Readmission Policy
Students who have formally left the university prior to completion of their degree may submit a “Request to Return” form, which is a petition to re-enroll in their prior academic program. Students should complete the form no sooner than one year, but no later than eight weeks prior to their intended re-entry date.
Eligibility: Students must have attended classes beyond the end of the add/drop period during the first term of their program. Students who never attended classes, were administratively withdrawn, were dismissed, or withdrew from the university prior to the end of the add/drop period, must reapply to the university. This process is appropriate for both students who voluntarily or involuntarily separated from the university.
Process: Students may initiate a “Request to Return” form by contacting the Office of Admissions at admissions@paloaltou.edu. The student must provide updates to academic transcripts (additional coursework) or academic, conduct or legal violations that occurred during the time they were not enrolled at PAU. Students may request transfer credit for courses taken while not enrolled at PAU, but transfer credit is not guaranteed.
Once the form is submitted, the request is reviewed by several campus offices:
- Office of Financial Aid
- Office of the Bursar
- Program Representative
- Department of Student Success
- Office of the Registrar
- Office of the Provost
All elements of a student’s record will be reviewed, including academic performance, behavioral concerns and student account status. Palo Alto University does not guarantee the right for former students to re-enroll.
The Office of Admissions does not accept petitions to appeal Request to Return decisions. Applicants who have concerns regarding their admissions decisions may contact the Director for Admissions to discuss the situation. Applications may be approved for re-review should one of the following criteria be met:
- The application had substantially incorrect information provided by a third party (e.g., incorrect grades on a transcript).
- The applicant feels their rights have been violated based on a protected identity, such as race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status.