due dates/exam dates on each course syllabus. You may also provide letters of support from your instructors that include your last date of attendance in the course(s). Letters of support from instructors alone does not guarantee approval of a late withdrawal.
Approval of a petition for a late withdrawal does not result in changes of financial liability. If you are approved for a late withdrawal of a full semester, you are responsible for all tuition and fees for that semester. You may make a request in writing to the Bursar’s Office related to a tuition refund if there are extenuating circumstances, but only after a late withdrawal has been approved and processed.
Important Note: Undergraduate Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition.
If you wish to enroll in more than 19 credits, but no more than 23 credits in the fall or spring semester, your credit limit will be raised automatically to 23 credits on the 3rd business day if you have a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA and no I, R, NR, Q, or missing grades on your record. No petition is required. If you register for more than 19 credits, you will be billed a $20 overload fee.
If you wish to enroll in more than 19, but no more than 23 credits in the fall or spring semester, and have at least a 2.5-2.99 cumulative GPA, you may submit a petition to request an overload.
If you wish to enroll in more than 9, but no more than 12 credits in one summer session, and you have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, you may submit a petition to request an overload.
In your request, please include how an overload fits into your overall academic plan and how you will ensure that your grade point average will not be harmed as a result of the additional credit load. Note that if your overload petition is approved, the Registrar’s Office will increase your credit limit to the approved level, and you will be responsible for registration of the additional course(s). If your overload request involves a late add or special permission from an instructor to add you to a closed class or special section, include that documentation with your petition.
Deadline: Petitions for overloads must be reviewed and processed no later than the 10th day of the fall or spring semester (last day of add/drop), unless it is also a late addition of a course(s). In order to meet this deadline, you MUST submit an overload petition no later than the first Friday that the semester begins. Overload requests for summer must be received at least 7 days before the summer session begins. View the academic calendar and specific deadlines.
Important Note: Undergraduate Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition.
In the fall and spring semesters, if you are a full-time student, you are required to maintain a minimum of 12 credits. If you are a full-time student and need to register for less than 12 credits, you may petition for an underload. Petitions for underloads are required after day 10 of the semester, once the add/drop period ends and you are locked into full-time status.
Approved requests for underloads are rare exceptions. Non-attendance in a course(s), the difficulty of course material, volume of work, or your academic performance in the course(s) as factors by themselves are not considered sufficient reasons to request an underload. The factors, individually and/or collectively, must be linked to a specific situation(s) beyond your control.
In your petition, you should document the extenuating circumstances outside of your control and of temporary duration that make you unable to complete 12 credits. If you are currently enrolled, indicate the specific course(s) you wish to withdraw from. If your petition is approved, you will receive a withdrawal (W) for such courses on your academic record. You also will be required to meet the academic standing requirements for part-time matriculated students for the semester in question. You may not underload in two consecutive semesters.
Note that approved underloads may result in a loss of financial aid, so you should first consult the Office of Financial Aid in 180 Administration Building for further information.
Approval of a petition for an underload does not result in changes of financial liability. Students who are approved for an underload are responsible for all tuition and fees for that class/semester; students may make a request in writing to the Bursar’s Office related to a tuition refund if there are extenuating circumstances, but only after an underload has been approved and processed.
Important Note: The Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition.
You may request to change sections of a course and/or the number of credits for variable credit courses (i.e., internship and independent study) through the end of the 9th week in the fall or spring semester and through the end of the 1st week in a summer session via completion of the “Section/Credit Change” form on the Registrar Office’s website located here. No petition is required.
Requests made after these deadlines must include the petition as well as the signed “Section/Credit Change” form. In your petition, provide an explanation why the section or credit change was not submitted by the deadline noted. Requests for a late section change after the deadline are treated as a late add and a late drop. Students will receive a withdrawal (W) on their transcript for the course being dropped.
Note that if your request for a late credit change will reduce your semester enrollment to less than 12 credits, you will also need to request an underload. If the request for a late credit change will increase your semester enrollment to more than 19 credits, you will also need to request an overload.
Important Note: Undergraduate Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition.
If you withdrew from the fall or spring semester after the add/drop period and your cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0, or you have withdrawn or taken a leave of absence in a previous semester, you are required to “sit out” one fall or spring semester before returning to the University. This period of time away from the University is intended to help you address any issues that are negatively impacting your academic studies, such that you will have a successful return to Stony Brook in the future.
If you wish to seek a waiver of the one semester waiting period, submit a petition as well as documentation supporting such a request.
Special Note: Petitions for a waiver of the waiting period must be submitted by January 1 for the spring term, and July 1 for the fall term. Petitions submitted after these deadlines cannot be considered.
Important Note: Undergraduate Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition.
Academic renewal is considered if you who have been away from the University for 10 or more consecutive fall and spring semesters, and earned between 12 and 24 credits at Stony Brook after your return. If approved, academic renewal “restarts” your grade point average. While all grades from earlier coursework continue to appear on your Stony Brook transcript, only the new grades earned after the 10 or more semesters of absence are factored into the cumulative grade point average.
If this applies to you, you must submit a letter with your petition explaining why you should be granted academic renewal. The letter should include a copy of your most recent Stony Brook transcript as well as information about your intended academic major and plan/timeline for degree completion.
Note that if you are approved for academic renewal, you must earn at least 36 total credits post-rematriculation (including the 12-24 credits that were part of the initial renewal request) to qualify for graduation. If you wish to be considered for a degree with distinction, you must earn at least 55 total credits post-rematriculation.
Important Note: Undergraduate Division of Undergraduate Education will not review your petition unless you have a ZERO BALANCE due to the University. Please check SOLAR and verify that you do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting your petition.
Petitioning for Conditional Reinstatement
If you are visiting this page it means that you have been suspended from Stony Brook University and are interested in returning. You probably have questions. This website is designed to help students understand the process of petitioning and it does not reflect the complete policy information regarding suspension. To review the university’s policy regarding academic standing please click here.
The petition form is available during the three reinstatement cycles each academic year. Petitions to request conditional reinstatement from suspension for the Fall 2024 semester will be due on March 1, 2024 at 4:00 PM Eastern. Currently enrolled eligible students will be able to petition for immediate reinstatement from suspension starting in early June 2024.
Before you submit, please read on for information, a pdf preview of the petition form, and helpful details. CLICK HERE when you are ready to access the petition form to request conditional reinstatement from suspension. (Link is not active when the form is unavailable.)
What is petitioning for conditional reinstatement?
A petition is the process to request an exception to the university’s policies. In this case you have been suspended and are no longer a Stony Brook student. You are petitioning for an exception to be reinstated after suspension based on extenuating circumstances. Exceptions are not guaranteed and may not be appropriate for all students, even when they submit a complete petition.
What you are petitioning for is conditional reinstatement. Conditional reinstatement is the opportunity to return to Stony Brook University after suspension with “conditions.” “Conditions” are requirements intended to set you on a path to reach good academic standing. If a student is approved for conditional reinstatement, they are required to follow their assigned conditions. These requirements are designed to support the student in successfully returning to good academic standing.
Students would likely benefit from time away from the university if there are ongoing, unresolved personal, financial, health, family, or other issues that are impacting their academic performance. Students are well-positioned to request conditional reinstatement if they do not have a financial hold on their account and can document the resolution or management of the factors that impacted their academic performance.
Who can petition for conditional reinstatement (and when)?
The Office of Undergraduate Education will not review a petition if a student has a balance due to the University. Students should check SOLAR and verify that they do not have an outstanding balance due before submitting a petition.
There are two types of conditional reinstatement: “Immediate Reinstatement” and “Reinstatement from Suspension in a Prior Term.” Students can refer to their academic standing notification email to review their individual eligibility status.
Eligibility for Immediate Reinstatement: A student who has been suspended in the most recent semester and meets the term GPA eligibility requirements to request to continue in the next semester.
Students who were on first semester warning need a term GPA of 1.0 or higher to be eligible for Immediate Reinstatement. Students who were on probation need a term GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible for Immediate Reinstatement. An eligible student who does not submit a petition by the Immediate Reinstatement deadline included in their academic standing notification will next be eligible to request Reinstatement from Suspension in a Prior Term.
For example:
A student who was on first semester warning and then suspended after the Fall 2022 semester and earned a 1.8 term GPA was eligible to petition for Immediate Reinstatement for the Spring 2023 semester.
A student who was on probation and then suspended after the Fall 2022 semester and earned a 2.1 term GPA was eligible to petition for Immediate Reinstatement for the Spring 2023 semester.
Starting in January 2023, students who are eligible to request Immediate Reinstatement will be automatically reviewed and invited to enter the reinstatement process if they meet the following eligibility criteria: 2.5 term GPA, appropriate class registration and degree progress, and zero balance due to the university. Those who do not meet the criteria will be notified that their initial review was denied and will be provided instructions to request a second review by submitting a petition.
Eligibility for Reinstatement from Suspension in a Prior Term: A student who was suspended in a previous term and has not attended Stony Brook for at least one semester can petition for fall reinstatement. Students suspended in prior terms are not eligible for spring reinstatement.
For example:
A student who was on probation and then suspended after the Fall 2022 semester and earned a term GPA of 1.2 was eligible to petition for Fall 2023 reinstatement.
Is there a deadline?
Yes! There are different deadlines depending on if you are eligible for immediate reinstatement or if you are requesting reinstatement after being away from the university. The timing of these deadlines is really important to help provide the limited approved students the best opportunity for a successful return to the university. You can find the deadlines on the Important Dates and Deadlines section of the DUE Academic Standing website, click here to view the upcoming deadlines.
Immediate Reinstatement Petition Deadline: In general, the deadline to submit a petition to request immediate reinstatement is shortly after grades are posted. If you are suspended at the end of a fall semester and eligible for immediate reinstatement, your petition is due in early January to continue taking spring courses. If you are suspended at the end of a spring semester and eligible for immediate reinstatement, your petition is due in early June to continue taking fall courses.
Reinstatement from Suspension in a Prior Term Petition Deadline: Students requesting reinstatement from suspension in a prior term have one deadline each year and are only permitted to resume taking courses in a fall semester if their petition is approved. This petition deadline is typically in early March, and any suspended student is eligible to request reinstatement during this cycle, whether or not they submitted a prior request for reinstatement.
Petition Form Access:The petition form is available during the three reinstatement cycles each academic year. In January and June for students who are eligible for immediate reinstatement, and in January - March for students who are eligible for fall reinstatement after suspension in a prior term. Students who are requesting Immediate Reinstatement are active students and will be prompted to log in using their NetID and password. Students who are requesting Reinstatement from Suspension in a Prior Term are not active students and do not need an active NetID and password to access the reinstatement petition form.
How do I petition for conditional reinstatement?
- Connect with an Academic Advisor (not required, but helpful)
- Preview the petition form (a pdf version is available below)
- Reflect on your experience at Stony Brook
- Calculate a future GPA
- Create a realistic academic plan
- Gather documentation and plan how you will respond to the written prompts
- Complete the petition form (expect to spend at least an hour, in many cases longer)
- Submit the petition before the deadline
Meeting with an academic advisor is not required to submit a petition, but many students find it to be helpful to review the petition process and discuss their academic plan. An advisor can also assist with the GPA calculation, or students can complete the calculation on their own. There are instructions and a GPA calculator available here. If you are unsure of which advising office to contact, please click here for the “Find Your Advisor Tool.”
The petition form is designed to get you thinking about what impacted you, if you have a plan to resolve these obstacles/issues, if you should continue pursuing this major, and if it makes sense to continue at Stony Brook or attend another institution that may be a better fit for your academic goals. You can review a pdf version of the petition form here. Reviewing the form ahead of time can give you an idea of the writing prompts you’ll need to respond to, and the documentation you’ll need to gather and upload.
What is documentation?
Documentation is material that provides official information or evidence or that serves as a record of your circumstances. The documentation you include with your petition will be based on your unique circumstances. You should include whatever is most relevant and connected to your written responses. Lengthy files of unnecessary documentation can delay the petition review process.
Some examples of documentation are (this is not a complete list):
- Academic documentation, such as an unofficial transcript or letters from professors.
- Legal documentation, like an accident report or court documents.
- Documentation of a loss, such as an obituary.
- Financial documentation, like a relevant pay stub or documentation of financial hardship.
- Medical documentation, like a doctor's note or a letter from a mental health professional.
If you are planning to submit medical documentation, it is most helpful when it confirms the existence of medical circumstances and the dates involved, indicates whether or not you are medically fit to enroll in classes, and includes any specific recommendations (for example: part-time attendance or academic accommodations). Students should NOT submit medical history, medication lists, diagnosis information, lab or test results, or other personal health information. This information is usually not needed, and lengthy files of unnecessary documentation can delay the petition review process. (A good example is the Medical Leave form on the Registrar's Office website.)
On the petition form, there are several opportunities to upload your relevant documentation. Here are important guidelines to follow when submitting documentation:
- The acceptable file formats are doc/docx, jpeg, or pdf.
- The preferred file format is pdf.
- The required language for all documentation is English.
- Do not submit a link to another file. Students are expected to submit legible, unmodified documentation.
What happens after I submit my petition?
Students will receive an email with a copy of their submission and a link to use if they need to submit any corrections. If you do not see your submission email in your inbox, please check your spam folder. Please do not submit the petition form more than once for the same request. This will delay the review of your submission. The petition will be reviewed and students will be notified of the outcome via email, usually within one or two weeks. During very busy times, the review can take up to three weeks.
What happens if my petition is denied?
Reinstatement is a rare exception. Even if you submit all of the necessary materials and follow the instructions, your petition may be denied. In that case, students are encouraged to consider alternative options to continue their education at another college or university.
The outcome email will let you know if you have the opportunity to submit an appeal, and how to do so. An appeal might be appropriate if you have additional documentation, more petition materials, or new information to share regarding your request. An appeal is an opportunity to submit new documentation or missing information to support your request, such as an updated academic plan, a corrected GPA calculation, additional documentation of circumstances, transcripts, or letters of support. An appeal cannot be submitted to request another review of the same petition materials you already submitted. The most likely outcome of an appeal is that the student will remain on suspension.
What happens if my petition is approved?
If approved, students will receive an email with information about the next steps to join the reinstatement process. This email will include their assigned advisor and will outline the conditions they will be expected to meet if they choose to enroll in classes. Conditions are determined on an individual basis. Often, students are required to enroll in a reduced credit load, earn a 2.5 semester GPA, change or adjust their major, connect with student support services, and engage in advising meetings with their assigned advisor. If approved, students who have been away from the University for two or more semesters will be billed the rematriculation fee ($50). Click here to review matriculation policies.
It is important to request conditional reinstatement when you are ready and committed to participating in the behaviors and habits needed to be a successful student. Approved students who do not meet the required conditions of reinstatement after one semester are permanently dismissed from the university, without the opportunity to appeal. Reinstated students will return to good academic standing when their cumulative GPA reaches a 2.0 or higher.
Who can I contact if I have questions about my petition?
For questions about your academic standing, your eligibility for reinstatement, your student record, calculating your future GPA, creating an academic plan, and responding to the prompts on the petition form, your best bet is to connect with an academic advisor. If you are unsure of which advising office to contact, please click here for the “Find Your Advisor” tool.
For questions about accessing the petition form or the status of your petition, you can send an email to petitions@stonybrook.edu.