Policies and Procedures

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Changing Majors

Information on changing your major from or to engineering can be found at this link: Change Majors.

Degree Requirements Policy

Students are responsible for satisfactory completion of degree requirements. They should consult with their academic adviser if they have any questions about these requirements.

The Engineering Undergraduate Office will provide students with one initial check of degree requirements in the latter part of of the junior year, a follow-up degree check, and a final degree certification.

Degree Check Procedure

To request a degree check, complete and file the following form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall:

Degree Check Request (PDF)

You will be contacted by phone or e-mail for an appointment to meet in a group degree check session with Engineerin Undergraduate Staff Advisers. This appointment will be set approximately six to eight week from the time you submit this request. Any questions you ma have regarding your degree check, necessary petitions, or general questions on curriculum issues may be addressed at this appointment.

Three quarters before you plan to graduate, you may update the original copy of your degree check by submitting a degree check request for a follow-up degree check.

During the quarter in which you file to graduate, you will receive a letter from the Engineering Undergraduate Office requesting that you make an appointment for your final degree certification.

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Minimum Progress

To meet the minimum progress requirement, a full-time regular undergraduate must maintain an average of at least 13 units passed over all quarters of enrollment. Minimum progress is calculated at the end of every Spring Quarter for the preceding academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring). Only full-time quarters are considered.

Detailed information on the minimum progress requirement can be found at http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/update/#Minp

FAQs on Minimum Progress

Petition for Exception to Minimum Progress

To request a degree check, complete and file the following form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall:

Petition for Exception to Minimum Progress (PDF)

Minor Program

Petition to satisfy a minor program:

Minor Petition (PDF)

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Late Drop of Courses

Late drops of courses (after the drop date on the tenth or twentieth day of instruction) may be approved if you can fully document that unforeseen circumstances beyond your control have affected your academic performance.

Late drops will not be approved for poor academic performance, academic difficulties, change of interest in a course, or lack of midterm results prior to the drop date. If you have not been attending class and have not turned in any work, ask your instructor about receiving an "Enrolled-No Work Submitted" grade for the course; do not petition for a late drop.

Authority for approval of late drops is assigned to the Student Relations Committee. The Committee delegates to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies the authority to approve late drops only for the reasons listed below. Full documentation must be provided to gain approval.

Medical (with documentation by Student Health Service or private physician)
Serious personal problems (with documentation by the Counseling Center or a private counselor)
Death in immediate family or large and necessary increase in family care responsibilities
Large and necessary increase in (outside) working hours, at employer's request

The Associate Dean is not authorized to approve a late drop for any other reason. You may submit a Student Petition to the Student Petitions Committee for a reason not listed, however such petitions are rarely approved.

Late Drop Procedure

To petition for a late drop, complete and file the following petition form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall, by the last day of instruction in the quarter:

Late Drop Petition (PDF)

If your petition for a late drop is approved, you will be issued a permission to drop (PTD) code. You must call RSVP or use the web-based course enrollment system within three calendar days to use this PTD code to drop the course. You will be billed a $3.00 Late Drop fee for each course dropped through this procedure.

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Pass/No Pass Grading Option

Students enrolled in any undergraduate major offered by the College of Engineering may not exercise the Passed/Not Passed grading option for any course work presented in satisfaction of course or unit requirements for any undergraduate major or degree offered by the College of Engineering. Additionally, undergraduate students may not exercise the Passed/Not Passed option for any course offered through the College of Engineering. Courses offered only on a P/NP basis are acceptable for specific program area degree requirements.

This is interpreted to mean that no course that could potentially be used to meet a course or unit requirement can be taken by the P/NP option. When a course appears on a list of courses that would satisfy a requirement, the course cannot be taken by the P/NP option unless the requirement has been satisfied. This applies to the General Education requirement, the Technical Electives requirement, and the unrestricted electives.

Optional Pass/No Pass Procedure

Engineering students cannot choose to take a course by optional pass/no pass grading through RSVP or the Web enrollment system.

To petition to take a course by the Pass/No Pass grading option, complete and file the following petition form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall, by the date given in the academic calendar for choosing the pass/no pass grading option:

Pass/No Pass Petition (PDF)

If your petition is approved, you will be given a "Course Change Card" that you must complete and submit to the Office of the Registrar.

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Advising Holds

What is an advising hold?

The Engineering Advising Hold is one component of the College of Engineering's mandatory advising system to help students stay on track towards graduation. Every academic year, you will be required to meet with your departmental academic adviser to review progress towards graduation requirements. The process varies a bit from major to major, so make sure you check early to see what you need to do for your major. In most majors, you'll look over what courses you've taken and talk about plans for the future. This is also when you'll get information about any upcoming changes to the curriculum and ask any questions.

How do I know if I have a hold?

Check SISWEB. Engineering holds are placed once a year. An advising hold has a dates associated with it…check the dates carefully! You must get the hold cleared BEFORE the first date listed for the hold. If you don't clear the hold in a timely manner the University MAY drop you from your classes or “freeze” your ability to add or drop classes, to change variable units courses, and to register for classes in future quarters.

When is my hold?

The quarter in which you will have a hold to clear is determined by your last name:
A—G: Fall Hold (EF): Meet with your adviser before Fall Quarter is over
H—N: Winter Hold (EW): Meet with your adviser before Winter Quarter is over
O—Z: Spring Hold (ES): Meet with your adviser before Spring Quarter is over.

EXAMPLE: A Fall Quarter Hold (EF) will have a date range FROM: 03-Jan-2006 TO: 10-Feb-2006. This hold must be cleared during Fall Quarter. If you don't meet with an adviser to get the hold cleared, on the first day of Winter Quarter (03-Jan-2006) no changes can be made to your schedule, including rolling into a class from the waitlist. If the hold isn't cleared by the last date listed on the hold (February 10, 2006--in this example), you'll be unable to register for Spring Quarter.

To maximize the usefulness of the advising session, meet with your adviser mid-quarter, before your Pass 1 registration appointment.

What if I am planning to change to a major that is not in the College of Engineering?

As long as you are listed as a College of Engineering student you must clear your hold. You must submit Change of Major paperwork to leave the College of Engineering. Change of Major forms are available on the Registrar's web site. If you are not yet eligible to change majors, an academic plan in the new major must be prepared and signed by an adviser in the new major. Take either the signed plan, or the change of major paperwork to the department of your Engineering major. That will enable the adviser to release your hold.

Additional Information

For questions or further information concerning degree requirements, contact an advisor in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).

Repeating a Course More than Once

You are allowed to repeat a course you received a D+, D, D-, or F one time for credit. If you wish to repeat a cours for a second time you must receive permission to do so BEFORE you enroll in the class for the third time. Use this form to request permission to repeat a course for a second time.

Procedure for Petitioning

To petition to repeat a course more than once, complete the form below and submit to your departmental undergraduate staff adviser before enrolling in the course.

Petition for Multiple Repeats of a Course (PDF)

For Further Information

For questions or advice regarding petitionin to repeat a course for a second time, consult with the departmental undergraduate staff adviser for your major.

General Education Credit

If you took (or plan to take) a course a another institution that you believe should satisfy a general educatio requirement, you can submit the course for evaluation to the Dean's Office, College of Engineering. You must provide a syllabus or expanded course outline (catalog descriptions rarely provide sufficient information for a thorough evaluation).

Petition for General Education Credit (PDF)

For Further Information

For questions or advice regarding petitioning to repeat a course for a second time, consult with the departmental undergraduate staff adviser for your major.

Transfer Credit Evaluation

If you took a course at another institution that you believe should satisfy a major program requirement, you can submit the course for evaluation. Using the attached form, submit a course syllabus or expanded course outline (catalog descriptions rarely provide sufficient information for a thorough evaluation) to the department that teaches the course on the UC Davis campus. Ask that department to evaluate the course and bring the completed form to the Dean's Office, College of Engineering.

Petition for Transfer Credit Evaluation (PDF)

For Further Information

For questions or advice regarding petitioning to repeat a course for a second time, consult with the departmental undergraduate staff adviser for your major.

Student Petition

If you wish to request an exception to a stated degree requirement, you may petition the College of Engineering Committee on Student Petitions. Using the attached form, work with t departmental staff adviser in your major department to prepare this petition. You must :

Provide a thorough written justification for your request
Submit all appropriate documentation
Obtain required recommendations from your major program

Petition for Exception (PDF)

For Further Information

For questions or advice regarding petitioning to repeat a course for a second time, consult with the departmental undergraduate staff adviser for your major.

Extending the Deadline for Completing an Incomplete Grade

When a student receives an incomplete (I) grade in a class, that student has three registered quarters to completewhatever work is necessary to receive a grade from the instructor. For example, if a student receives an incomplete in Fall 2000 and is registered for courses during the following Winter, Spring, and Fall quarters, the 'I' grade must be changed to a letter grade by the end of Fall 2001. Summer session does not count as a registered quarter. An incomplete grade turn into an F after three registered quarters if the work is not completed.

There are circumstances in which the student cannot complete the required work until after the third registered quarter. For example, the instructo may have been away from the campus and be unable to evaluate the students' work. In this event, a request can be made to extend the deadline.

Procedure for Extending the Deadline for an Incomplete Grade

To petition for an extension of the deadline for an incomplete grade, complete and file the following petition form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall:

Petition to Extend the Deadline for an Incomplete Grade (PDF)

You must obtain the signature of the instructor on this petition and the instructor must check the box indicating that he/she recommends that this extension be granted. Attach any documentation that supports your need for the extension.

Once your petition has been reviewed by the faculty committee, a letter will be sent to you to inform you of the decision.

Enrolling at Another Institution While Attending UC Davis

In general, the College of Engineering discourages students from enrolling in classes through another institution while attending UC Davis (known as "simultaneous enrollment").

The following are examples of situations for which simultaneous enrollment is appropriate:

You plan to take summer session courses at an institution that is on the semester system and the summer courses begin before Spring Quarter is completed at UC Davis.
You commute to UC Davis and it is a hardship for you to attend a course that meets five days a week.
You have difficulty enrolling in an impacted class.
You have a schedule conflict with a required class and you are close to graduation.

You may attend a community college summer session after becoming a UC Davis student. There is a limit of 105 quarter units of community college coursework the university accepts, although you can choose which units are credited toward your UC Davis degree if you have more than 105 units of credit. Also, the university's residence requirement states that you must take no more than 10 of your last 45 quarter units at an institution other than UC Davis. In some cases, a petition can be approved to allow you to take another 5 units at another institution.

Procedure for Petitioning for Simultaneous Enrollment

To petition to enroll in a course at another institution while attending UC Davis, complete and file the following petition form with the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall:

Petition to Enroll Simultaneously At Another University/College (PDF)

The petition must be filed and approved before you enroll in the course at another university or college.

Dismissal and Readmission

The academic probation and dismissal policies outlined in the General Catalog will be rigorously enforced according to the following guidelines.

Dismissal

(1) A student who is placed on academic probation (AP) or becomes subject to academic disqualification (STD) at the end of a given quarter will be promptly dismissed if he/she is STD at the end of the second quarter following the quarter first resulting in AP or STD status. (See the General Catalog for STD and AP definitions.)

Readmission

(2) Dismissed students will not be readmitted prior to one year from the end of the most recently completed quarter. Students who were dismissed while in lower-division standing will be encouraged to complete all remaining lower-division requirements at a community college or other institution.

To apply for readmission, complete the following form and submit to the Office of the Registrar:

Application for Readmission (PDF)

Second and Final Dismissal

(3) A previously dismissed student who has been readmitted will be given three quarters to return to good academic standing. The student may be dismissed in the first or second quarter following readmission if he/she has not established a clear trajectory toward regaining good academic standing and completing his/her major. The student will be dismissed promptly if he/she is STD after completion of the third quarter following readmission. The second dismissal is final, as subsequent applications for readmission will not be approved.

(4) If the student is no longer subject to academic disqualification at the end of the third quarter following readmission, a second and final dismissal could occur later according to the guideline for dismissal stated in item (1) above.

Dean's Authority

(5) Dismissal and readmission of students according to the guidelines outlined above shall be ultimately at the discretion of the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering for Undergraduate Studies.

Appeal

If you have been academically dismissed and would like to appeal, carefully read the Guidelines for Appealing a Dismissal (PDF) for instructions on how to appeal. You will need to also schedule an appointment with an adviser in the Undergraduate Office.

For questions or further information concerning your dismissal status, contact an adviser in the Engineering Undergraduate Office, 1050 John D. Kemper Hall (752-1979).