CERC & GARC

Core Equivalency Review Committee (CERC) 

The Core Equivalency Review Committee (CERC) considers appeals and/or petitions from students seeking waivers or substitutions of established core course requirements.

• Prepare:
  • Completed Official CERC Request Form
  • Official letter specifying the course(s) in question
    • Body of Letter:
      1. What you are petitioning
      2. Reason for petition
      3. Your Signature
  • Any pertinent documentation to support your request.
• Submit: 
  • Contact your Academic Advisor to meet and obtain signature 
  • Contact Assistant Dean for Signature 
    • Your Academic Advisor can assist in reaching out to your Assistant Dean and faciliating electronic signatures and submission to [email protected] or [email protected].

CERC Petitions take 6-8 weeks to review. Correspondence is completed within a week of the review being completed. 

For questions please contact: 

Graduation and Admission Requirements Committee (GARC)

The Admission and Graduation Requirements Committee (GARC) considers appeals and/or petitions from students seeking waivers of established admission and graduation requirements. The Committee is composed of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (chairperson), the Registrar, the Director of Admissions, and the Assistant Dean of the College in which the student is enrolled. Information about the appeals process can be obtained from the Registrar's Office.

The following items are required of each petition:

• Prepare:
  •  GARC Petition Form
  • Letter to GARC Committee explaining your request
• Distribution:
  • Take GARC petition along with letter to your Advisor and  Assistant Academic Dean for signatures 
  • Turn in full GARC petition to the Registrar's Office in Montana Hall Room 101 
  • Keep a copy for you own personal file
• Heading Format:
  • Student's full legal name
  • Mailing Address (including city, state, and zip code)
  • (Optional) Student's E-Mail Address
  • Student ID Number/Social Security Number
  • Student's College/Curriculum
  • Term or date you first entered MSU
  • Today's date
• Body of Letter:
  • What you are petitioning
  • Reason for petition
  • Your Signature

For questions please contact:

Petition for Pass/Fail Grade Change 

Montana State University has implemented a new policy for an optional Pass/Fail grading structure for the Spring 2020 semester. This policy aims to help students remain engaged in learning with minimal risk to their overall progress toward their degrees.

In order toaccommodatefor the difficult circumstancescausedby COVID-19 and the Spring 2020 Semester the GARC Committee is providing a "Petition for Pass/Fail Grade Change." This formmustbe filled out by the student, reviewed with their Academic Advisor, and submitted to the Registrar's Office for review by the GARC Committee. It is recommended that once the Student has reviewed their petition with their Academic Advisor that the Academic Advisor submits the form electronically to the Registrar either by email or DocuSign. 

How to petition for P/F Grade Change: 

1. Fill out Petition for P/F Grade Change 
2. Review Document with Academic Advisor and obtain signature
3. Submit Petition to the Registrar's Office (Preferred that the Advisor submits electroinically, or the student can drop off in person to Montana Hall)