Committee on Exceptions (COE)

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/recency requirements, extenuating circumstances, and significant change in industry or licensure standards. Supporting documentation is required for the following course repeat reasons: fourth attempts in the case of extenuating circumstances, extenuating circumstances, recency requirements, change to industry or licensure standards.
Dismissal Reinstatement
Students petition to be reinstated from dismissal status and can enroll without sitting out a full semester. However, if the student has already sat out a semester, students should meet with an academic counselor to remove the dismissal hold.
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 academic record, along with a refund of tuition fees. You might be eligible to drop a course with no record if you stopped attending by the 10% drop deadline. Please be advised that per Title 5, California Code of Regulations, no exceptions are allowed for removing a grade if attendance was beyond the 10% drop deadline. Courses can only be petitioned that were taken no more than three (3) years before the current term.
Excused Withdrawal (COVID-19 related)
Students can petition for an Excused Withdrawal (COVID-19 related) if COVID-19 has indirectly or directly impacted them during Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021 semesters. 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.
- Supporting documentation is not required for the following semesters: Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021. However, starting in Fall 2021, all Excused Withdrawal(s) (COVID-19 related) will need supporting documentation.
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 three (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 (3) 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.