Academic Requirements Committee (ARC) Petitions

University Degree Requirements Petition

The Academic Requirements Committee (ARC) does not exempt students from university requirements.  What it can do is to approve reasonable alternatives where the student can demonstrate compelling need.  In general, the petition should explain the need and offer specific alternatives for the committee to consider.  Since the UO Catalog, the Degree Guide and the Student Handbook provide supporting structure for students to chart their progress, ignorance of the regulations cannot be considered a valid excuse for failing to meet a requirement.

The following university requirements CAN be petitioned:

  • Waive a requirement for the Area of Inquiry
  • Waive a requirement for the Cultural Literacy
  • Reduce the university residency requirement
  • Reduce the university upper-division requirement
  • Waive a requirement for the BA Second Language or the BS Mathematics/CIS
  • Have credit deductions reviewed

The following university requirements CANNOT be petitioned:

  • Total earned credits
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA  

Reasons considered NOT VALID for petitioning include but are not limited to:

  • Lack of knowledge of dates, deadlines, or policies.
  • Ignorance of information available on Duckweb.  For example, course registration, the Degree Guide, and the Transfer Evaluation Report.
  • Errors in personal judgment.
  • Dissatisfaction with instructor, content, or services provided by departments.
  • Failure to follow procedures.
  • Inability to pay for the tuition, fees, and penalties.

Important Notes:

  • Misadvising does not result in an automatic approval.  The institutional error must be egregious in order to reduce the requirements and standards of the UO degree.
  • Residency requirement petitions due to excess transfer courses will not be approved.
  • Review your Degree Guide to verify that you are registered for courses that satisfy the area requirement as expected.
  • Check the Deducted Course(s) section of the Degree Guide for courses that will be deducted for regression and repetition.

Term Schedules and Petition Submission Deadlines

During Fall, Winter, and Spring terms, the ARC meets every other week beginning week 3 through week 11.  Petitions and supporting documentation are due the Thursday prior to week 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 (end of business day).  Petitions received after the deadline will be reviewed in two weeks, at the next scheduled committee meeting.

For Summer term, the ARC will meet Week 1, 3, 7, 11, and the week of the summer grading deadline.  Petitions and supporting documentation are due the Thursday prior to the ARC meeting week (end of business day).  Petitions received after the deadline will be reviewed at the next scheduled committee meeting.

Additional Questions?

  • Major and minor requirements - please consult with the department advisor.
  • University requirements not listed above - please email the Office of the Registrar at uodegree@uoregon.edu.

Required Documentation

  • The petition to change degree requirements web form, which will include your statement to the committee, explaining why you believe that this exception to university policy is appropriate.  The button is located below.
  • A supporting statement from a university advisor who has worked with you to plan how you will complete your degree requirements.  The advisor may use the web form below, a letter provided on department letterhead, or an email from their UO email account.  Please work with your advisor prior to submitting the petition.
  • Any other relevant supporting documentation that you would like the committee to consider when making their decision.  Additional documentation can be uploaded through the petition web form.

Petition Statement Should Address the Following

  1. The exact nature of the issue.  What are you petitioning to have approved?
  2. What are the circumstances that caused the issue?
  3. What steps have you already taken to deal with the issue?
  4. When did you last see an advisor or consult with any university official about your academic progress?  (Evidence of such consultations will strengthen your case.)
  5. Are all other requirements for your degree complete?  If not, explain how you intend to complete them.
  6. What courses do you and your advisor propose as alternatives to complete the requirement?

Please work with your advisor prior to submitting the petition web form.  Use the web form to submit your petition and any supporting documentation for committee review.  Completed petitions include both the student submission and supporting advisor statement or web form.


Increase the Credit Maximum Petition

Students can request to have the maximum credit limit increased to 22, 23, or 24 by meeting with their advisor.  Advisors are able to increase the maximum for student in Duckweb.  In order to have the maximum credit limit raised to 25 or more, students need to submit a petition to the ARC.

Term Schedules and Petition Submission Deadlines

During Fall, Winter, and Spring terms, the ARC meets every other week beginning week 3 through week 11.  Petitions and supporting documentation are due the Thursday prior to week 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 (end of business day).  Petitions received after the deadline will be reviewed in two weeks, at the next scheduled committee meeting.

For Summer term, the ARC will meet Week 1, 3, 7, 11, and the week of the summer grading deadline.  Petitions and supporting documentation are due the Thursday prior to the ARC meeting week (end of business day).  Plan ahead.  Late petition submissions will not be reviewed even if needed for registration.  Petitions received after the deadline will be reviewed at the next scheduled committee meeting.  

Petition Instructions

  1. Fill out name, UO student ID number, and UO email.
  2. Indicate the total credits you would like to enroll.
  3. Indicate the term and year.
  4. Provide a student statement.  Please respond to the questions on the petition.
  5. Provide an advisor statement.  Please respond to the questions on the petition.  Please note that this is required in order to have the petition submitted to the committee.
  6. If petitioning to increase summer term credits, provide the course information of the courses you are currently registered for.
  7. Submit the completed petition to the Office of the Registrar at uodegree@uoregon.edu from your UO email account.