Student Forms & Petitions

Academic Renewal#

Academic renewal is a process where an eligible student may have prior college work excluded from current grade point average. In all cases of academic renewal, the original courses and grades will remain on the transcript with a code in the reference column that indicates academic renewal has been applied to those courses. Once the petition is approved, action is not reversible.

Academic Renewal with Course Repetition#

Course(s) repeated within SDCCD (Automatic): Registration into a course in which two grades of “D” or “F” or “NP” have already been received will be permitted by MySDCCD for the first and second repeat of the course. No petition is necessary. At the end of the semester, the academic renewal will automatically be processed and the student's academic record will be annotated to indicate academic renewal.

Course(s) repeated outside of SDCCD: Student's may petition for academic renewal with course repetition.

Purpose:
Use the grade of an equivalent course taken outside of SDCCD to replace the substandard grade(s) in the SDCCD’s computation of a student's GPA.

Policy:
Policy AP 3910.2

Requirements: 

• Official transcripts from the institution outside of SDCCD with the completed repeated course must be on file.

Processing:
Students may submit the online “Academic Renewal with Course Repetition” petition. The submission routes through campus evaluations and district evaluations. Students can view the outcome of their Academic Renewal under “My Academics” -> “Advising Notes” in the mySDCCD portal.

Academic Renewal without Course Repetition#

Purpose:
A student with substandard academic performance, which is not reflective of their present demonstrated ability may petition to have a maximum of 30 units disregarded in the District's computation of all grade point averages.

Policy:  
Policy AP 4240

• If grade alleviation has already been applied two times for a course, the course will not be eligible for academic renewal without repetition
• If previous action for academic renewal has been applied to coursework included in the semester to be disregarded, the course will not be eligible for academic renewal without course repetition.
• Academic renewal without course repetition may be applied to substandard courses/semesters from another accredited institution
• Once the petition is approved, the action is not reversible.
• Once an associate’s degree has been posted to the student’s academic record, academic renewal without course repetition may only be applied to classes with an evaluative symbol of “F”.
• For more information, visit the college catalog.

Requirements:

• Course(s)/Semester/Session must be substandard (below 2.0 GPA). 
• Transcripts from all institutions attended must be officially on file.
• Student must successfully complete, in a regionally accredited college or university, 15 units with a GPA of at least 2.0 subsequent to the coursework to be disregarded. All courses taken during the semester/session in which the student reaches or exceeds the 15 unit minimum will be used in computing the 2.0 GPA.
• One year must have elapsed since the most recent coursework to be disregarded was completed.

Processing:
Students may submit the online “Academic Renewal without Course Repetition” petition. The submission routes through campus evaluations, counseling, and district evaluations. Students can view the outcome of their Academic Renewal under “My Academics” -> “Advising Notes” in the mySDCCD portal. 

Apply for Graduation#

Purpose:
Obtain bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, associate’s degree for transfer, and/or certificate of achievement. 

Policy:
Graduation from Mesa is not automatic. Students who expect to receive a degree and/or certificate of achievement through San Diego Mesa College must apply for graduation online through their mySDCCD student portal. Degrees/Certificates of Achievement will be awarded at the end of the semester in which the requirements are completed. 

Requirements: 

• All transcripts from previously attended colleges/universities must be on file and evaluated.
• Education plan must be on file/up-to-date.
• Students must abide by application for graduation deadlines.
• All graduation requirements must be completed by the end of the term/semester in which the student applies for graduation. 

Processing:
Students may apply for graduation through their mySDCCD portal under “My Academics”-> “Apply for Graduation”. The online application is routed to District Evaluations for processing. Students can view their graduation status in the mySDCCD portal under “My Academics” -> “View graduation status”.

Certificate of Performance#

Purpose:
Certificate of Performance recognizes the attainment of knowledge and/or skill through the successful completion of two or more courses as specified by a department. Certificates of Performance are designed to prepare students for employment, job enhancement, and/or job advancement. They are not posted on a student’s transcript.

Policy:
View Policy BP 5100

Requirements:

• Achieve a grade of “C” or better in each of the required courses. A “P” (pass) grade meets this requirement. 
• Complete all required coursework in the San Diego Community College District
• Course substitutions or course equivalencies from other colleges may not be used to satisfy Certificate of Performance requirements.

Processing:
Students may submit the online “Certificate of Performance” petition. The submission routes to campus evaluations. If eligible the student will receive their Certificate of Performance via email.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)#

Credit By Exam, Industry Standard and Student-Created Portfolio

Purpose:
The following types of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) are submitted electronically via the SDCCD Forms & Documents website (JIRA): Credit by Examination, Industry Standard Certifications, and Portfolios.  Students must submit a request for each course, separately.

View the list of approved courses eligible for CPL.  The list of approved courses is established by the Office of the Vice President of Instruction. If a course is not listed, please contact CPL Faculty Tonya Whitfield twhitfie@sdccd.edu

Policy:
Policy AP 5235

Requirements:

• Recommended: Meet with a counselor
• Active college application and be in good standing
• Official Transcripts from all previously attended colleges/ universities must be on file.
• Education plan on file
• Apply for credit for a course listed in the current College catalog
• Not be currently enrolled in the course

Processing:
Students may submit the online “Credit for Prior Learning” petition. The submission routes through campus evaluations, district evaluations, instruction, and district records. Students can view the outcome of their CPL on their unofficial transcript/education plan.

Notes: *If the student is not eligible to receive CPL for the course, the evaluator will enter a comment on the online request why the course is not eligible, and cancel the request. The student will be notified via an email generated through their online request (JIRA).

Military (DD-214, JST, CC of the Air Force) 

Purpose:
Military Credits will be awarded automatically upon verification of at least 6 months of continuous active duty. The credits will meet the district requirements for Health Education and Exercise Science, as well as Area E for CSU Breadth.

Additionally, credit may be available for courses taken through the various branches of the military as recommended by A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services published by the American Council on Education.

Policy:
View Policy AP 3900.3

Two (2) Physical activity courses at 1 unit each.

One (1) Health Education course at 2 units.

Additional Credit for Military Service:

• To receive additional credit for military service or military school students must be enrolled and, in most cases, must have an education plan on file.
• Military credit cannot be used to satisfy the American Institutions requirement or the English Composition requirement.
• Credit in the major must be approved by the department.
• Contact the Veterans Office or see a counselor to request additional credit for military service or school.

Requirements:

• Documentation of educational experiences during military service (JST, AARTS or SMART transcript, DD-214, DD-295, NAV/PERS 1070/604, DD-2586, Coast Guard Institute, CCAF)

Credit for Standardized Tests#

Purpose:
Academic credit is available for students who take and pass, at the appropriate level, examinations offered through the following standardized tests:

Policy:
View Policy AP 3900.4 

• Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and
• International Baccalaureate (IB)

For detailed information on tests scores and applicable credit, refer to the college catalog pages 74-92.

Limitations:

• AP and CLEP examinations may be used to partially clear the American Institutions requirement. See catalog for details
• The English composition requirement can be met by the AP exam. 
• Credit will not be granted for equivalent courses completed.
• Grades are not assigned, nor is the credit used in calculating grade point average.
• Credit granted by SDCCD does not necessarily transfer to other institutions. Transferability of credit is determined by the receiving college or university. 
• Credit awarded through non-traditional education may not be used for grade alleviation.
• A maximum of 30 cumulative units may be granted for acceptable scores on any combination of AP, CLEP, DANTES, or IB.
• Duplicate credit will not be awarded for nontraditional education sources and completed coursework.

Requirements:

• Student is currently enrolled in a college of the San Diego Community College District.
• All official transcripts and standardized test scores must be on file and marked received prior to submitting a request for transcript evaluation.

Processing:
Students may submit an online “Request for Transcript Evaluation”. The submission routes through counseling and district evaluations. Students can view the outcome of their transcript evaluation in their mySDCCD portal under “My Academics” -> “View Transfer Credit Report”. Please allow 90-120 business days for processing. 

Major Electives Form#

Purpose:
The petition for approval of Major- Area Electives is only used for the Associate in Science and Certificate of Achievement in Business Management, the Honors Global Competencies Certificate of Achievement at Mesa College and for course selection when students are seeking multiple degrees.

Requirements:

• Student meets with counselor to select appropriate courses or major electives.
• SDCCD Transcripts must be attached to request
• Computerized Education Plan must be attached to request

Processing:
Students may submit the online “Major Electives Form”. The submission routes through campus evaluations, counseling, and district evaluations. Students can view the outcome of their Major Electives Form under “My Academics” -> “Advising Notes” in the mySDCCD portal. 

Petition for Modification of Graduation Requirements#

Purpose:
Modify graduation requirements: Any variation to major requirements for a degree or certificate must be approved by the academic department under which the major is offered. Petitions to Waive a District GE Graduation requirement will automatically be sent to the Academic Review Committee to be reviewed.

Approved petitions are only applicable for majors offered at Mesa College.
View information on why and how to do a Modification of Graduation Requirements

Note: A minimum of 18 units is required for the major for all degree programs.

Prior to awarding the degree, all final official transcripts must be on file and evaluated in order to apply the modification to the student’s degree and/or certificate of achievement.

Requirements:

• Recommended: Meet with discipline faculty to discuss substitution and then meet with counseling faculty to review your education plan and attach the appropriate documents to your petition. 
• PDF version of Computerized Education Plan
• Ed plans are located under My Academics in the mySDCCD portal
• Unofficial transcripts with desired course substitution, if course has been completed (includes SDCCD unofficial transcripts).
• Course Description of desired course substitution, if taken or planned to be taken outside of SDCCD

Processing:
Students may submit the online Modification of Graduation Requirements petition. The submission routes through campus evaluations, department chair, instructional dean, and then district evaluations. Students can view the outcome of their Modification of Graduation Requirements under “My Academics” -> “Advising Notes” in the mySDCCD portal. Approved course substitutions are inputted into a student's education plan after submitting an application for graduation. All final official transcripts must be on file to have the modification applied to the student’s degree and/or certificate of achievement prior to awarding the degree

Petition for Exception to Course Repetition Policy#

Purpose:
Students who believe that they have a compelling reason for an exception to a policy (i.e. any academic policy) may file a petition. There is one petition for exception to policy. See the Academic Review Committee page for more details.

Policy:

• No course in which a “C” or better grade has been earned may be repeated without a petition.
• No course in which an unsatisfactory grade of “D”, “F”, "NP" or "W" has been earned may be repeated more than three times, unless otherwise indicated in the catalog without a petition.
• Students will not be allowed more than three enrollments in a non-activity course, regardless of grade or symbol earned without a petition.

Requirements:

• Unofficial transcripts from all attended colleges/university (including SDCCD)
• Education plan, what if report, or semester planning sheet
• Student statement i.e. explaining why they were unsuccessful in prior attempts and what changes they have made/will make to be successful in another attempt. 
• Supporting documents

Processing:
Students may submit the online“Petition for Exception to Course Repetition Policy”. The submission routes through campus evaluations, counseling, and chair of Academic Review Committee. If approved, students can connect with SD Mesa Admissions to be manually enrolled into their desired class.

Request for General Education Certification#

Purpose:
Students who need certification of completion of lower-division general education requirements for transfer to UC or CSU, must complete the Request for Certification. A request for certification can only be submitted once a student has been accepted to a transferring university.

View steps to request General Education Certification

Language Other Than English (LOTE) - U.S. High School#

Purpose:
Satisfy area 6 of the UC-IGETC language other than English requirement with the completion of 2 years of the same foreign language in a U.S. high school with a grade of “C” or better.

Policy:
In a U.S. high school where the language of instruction is English, completion of the second level of high school coursework in a language other than English with a letter grade of “C” or better in the second semester of the second year will satisfy the requirement.

Requirements:

• Official or unofficial High School diploma and/or transcript

Processing:
Students may submit an online “Request for Transcript Evaluation”. In the request, they will check off the LOTE box. The submission routes through counseling and district evaluations. Students can view the outcome of their transcript evaluation in their mySDCCD portal under “My Academics” -> “View Transfer Credit Report”. Please allow 90-120 business days for processing.

Language Other Than English (LOTE) - Out of Country Education#

Purpose:
Satisfy area 6 of the UC-IGETC language other than English requirement through out-of-country education. 

Policy:
In an institution where the language of instruction is not English, formal schooling through the sixth grade level or higher. Appropriate documentation must be presented to substantiate the language of instruction. If an official sealed transcript cannot be obtained from an international institution, an unofficial or opened transcript may be used, as appropriate.

Requirements:

• Transcript or Diploma in original language
• Transcript or Diploma in English
• The English translation must be completed by a third party company or an education professional. For help with this process, please contact counseling.

Processing:
Students may submit the online “Language Other Than English (LOTE) for Out of Country Education” petition. The submission routes through campus evaluations and district evaluations.

Students will receive an automated email once their request is processed and can view the outcome under Advising Notes in the mySDCCD portal under My Academics-> Advising Notes. Students will need to submit a separate ticket to Request a General Education Certification. 

Request to Reissue Diploma#

Purpose:
Receive a new diploma. 

Diplomas for associate degrees and certificates of achievement are automatically mailed to the student's official address on file. Students are responsible for updating address changes within their mySDCCD portal. Diplomas are mailed six to eight weeks after the end of the semester.  

Requirements: 

• No financial holds on record
• The student must submit the Request to Reissue Diploma to the campus where the degree/certificate of achievement was received.

Processing:
Students may submit the online "Request to Reissue Diploma”. The submission routes through campus evaluations and accounting. Diplomas mail in 8-10 weeks.

Note: If students require proof of graduation, completed degrees are posted on their SDCCD official transcripts.