Blue Petition

The College Blue Petition is used to request exceptions to academic regulations due to unusual and/or unforeseen circumstances.

Senior Residency Requirement

Purpose: To request an exception to the Senior Residence Requirement.

Request: State by how many units you would like to exceed Senior Residence and the institution you plan on attending. For example, if you are planning on taking 12 units outside of UCLA in your last 45 units, your request would read “to waive 2 units of senior residency and transfer in 12 units based on coursework completed at UCLA Extension.”

Reason: Please discuss why you need to exceed the residency requirement and why you are unable to complete units at UCLA.

Attach: You are not required to attach supporting documentation, but please attach documents that will support your explanation.

Concurrent Enrollment

Purpose: To request permission to receive credit for courses taken at another institution, including UCLA Extension, while enrolled in classes during regular sessions (Fall, Winter or Spring) at UCLA.

Request: State the other institution in which you would like to be enrolled and the specific dates of the concurrent enrollment. For example, “to allow concurrent enrollment for Spanish 2 at Santa Monica College during the Spring 2012 quarter from Monday, May 16, 2011 – Friday, June 10, 2011.”

Reason: State the course(s) you wish to take at the other institution and discuss why you need to take it during a regular quarter while enrolled at UCLA.

Attach: You are not required to attach supporting documentation, but please attach documents that will support your explanation.

NOTE: Submit the petition prior to enrolling in classes at the other institution. This petition is rarely approved.

Maximum Units

Purpose: To exceed the maximum unit limit indicated near the end of your Degree Audit.

Request: State the number of units by which you will be exceeding your unit max and the new total. For example, “to exceed unit max by 3 units and graduate with a total of 219 units.”

Reason: If you are planning to graduate by the summer following your 4th year, or your 2nd year for transfer students, you can simply state “graduating in 4 years (or 2 years).”

If you will be going into your 5th year, or 3rd year for transfer students, you will need to explain why you need additional units. Your explanation should include your academic reasoning for additional time and units.

Attach: Please fill out a degree planner (available online or from your UCLA College advising unit) and have it signed by your departmental advisor. Then calculate the total number of units you are requesting and indicate that number on your petition, as stated above.

Extensions for Incompletes

Purpose: To request extensions of the time allowed to make up Incomplete grades.

Request: Please include the name of the class and a specific date of completion. For example, “to extend incomplete in ENGL 10A to December 9, 2011.”

Reason: Please discuss why you need additional time and why you were unable to complete the work within one quarter. Also include what work is remaining to complete the class.

Attach & Signature: For a request to extend the incomplete one quarter, you need the instructor’s signature on the Blue Petition. Requests of more than one quarter require a letter of support from the instructor and are rarely approved.

Feel free to attach any supporting documentation that will support your explanation.

How to file a Blue Petition

Blue petitions may be obtained online , from your UCLA College advising unit. Please complete the top half of the petition and write your request as clearly, completely, and specifically as possible. Submitting an unintelligible or ambiguous request will likely result in your petition being delayed or denied. Please feel free to see a College Counselor or a College Academic Mentor regarding regarding your request if you have any questions. Petitions are normally processed within 10-15 business days. Students should check the status of their petitions on MyUCLA to see whether it is approved or denied, or requires further information or action.

If you are requesting an exception to a rule (e.g., extending an incomplete, concurrent enrollment, maximum units, senior residency), you should provide a full explanation, including documentation when appropriate, indicating why the College should make an exception.

You should submit your blue petition online. We accept a PDF or JPG of the completed blue petition along with a PDF or JPG of your supporting documentation and/or Degree Plan Contract as attachments to a MyUCLA Message Center message directed to the appropriate topics queue for your specific UCLA College advising unit. See the specific supporting documentation required for each of the types of blue petitions outlined in the tabbed box above. Please allow 10-15 working days for processing and consideration.

Fee: None.

Deadline: None. There is no specific deadline for Blue Petitions, but filing must occur prior to graduation. In some cases timeliness may be an issue, so students are encouraged to file petitions earlier rather than later.

Effect on Transcript: changes may be noted in the Memoranda section of your Degree Audit depending on your request. With the exception of restoration of credit deductions, your Degree Audit will reflect changes in degree requirements if your petition is approved.

¹ Please DO NOT use the College Blue Petition for the following reasons as these requests will NOT be approved:

Concurrent enrollment during your first quarter at UCLA.
To graduate with less than 180 units
To graduate with less than 60 upper division units

The following procedures are handled with specific, separate petitions and do not use the Blue Petition:

Please consult your UCLA College advising unit if you are unsure about which petition to use.