Petition for Deferral of Course Work
Office of Student Support and Community Standards
Students are expected to complete all work assigned by faculty by the end of finals. In turn, faculty are expected to
provide students with clear guidelines in their syllabi and in class discussions regarding all assignments, including test
dates and paper deadlines.
The College recognizes that circumstances beyond the control of the student may occasionally necessitate the
extension of a deadline for some course work beyond the end of the semester. In the interest of fairness and equity to
all students, the reasons for such deferrals must be limited in scope. As a result, deferrals are possible only in the case
of (a) extenuating academic circumstances, e.g. delayed lab results, (b) debilitating and documented medical or
psychological conditions, or (c) unanticipated and documented personal emergencies beyond the control of the
student. Although faculty and staff may recommend that a student seek a deferral, it is the responsibility of the student
to initiate and complete the process outlined below.
Obtaining a Deferral
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If the deferral is needed because of a debilitating and documented medical or psychological condition, the student
should discuss their situation with the Director of the Health Center and have the Director sign the Deferral
Request Form. The student then meets with the respective professor to discuss the need for a deferral and to set a
new deadline that is acceptable to the professor (not to exceed four weeks after the last day of final exams).
If the deferral is needed because of an unanticipated and documented personal emergency, the student should
discuss their situation with the Associate Dean of Students for Student Support and Community Standards and
have the Associate Dean sign the Deferral Request Form. The student then meets with the respective professor to
discuss the need for a deferral and to set a new deadline that is acceptable to the professor (not to exceed four
weeks after the last day of final exams).
If the deferral is needed because of an extenuating academic circumstance, the student should discuss the situation
with the respective professor. If the professor approves the request, the professor signs the Deferral Request Form
and indicates the new deadline that is acceptable to the professor (not to exceed four weeks after the last day of
final exams).
The student then submits the Deferral Request Form to the Office of Student Support and Community Standards,
103 Lane Hall. This should be done as quickly as possible and no later than the last day of classes (not finals).
The Associate Dean of Students for Student Support and Community Standards reviews deferral requests and then
emails the student as to whether the request is approved, approved with alterations, or denied.
Student Information
Please enter your information below.
Last Name
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First Click here to enter text.
Bates Student ID Number
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Academic Year (FR, SO, JR, SR)
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Bates College Email Address
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Major(s)
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For which course are you requesting a deferral? Click here to enter text.
First and Last Name of Professor Teaching Course: Click here to enter text.
Middle Click here to enter text.
Reason for Deferral Request
Please select the reason(s) for the request you are submitting.
☐ Debilitating and Documented Medical or Psychological Condition
Signature of the Director of the Health Center:
Date:
☐ Unanticipated Personal Emergency
Signature of the Associate Dean:
Date:
☐ Extenuating Academic Circumstance – Obtain signature from professor below.
Deadline to Complete Work and Approval from Professor
Deadline for Submitting Outstanding Work to Professor:*
Deadline for Professor to Submit Grade to Registrar:
*Deadline-Related Notes:
 The last day to submit a completed Deferral Request Form to the Office of Student Support and Community Standards is
the last day of classes (not finals) for the semester in which you are requesting the deferral.
 All work in the course in which a deferral is granted must be submitted to the professor by the agreed upon deadline, not
to exceed four weeks after the last day of final exams. While a professor may reduce the window of time to submit the
work, the deadline may not exceed four weeks after last day of final exams.
 Deferrals may not be granted for assignments where the deadline has already passed, for exams that have already been
administered, or for work that has already been turned in.
 The professor computes the student’s final grade for the course after the deferral deadline, including work submitted by
the deadline. If the student does not turn in some or all of the work deferred by the deadline, the professor submits the
student’s grade for work completed prior to the deferral deadline.
 Extensions to deadlines are not granted except with the approval of the Academic Standing Committee.
 If a deferral is not approved and a professor does not submit a grade by the deadline the Registrar has set or if a deferral
has been approved and a professor does not submit a grade by the agreed upon deadline, a grade of F will be entered for
that student.
Signature of Approval from Professor:
Printed First and Last Name of Professor:
Date:
________
Approval from Associate Dean of Students for Student Support and Community Standards
Signature of Approval from Associate Dean:
__________________________Date: ____
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Submit this completed Deferral Request Form to Ree Russell, Coordinator of Student Support and Community
Standards, in Lane Hall 103. Reminder: The last day to submit a completed Deferral Request Form is the last day of
classes (not finals) for the semester in which you are requesting the deferral.