Guidelines
A student seeking an exception to a University or Elliott School policy due to extenuating circumstances must submit a Policy Exception Request.
A policy exception request must be accompanied by documentation of extenuating circumstances. Documentation will be considered, but it does not solely determine the outcome of the request. Missing or incomplete documentation will result in a longer processing time.
Faculty support, if requested by the Elliott School, will be considered, but does not solely determine the outcome of the request.
Policy exception requests take five to ten business days to process. Requests that require consultation with other offices (e.g., Student Accounts, The Office of the Registrar, etc.) may take longer. Students are notified of policy exception decisions via e-mail.
Students should not assume that policy exception requests will be approved. Until a student receives written confirmation that an exception has been approved, the student should operate under the assumption that it will be denied (i.e., the student should continue to attend class, submit assignments, consider alternatives, etc.).
Requests involving physical or mental health must be accompanied by documentation from a medical professional. Such documentation will be considered, but it does not solely determine the outcome of the request.
The following requests will not be considered:
- Requests for exceptions to University and School policy on the basis of not knowing the policy. Students can access important policy information through the Registrar's website, GW Bulletin, the Elliott School web site, or by contacting their academic advisors.
- Requests to withdrawal from a course after deadlines on the basis of poor academic performance.