Columbia is proud to have clear and reasonable academic requirements and students must meet these requirements to remain in good academic standing with the college. However, under extraordinary and exceptional circumstances, a student may present a written petition to the dean of the appropriate school requesting an exception or waiver of a departmental academic requirement. Exceptions are made only on rare occasions and are based on the specific circumstances at hand. A designated representative of the dean will review the petition and determine whether an exception to or waiver of an academic requirement is appropriate and that decision will be final. For more information on academic petitions, see your college advisor in the College Advising Center.