COMPLETION OF THE DOCTORAL DEGREE WITHIN FOUR YEARS AFTER PASSING THE COMPREHENSIVE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

The Principle of Petitions:

THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, AS A FULLY-ACCREDITED PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, MUST COMPLY WITH GENERAL LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, UNIFORMITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. EXCEPTIONS TO UNIFORM APPLICATION OF GENERAL REGULATIONS ARE JUSTIFIED IN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN NECESSARY TO PREVENT OR REMEDY AN UNFAIR OR UNJUST CONSEQUENCE.

Steps:

  1. Take the Petition Form to your academic advisor. On the Petition, you must clearly and concisely print or type the results and exceptions you seek. Set forth your version of the facts, circumstances and consequences. Give facts not conclusions. Your advisor may help you with the wording of the petition or your advisor may require you to state your case on the Petition before he/she confers with you. After the Petition is completed, it is to be signed by you and your advisor. You may download the form from the Graduate School website and type the results and exceptions you seek on the computer or you may print out the form and print or type the information. Attach additional sheets if the information does not fit in the space provided. Be sure to indicate when you project the degree being completed.  this petition, if approved, will expire ont that date.
  2. There is a specific attachment (Attachment A) which must be completed in addition to the Graduate School Petition form.  All members of your dissertation committee must sign this Attachment A and the majority of the members of your committee must agree to the extension of time to complete the requirements.  Obtain each member's signature and the date on the appropriate line.  They must register their agreement or disagreement witht he time extension.
  3. Once the committee members have signed and indicated their recommended action, take the Petition to the other officials listed on the front page of the Petition to obtain their recommendations, completing the process by returning the Petition to the Graduate School. Any signer may add clarifying or explanatory comments to the Petition.
  4. After all the signatures have been obtained on both the Petition and Attachment A, and the Petition has been returned to the Graduate School, it will be reviewed and forwarded to the University Registrar. At that time, a copy of the Petition indicating whether or not it was granted will be mailed to you. If the Graduate School Dean or the University Registrar deny the Petition, it is your right to refer the matter to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for further consideration.