Submitting a Petition

Here's how to submit a petition (a formal written request) for an exception to college rules on enrollment and related matters – such as residency reclassification or the limits on repeating a class. (See more examples below.) 

New Process for Excused Withdrawals

Students requesting an Excused Withdrawal should no longer use the ARC petition on this webpage. Please visit the Withdrawing From Class webpage for instructions on how to follow the new process for excused withdrawals.

  • Before submitting a petition, you must have an up-to-date educational plan. If you are using the online petition form, you can upload your current plan or indicate that your current plan is available in Degree Works.  
  • You may need to provide documentation which justifies your request.
  • Your counselor, instructor or a representative from the Admissions and Records Office may submit a recommendation on whether to approve, deny or abstain from a decision.
  • The dean of Enrollment Services will review your request to determine if it involves a matter that can be decided by the dean (or a designee) or if it must be decided by the Appeal Review Committee. Exceptions can only be granted for cause.
  • The Appeal Review Committee (ARC) is responsible for evaluating and approving petitions for exceptions to college enrollment rules related to academic policies. The committee is dedicated to fair, consistent and equitable review of student requests. 


Examples of Requests 

Decided by Admissions and Records Office

Here are some types of requests that are typically processed by the Admissions and Records (A&R) Office, once a student has completed the relevant e-form.

Note: Some requests may have special or additional processing guidelines. You may need to meet with a counselor before completing an e-form. Please review each e-form for more details.

More Admissions and Records forms can be found on the Student Forms webpage. Need help? Connect with A&R directly.

Decided by Dean of Enrollment Services

Here are some types of petititons that may be decided by the dean of Enrollment Services or the dean's designee.

Complete the Petition for Registration Policy Exception e-form for any of the following reasons:

  • Appealing a decision on residency reclassification
  • Appealing a registration deadline
  • Challenging for admission
  • Other requests (not listed)

After completing the petition, you'll receive an email from daregpetitions@deanza.edu.

Processing Guidelines:

  • Incomplete petitions will not be processed.
  • Monitor your emails and take action when requested.
  • Please respect processing deadlines as listed on your petiton. Petititons for registration policy exceptions will not be able to process your requests on a walk-up basis.

Decided by Appeal Review Committee

Here are some types of petitions that must be decided by the Appeal Review Committee (ARC).

To submit a request for a reason listed below, complete the Petition for Academic Policy Exception e-form.

  • Requests to repeat courses that were previously completed successfully, due to a significant lapse of time
  • Requests to repeat a course beyond the number of times stipulated in the college catalog

After completing the petition, you'll receive an email from da_arc_petitions@deanza.edu.

Processing Guidelines:

  • Incomplete petitions will not be processed.
  • Monitor your emails and take action when requested.
  • Please respect processing deadlines as listed on your petiton. ARC will not be able to process your requests on a walk-up basis.

Not sure which process to use?

If you're not sure which petition or process to use, please

How the Petition Process Works

  • What happens first? (The preview process)

  • What happens next? (The review process)

  • Why doesn't the ARC review class grades?

  • Guidelines for ARC decisions 

  • Challenges to ARC decisions


ARC Membership

The committee includes the dean of Enrollment Services as chair, plus

  • Two instructional faculty members, appointed by the Academic Senate
  • Two counseling faculty members, appointed by the Academic Senate
  • One classified professional representative, appointed by the Classified Senate
  • One articulation officer, appointed by the vice president of Instruction
  • One instructional dean, appointed by the vice president of Instruction

Except for the dean of Enrollment Services, members will be appointed for two-year terms. Members will be selected with an eye to providing representation from Disability Support Programs and Services, Extended Opportunities Programs and Services and the Office of Equity, Social Justice and Multicultural Education. 

Questions?

Please review the Examples of Requests to find out which office would process your request.

If you still have questions, please contact the Admissions and Records Office.

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