Exceptions to Field Experience Policies
If you feel you have a valid reason outside of your control to request an exception to a field experience policy (e.g., extension to the application deadline, acceptance of hours accrued during a term of field experience not successfully completed), you may submit a petition. This policy is regarding field experience-specific policies only. You should consult your Walden University Student Handbook and contact your student success advisor regarding exceptions to other program or university policies (e.g., taking courses [including field experience courses and prerequisites] out of sequence; requesting a retroactive withdrawal from courses, including field experience courses; etc.). If you are not sure if the policy in question is field experience-related or some other, you may contact the SOC-OFE and/or your student success advisor.
A student should only petition for a policy exception when they can demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Even then, a student should never assume an exception to policy will be made, should not apply undue pressure to Walden faculty or staff, and should be fully prepared to act in accordance with the original policy. References to grade point average, tuition, and other such factors should not be included in an effort to influence or bias the petition review. Petition decisions are not made to privilege nor punish some students over others. Rather, policies are upheld and applied equally to all.
SOC-OFE Petition Policy
Students who have a valid reason to request an exception to an SOC-OFE policy may do so using the Field Experience Petition Form.
The following is considered in review of petitions:
- Does the petitioner truly have an unexpected, unavoidable extenuating circumstance, or is he/she trying to “get out of” a bind?
- Does approving this petition give this student an unfair advantage over other students?
- Does approving this petition change any primary components of the degree?
- Would approval set a precedent for future petitions? How will this affect policy and procedure? Is the policy worth enforcing?
- Does the petition, and the circumstances leading to it provide cause to review policies or procedures? If so, which ones?
There are important considerations for field experience application submission window/deadline extension requests:
- Submitting a petition is not a guarantee of acceptance of a late application or that an application, once submitted, will be approved.
- You must have a site secured to request an extension.
- Being unaware of the submission window is not sufficient reason for a request for an extension.
- The month prior to the term start is a blackout period. Absolutely no petitions are considered during this time for any reason.
- While most late requests are very compelling and through no fault of the student, the SOC-OFE is often unable to accommodate requests for deadline extensions. If you are considering requesting a deadline extension, you should be forthright with your proposed field site regarding the deadline and move forward with the assumption that you will not begin until the next open quarter.
All exceptions to field experience policies must be formally petitioned using the Field Experienec Petition Form, available on the SOC-OFE website. The decision of the field experience committee will be final.
SOC-OFE Petition Process
- Submit Petition Form: Make sure your petition includes all relevant documentation, such as email correspondence, etc.
- Submission Verified: A field experience operations coordinator will review and verify the submitted documentation, then forward it to the field experience committee for review.
- Petition Reviewed: The field experience committee will review the petition and any relevant documentation you submit. Decisions can take up to 10 business days.
- Receive Decision: You will receive the decision on your petition via your Walden email address.
Note: The following policies cannot be petitioned via the Field Experience Petition Form:
- Grade Appeal or Transfer of Credit (see the Student Handbook), and
- Professional Liability Insurance (contact the SOC-OFE to initiate this request).