The Committee on Exceptions (COE) was established to address the occasional warranted exception to policy or procedure. If you feel such an exception can be justified, you may complete and submit your application by logging into your SURF account. Before you submit your petition, please carefully read the policies for required documentation and acceptable reasons for exceptions related to different requests. Please be advised, petitions that require supporting documentation that are submitted without supporting documentation will be denied.
Reasons to submit a COE application
- Course Repetition
Students petition to repeat courses for a few different reasons; including fourth attempts, significant lapse of time and recency requirements, significant change to industry of licensure standards, or extenuating circumstances. - Dismissal Reinstatement
Students petition to be reinstated from dismissal status and can enroll without sitting out a full semester. - Drop a Course with No Record
Students petition to drop courses with no record and a refund to ensure an evaluative grade or a “W” is removed from their record, along with a refund of tuition fees. You may be eligible to drop a course with no record if you stopped attending by the 10% drop deadline. Please be advised that per California Code of Regulations Title 5, no exceptions allowed for removing a grade if attendance was beyond the 10% drop deadline. Courses can only be petitioned that were taken no more than 3 years prior to the current term. - Excused Withdrawal (COVID-19 related)
Students petition for an Excused Withdrawal (COVID-19 related) petition if COVID-19 they have been indirectly or directly impacted (Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021). Supporting documentation is not required for a petition related directly or indirectly to COVID-19. Excused withdrawal(s) shall not be counted in progress probation, dismissal calculations, toward the permitted number of withdrawals, or counted as an enrollment attempt. Petitions can be submitted during or after the current semester. - Other
Students petition other requests for pass/no pass changes, refund of non-resident fees, and other appeal requests. - Priority Enrollment
Students petition for priority enrollment when they have lost priority due to 90+ units or probation status. Each student is assigned an enrollment 'appointment' which represents the day and time that registration opens to that student online or in person. MiraCosta College sets enrollment appointments based on guidance from Title 5 Section 58108. - Withdrawal after deadline
Students petition to retro-actively withdrawal after the 75% deadline to have an evaluative grade replaced with a “W” withdrawal. Documented extenuating circumstances may be eligible for an "Excused Withdrawal". Excused withdrawals shall not be counted in progress probation, dismissal calculations, toward the permitted number of withdrawals, or counted as an enrollment attempt. Courses can only be petitioned that were taken no more than 3 years prior to the current term.
All requests for a grade change from an evaluative symbol to a "W" (Withdrawal) or No Record must be made within three years of the date when the grade was posted and initiated by the student prior to the Instructor Change of Grade Form being processed. Please note we cannot make exceptions to state or federal laws or regulations.
Notes from the Committee - If you haven't heard from the committee regarding your petition, please click on the link sent to you via email when you initially submitted your petition. Check to see if the committee has left a message under "Notes to Student," and If they are requesting supporting documentation, they will let you know who to send it to and what type(s) of documentation they are looking for.
How to submit your COE application online
- Log on to your SURF.
- Click on "Student Forms" tile.
- Click on "General Forms."
- Click on “COE Application” to begin your application.
- Review the instructions in each section to ensure you provide the information needed for the committee to review your request.
- Click "Submit" and a confirmation email with a link to the submitted petition will be sent to you.
Reminder, petitions that require supporting documentation that are submitted without supporting documentation will be denied.
How to check the status of your COE petition online
- Refer to link in the confirmation email sent to you.
- Below are the status stages of a COE application:
- Pending- waiting for proper documentation to move forward to committee
- Withdrawal - the application was done incorrectly or was not COE related. The committee will leave a note for you to review.
- Approved- application approved
- Denied- application denied
