How does Columbia deal with so many petitions?

Okay, so you’re done with your academic assemblies (and LitHum lecture/Q&A period). Yes, you could sleep or continue socializing or sit outside Butler smoking cigarettes (for the true Columbia experience), but you could also do something worthwhile with your time. In registering for classes, you might have been dismayed that you were assigned a University Writing section that conflicted with another class you wanted to take. Or maybe you wanted to take Frontiers of Science first, to get it out of the way. Luckily for you, we’re here to explain what to do in such situations. All petition forms are located in this document.

Changing Your UWriting Section

To change your UWriting section, you are supposed to have a conflict with a required class, another academic obligation, or a conflict with your athletic schedule. How strictly will they verify an academic conflict? As long as it makes sense, it seems, you should be in the clear. The UWriting office is in 310 Philosophy Hall—when you enter Philosophy Hall, it’s the large room at the end of the hall on your right. You’ll need a filled out copy of the academic petition. Otherwise, you can bring along somebody who you want to switch sections with, and talk to the secretary in the UWriting office. This is also a way you can switch into/out of one of the UWriting themed sections, but that isn’t a legitimate excuse for the petition so don’t put that down. The petition is due by tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31st at 4 PM.

Switching FroSci To UWriting And Vice Versa

If you’re a Columbia College student who wants to switch around the order in which you take UWriting and FroSci, you can fill out the required form linked above. You’re required to have a “compelling reason” for your desired switch, but we have absolutely no idea what that means. Maybe something about the gravitational waves which were observed earlier this year? We don’t know what’s compelling to the Core Office (202 Hamilton Hall, directly in front of you when you enter), which is where you’ll drop off your completed form. Like the UWriting section change, this petition is due by tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31st at 4 PM.

Note: SEAS students cannot switch the order in which they are assigned Art of Engineering and UWriting. We’re guessing this makes up for the lack of a swim test.