Petitioned Programs
Students who are unable to find a program on the Study Abroad List that satisfies their individual academic, cultural, and linguistic objectives for study abroad may complete a petition to have an alternate program approved. All petitions must be accompanied by substantial documentation of the student’s specific reasons for the petition and the program’s relevance to the student’s specific goals.
Eligibility
To be eligible to petition to participate in a study abroad program not on the University’s current List of Study Abroad Programs, the student must have completed the Policy Acknowledgement Form and been approved to study abroad; wish to study abroad in either a fall semester, spring semester or academic year-long program; have identified an accredited study abroad program that will allow the student to earn a minimum of 15 credits for a semester program and 30 credits for a year-long program; meet the eligibility requirements for the program under consideration;submit a complete petition application by the petition deadline.
Deadlines and Application
In order to receive a copy of the petition application, students must first schedule an appointment to meet with the petition coordinator, Ms. Lucie Jugant. After discussing the student's rationale for the petition, the petition coordinator will provide the student with the application and further instructions regarding how to properly structure a petition essay.
Students may submit petitions for review as early as two semesters before going abroad or as late as one semester before going abroad. Petitions are NOT reviewed on a rolling basis. Instead, students are asked to submit typed and completed petitions by 5 PM on the following deadlines:
| 2008 Petition Application Deadlines | ||||
| Desired Semester Abroad | Application Deadline 1 | Review Completed By | Application Deadline 2* | Review Completed By |
| Spring 2008 | October 5 | November 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Fall 2008 | February 1 | March 1 | March 15 | April 17 |
| *Due to the length of the spring semester and varying program deadlines, two application periods have been established for the spring whereas only one petition period is available during the fall semester. | ||||
Please note that students are allowed to petition to attend the same study abroad program only once. All petition decisions are final. If a petition is denied, the student may not participate in that study abroad program and receive academic credit toward the GW degree.
Decision
Petitions will be evaluated by the Office for Study Abroad in consultation with the Study Abroad Advisory Group on the basis of the study abroad program’s relevance to the student’s academic, linguistic, and cultural objectives, the academic character of the experience, the security condition of the program site, the level of emphasis on cultural immersion and integration, language instruction, course offerings, academic and other support services and facilities, housing, and program infrastructure. If the petition is approved, the student must observe all GW deadlines and apply to the program in the usual manner. All other GW study abroad policies, including GW program fees, the application of GW financial assistance and scholarships, and credit requirements are in effect.