Petition Guidelines for Off-Campus Study

Grade Point Average below 3.0

Skidmore Students who do not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement must petition to the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS) for approval to study abroad. CAS is responsible for final decisions regarding eligibility to apply to study abroad.

Students must:

  • Prepare a letter to the committee explaining their academic history;
  • Submit two (2) letters of support from members of the faculty who are familiar with their academic work;
  • Meet with the Off-Campus Study & Exchanges representative for CAS to review their petition.

These petition documents must be submitted to Off-Campus Study & Exchanges along with the completed Skidmore application to study abroad. Off-Campus Study & Exchanges presents these materials to the committee. CAS reviews the petitions and makes the final decision on eligibility to apply to study abroad.

Students are notified of the Committee’s decision by Off-Campus Study & Exchanges. Students should allow two weeks for processing and presentation to the Committee. Therefore students should submit their application to Off-Campus Study & Exchanges at least three weeks prior to the application deadline of their chosen approved program. Students applying for an approved program may not submit applications to their program provider of choice until they have received CAS approval.

Study abroad outside of the Junior Year

Customarily, second-semester sophomores and first-semester juniors apply to study abroad. Students at other stages in their Skidmore education must attend a mandatory advising session with a staff member in Off-Campus Study & Exchanges. After this initial meeting students are required to:

  • Submit, with their application, a one page statement explaining why they want to study abroad outside of the junior year, including details about their academic plans for the remainder of their time at Skidmore;
  • Submit a letter of faculty support (preferably from the student's faculty advisor/instructor of the student’s Scribner Seminar).