Extenuating Circumstances

An extenuating circumstance is an exceptional, unforeseen, and unavoidable situation beyond an individual's control that impairs the student's ability to focus academically. In an academic setting, such circumstances provide a reason for missing a deadline or performing poorly on an assessment due to significant personal issues. 

Key Characteristics

  • Exceptional: The situation is unusual and not part of your "normal" life.
  • Unforeseen: You couldn't have predicted it would happen.
  • Unavoidable/Outside Your Control: You couldn't have prevented it from happening.
  • Short-term: The situation is temporary, but the effects may persist for a longer time.

Examples 

  • Serious illness or injury: Requiring hospitalization or significant recovery time.
  • Bereavement: The death of a close family member.
  • Caregiving Responsibilities: Unexpected, pressing duties.
  • Mental Health Challenges: Diagnosed conditions like severe anxiety or depression.
  • Trauma: Experiencing a significant emotional event, such as witnessing a crime.

 

Things you should know...

The student should document the extenuating circumstance listed on their petition by submitting a note (on official letterhead) from a doctor, counselor, or representative of the legal system that details the nature of the issue and the date(s) on which it occurred. 

To be considered as extenuating circumstances, the appeal/waiver reason must meet the following criteria:

1. It must be beyond the student's control; in other words, the student could not have prevented the situation.
2. It must have a negative impact on the student's ability to study.
3. The dates related to the extenuating circumstances must correspond to the specific semester(s) that adversely affected the student's academic performance.

All medical information from providers must be sent via fax to 716-878-4037. 

The Academic Standards Office and its committees consider each claim on its own merits and carefully review submitted supporting documentation to determine if it is credible and sufficient to support the appeal/waiver. 

  • Federal aid waivers are only approved when students can document extenuating circumstances to the campus committee on behalf of the federal government. An extenuating circumstance is beyond your control, such as a (severe) personal illness, the death or illness of an immediate family member (i.e., parent, legal guardian, sibling, spouse, or child ONLY), extreme personal emotional stress, military orders, or severe personal circumstances (house fire, victim of a crime, clemency, etc.).

TAP/APTS waivers are only approved when students can document extenuating circumstances. An extenuating circumstance is something that was beyond your control, such as a (severe) personal illness, the death or illness of an immediate family member, extreme personal emotional stress, military orders, or serious personal circumstances (house fire, victim of a crime, clemency, etc.).

Citing such issues as:

  •  Work commitment/job loss.
  • Extracurricular commitment.
  • Minor illnesses (such as common colds, headaches, etc.).
  • Unaware of college deadlines.
  • Foreseeable or preventable events (wedding).
  • Lack of documentation (circumstances must be supported by documented evidence from a registered professional, such as a doctor or counselor).
  • The difficulty level of the course material will not be a valid reason for your appeal to be approved.
  • Issues caused by students regarding IT problems, such as lost files or sending unacceptable forms of documentation, are the students' responsibility to ensure their data is secure.