Twelve Hour Rule

Rule of 12

The Rule of 12 regulates the number of credits a student may use as non-degree and transfer credits. With committee and college approval, a student may submit up to a total of 12 pre-admission hours that may be an accumulation of non-degree, reserved, and/or transfer hours. The maximum number of hours allowed from each category is as follows: 12 non-degree graduate, 6 reserved and 9 transfer hours. A student may elect to use a combination of the three different areas to total the 12 credits allowed (e.g. 6 non-degree hours, 3 reserved hours, and 3 transfer hours). Please review the individual sections of the catalog that cover the specific policies for non- degree hours, reserving coursework for graduate credit, and transfer credit.

Graduate Requirements in UW Catalog

Limit 12 Hour Instructions for Processing Petition

The Principle of Petitions:

The University of Wyoming, as a fully-accredited public institution of higher education, must comply with general laws, regulations, and principles of fairness, uniformity and accountability.  Exceptions to uniform application of general regulations are justified in extraordinary circumstances, when necessary to prevent or remedy an unfair or unjust consequence.

Steps:

  1. You may download the form from the Office of the Registrar website. Attach additional sheets if the information does not fit in the space provided. Take the petition Form to your academic adviser. On the petition, you must clearly and concisely print or type the results and exceptions you seek. Present your version of the facts, circumstances and consequences. Give facts, not conclusions. Your adviser may help you with the wording of the petition or may require you to state your case on the petition before conferring with you. After the Petition is completed, it is to be signed by you and your adviser.
  2. Take the petition to the other officials listed on the front page to obtain their recommendations, completing the process by returning the petition to the Office of the Registrar. Any signer may add clarifying or explanatory comments to the Petition.
  3. After all the signatures have been obtained on the petition, and it has been returned, it will be reviewed by the University Registrar. Once a decision has been made, a copy of the petition indicating whether or not it was granted will be mailed to you. If the University Registrar denies the petition, it is your right to refer the matter to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for further consideration.

Process and Return Petition Without Unnecessary Delay

Twelve-Hour Petition Form