Academic Petitions and Forms 

The following are forms to be used by undergraduate students currently completing a Brooks School of Public Policy undergraduate program. Students minoring at the Brooks School should visit the Brooks School minors page. Brooks School professional students can find relevant forms in the portal for their Brooks School program. PhD students can find relevant forms on the graduate school website. 

For each form, you will receive an email after the process has been completed.

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Course Enrollment Forms

Add/Drop Manual Electronic Enrollment Request

Use this form to add any Cornell class that is by permission by instructor only or to request to swap discussions. You will also need to use this form with an instructor’s approval to drop a class. Whenever possible, enrollment should be completed through your student center. 

Over 18 Credit Hour Petition 

An Over 18 Credit Petition is used to request an exception to standard credit policy.  Undergraduate students in the Brooks School are permitted to enroll in a maximum of 18 credit hours per term.

Students in Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy are limited to 18 credits per semester.  Students with more than two semesters at Cornell and at least a 3.5 GPA are eligible to petition to go up to 22 academic credits.  Students who have been at Cornell for less than two semesters, or who have a GPA lower than 3.5, are only eligible to petition if the additional credits are for PE or academic support classes (e.g. MATH 1006 Academic Support for MATH 1106).

Eligibility to petition does not guarantee approval to go over 18 credits.  Students must also have support from an advisor in the Office of Admissions, Student Services and Career Management. Students must meet with an advisor in the Brooks Admissions, Student Services and Career Management before a decision will be granted.  Approvals to go over 18 credits are granted under limited circumstances.

A meeting with an academic advisor is required for your petition to be reviewed. This form will route electronically to the advisor and then will route to the Registrar for a decision. Approval from BOTH the advisor and the registrar are required.

Special Studies Enrollment Form

Use this form to request enrollment in a Directed Reading (4000), Empirical Research (4010), or Supervised Fieldwork (4020) course in the Brooks School of Public Policy or College of Human Ecology. Once the application is submitted and fully approved, you will receive a Permission Number by email. You must self-enroll in the course through Student Center (search by the Class Number) – you are not enrolled in the class until it is on your Student Center schedule.

Teaching Apprentice (4030) Enrollment Form

Use this form when you want to TA a Human Ecology or Brooks School Course. Once the application is submitted and fully approved, you will receive a Permission Number by email. You must self-enroll in the course through Student Center (search by the Class Number) – you are not enrolled in the class until it is on your Student Center schedule. Students cannot receive teaching apprenticeship credit more than once for supporting the same course.

Time Conflict Petition

Use this form to request to be enrolled in classes that partially overlap in meeting times.  If the classes are offered on the same day and time you will not be permitted to take both.

To petition you must meet the following requirements:

• must be in Good Standing with the school 
• must have a minimum 3.3000 cumulative GPA
• time conflict cannot be greater than 25% of either class

Students should schedule a meeting with an academic advisor before pursuing a time conflict petition. 

Petition to Withdraw from a Course

This form can be used to request permission to withdraw from a course with a grade of “W” after the drop deadline.  This form is only available between the drop deadline and the deadline to withdraw from a course.

A meeting with an academic advisor in the Brooks Office of Admissions, Student Services and Career Management, is required to discuss this petition.

Graduation Forms

Application to Graduate

Use this form to indicate your intention to graduate in the upcoming academic year. Submit this form during your final fall semester at Cornell, no later than October 15th.

Request to Graduate Early

You must have at least four semesters completed at Cornell, and junior standing, to be eligible to request to graduate early. A graduation plan, outlining all remaining requirements, must be submitted with the request.  

Honors Forms

For more information about the honors program visit the Brooks honors program webpage.

Honors Program Application

Use this form during Junior year to apply to the Brooks Honors Program. 

Thesis Expectation Form

Use this form during your first semester in the honors program to outline academic expectations for PUBPOL 4990 Honors Program.

eCommons Submission Release

This form grants the Honors Program permission to publish your thesis. Complete this form once your honors thesis has been defended and approved by your committee, and send a copy to Brooksugprogram@cornell.edu.

Honors Student Checklist  

Use this form to track and report completion of program requirements.

Honors Program Thesis Committee and Defense Scheduling  

Use this form to report results of the thesis defense.

Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Forms 

Students considering a leave of absence are encouraged to connect with an academic advisor in the Brooks Office of Admissions, Student Services and Career Management.

Request for Leave of Absence or Withdrawal from the University

Use this form to request permission to take a Leave of Absence from Cornell for one semester or to withdraw from the University. Student Health Insurance is terminated when a student is in LOA status.

Health Leave of Absence

A student considering a health leave of absence should visit the Health Leave of Absence site for details of this process.  Students should work with the University Health Leaves Coordinator in addition to the Brooks Office of Admissions, Student Services and Career Management. 

Request to Return from Leave of Absence

Use this form to request to return to Cornell after a Leave of Absence. This form should be submitted in the term immediately before the term in which you wish to return to Cornell. Students should meet with an academic advisor to discuss course enrollment for the upcoming term.

Major Requirement Forms

Curriculum Waiver/Substitutions

Use this form to petition for a course to be waived or substituted with a different course. This form should be used for spring and fall study abroad coursework. Allow three weeks to process.

Engaged Milestone Attestation

Use this form after you have secured an opportunity, to have engaged learning opportunities reviewed for the engaged milestone requirement.  Allow up to four weeks to process.

Transfer Credit Forms

In Absentia Petition

Use this form to request permission to take course work at a College or University outside Cornell, and transfer the credits to Cornell to use towards your degree. The In Absentia petition should only be used for courses completed after matriculating at Cornell.  For study abroad coursework during the spring and fall semesters, see the curriculum substitution petition. Allow three weeks to process. 

Transfer Credit – High School Form

Use this form for courses taken during your high school career that you are asking permission to receive credit towards your Cornell Degree. This form and the Transfer Credit – College Form must both be completed, signed by appropriate representatives, and returned to be considered. 

Transfer Credit – College Form

Use this form for courses taken during your high school career that you are asking permission to receive credit towards your Cornell Degree. This form and the Transfer Credit – High School Form must both be completed, signed by appropriate representatives, and returned to be considered.

Other Academic Forms

Change of Major

Use this form to change your major to another Brooks School major. To switch to another Cornell College, see the Internal Transfer page. Effective summer 2024, students must apply to internally transfer into Human Ecology.

Dean’s Certification Release

Use this form to allow the Brooks Registrar permission to verify good standing status for Law School Admissions. 

General Petition

Use this form to petition a policy such as a missed deadline, request to withdraw from a course(s) after the drop deadline, extending graduation date, etc.  Do not use the General Petition for time conflicts.  The procedure requires students to meet with an advisor in the Brooks Office of Admissions, Student Services and Career Management.

Study Abroad Application

Study abroad involves applying to your specific program and obtaining formal school approval for your planned course of study. All school approvals are conditional, dependent on successful completion of the courses and global learning application outcome. Learn more about study abroad details and timelines.