Requests for Exception

Please read the following information before submitting a request. The application can be found at the bottom of the page.

The Request for Exception must be submitted either during or immediately following the term in question. Requests must be submitted before your degree is awarded. Requests will not be reviewed after one calendar year from the end of the term in question. Please refer to Oakland University's important dates.

These cases are not justification for a request:

• Employment-related circumstances: A student must weight the change in employment vs their educational enrollment.  The University's cost of instruction is not reduced when a student withdraws.
• Missed deadlines: lack of knowledge of registration/refund deadlines, and disagreement with refund policies are not appropriate rationales for filing a Request for Exception.
• Academic issue: Dissatisfaction with a particular teaching style, issue or concern with an individual or department. Students are encouraged to resolve concerns directly with the person or department involved.  We recognize circumstances will arise where satisfactory resolutions are not found or when the student may need additional assistance in finding such a resolution. Please submit the Academic Affairs Assistance Request Form.
  
• Grade appeal: Please follow the appropriate procedures outlined in the catalog.

Only the following circumstances/situations will be reviewed:

• Student illness: A letter/note from your physician or medical provider on their letterhead indicating the dates you were seen and general nature of your condition. The letter/note must be signed by your physician or medical provider.
• Illness of immediate family member: A letter from your family member’s physician or medical provider on their letterhead indicating the dates you were unable to attend class. The note must be signed by the physician or medical provider.
• Death of immediate family member: A copy of the death certificate, published obituary or memorial folder. If the student’s last name differs, documentation is required to establish immediate family relationship to the deceased.
• Military deployment/reactivation: A copy of official deployment/reactivation notice. Deployment and reactivation dates must be within the semester you are requesting.
• Non-Attendance: Non-Attendance, by itself, is not an acceptable reason for not dropping or withdrawing within the established deadlines. All requests will be verified and confirmed by instructor(s).
• University error: Written confirmation and explanation of error from Oakland University personnel.
• Other situation: Letter on letterhead of relevant professional (e.g., lawyer or police report, court order, airline ticket, etc.). Typically these requests are not approved for a tuition refund.

All Requests for Exception forms must be accompanied by a typed student explanation of the extenuating circumstances and verifiable documentation. Supporting documentation cannot be attached directly to the submission. Please email all documentation to [email protected] to be included with your file. A Request for Exception filed without supporting documentation will automatically be denied.

Possible financial aid implications: If you are dropping courses/withdrawing during a term for which you have received financial aid (grants, loans, scholarship, graduate assistantships, etc.), you may be required to return all or a portion of the financial aid that has been disbursed and/or applied to your student account. If your request is to add credit hours after the financial aid credit lock date, please note that additional financial aid may not be applied to your account to cover the increased tuition costs. You are responsible for consulting a financial aid adviser prior to submitting this request to determine if there will be any financial implications should your request be granted. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 120 North Foundation Hall or (248) 370-2550. Once a request is granted, it will not be rescinded.

Programs following alternate tuition structures follow alternative refund processes. Prior to any adjustments to your schedule you should speak with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Other possible implications: In addition to financial implications, we highly encourage you to consider all other implications. Please review your options and make an informed decision by reviewing our Drop, Withdraw & Repeat informational page.

The Request for Exception is reviewed in the order in which it is received. Submission of this request is NOT a guaranteed approval. Please allow four weeks for processing. While your request is under review, you are required to make tuition payments on schedule. Any authorized refunds will be issued in the manner in which they were paid. Notification of the decision is made in writing to the address provided.

Please email your submission to:
[email protected]

Filing a Request for Exception?

Medical-Related: 
Medical-Related Requests for Exceptions are handled through the Dean of Students Office. Should you have questions about medical-related requests for exception you may contact the Dean of Students at [email protected]

Application:  Request for Exception (Medical-Related)

Non Medical-Related: 
All non-medical related requests are handled through the Office of the Registrar. You may reach the Exceptions team at [email protected]. 

Application: Request for Exception (Non Medical-Related)

Questions:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (248) 370-3455