Admissions Appeal Information

Admission cancellation or a Notice of Intent to Cancel occurs when students fail to meet the requirements of the Conditions of Admission Contract. In most cases, but not all cases, this falls in one of three categories: (1) missed deadline (e.g., official records are not received by a required date, did not submit a complete Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) by the deadline); (2) academic performance shortfall (e.g., an unapproved change in planned academic course occurs or performance within the approved course schedule is below expectations); and (3) falsification of applicant information. 

Admission cancellation results in the termination of a student’s admission and enrollment, as well as related privileges, including housing and the ability to participate in other University programs and activities.

Notice of Admission Cancellation (Prior to August 25 (fall) or December 1 (winter)) 

When an issue is discovered prior to August 25 for fall term or December 1 for winter term, and the student has completed the orientation courses and/or enrolled, reflecting the intent to attend: 

● Undergraduate Admissions shall notify the student of the cancellation of their admission via their personal email address on record. 

● The student has 14 calendar days from the date of the cancellation notice to submit an appeal (for best results, please use a laptop/desktop to submit the form, not a mobile device). 

● Submission of an appeal does not guarantee that the student’s admission will be reinstated. 

An exception to the Notice of Admissions Cancellation: Students enrolled in any UC Santa Cruz summer coursework, including Summer Edge, shall be issued an Intent to Cancel Notice.

Notice of Intent to Cancel (August 25 (fall) and December 1 (winter) or after) 

When an issue is discovered beginning August 25 for fall term or December 1 for winter term, and the student has completed the orientation courses and/or enrolled, reflecting the intent to attend: 

● Undergraduate Admissions shall contact the student via personal and UCSC email requesting to review the issue prior to taking action. If the issue is not resolved during this process, the student will receive a formal Notice of Intent to Cancel and have 7 calendar days from the date of notice, excluding official University holidays, to submit an appeal. A late appeal will not be accepted. 

● If the student fails to appeal within 7 days , the student will be cancelled. This action will impact a student’s financial aid and scholarships, housing, and immigration status for international students on a visa. A late appeal will not be accepted. 

Appeal Deadline: For an appeal of admission cancellation, students will have 14 calendar days from the date the cancellation notice is sent to the individual’s personal email. For a Notice of Intent to Cancel, the student will have 7 days from the date the notice is sent to the individual's personal and UCSC email currently on file. 

Appeal Transmittal: An appeal of admission cancellation or Notice of Intent to Cancel must be submitted online (for best results, please use a laptop/desktop to submit the form, not a mobile device). Official records (transcripts and/or exam scores) required in appeal cases involving a missed deadline must be submitted as described in the section below. 

Appeal Content: Discussed below for the three most common categories. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure a complete appeal. Any clarification questions can be directed to Undergraduate Admissions at (831) 459-4008. The Cancellation Appeals Review Committee (CARC) may deny an appeal due to lack of completeness or if submitted after the deadline. 

Appeal Review: The Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid (CAFA) delegates to the CARC the authority to consider and act upon appeals of admission cancellation or Notice of Intent to Cancel. 

Transfer student appeals that include non-completion of major preparation requirements will be decided in collaboration with the major program. 

The CARC is normally composed of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management (Chair) and one or two CAFA faculty representatives. The CAFA chair will be consulted as needed.

Appeal Considerations: Discussed below for the three most common categories. Appeals are expected to contain any required official records, (including high school/college transcripts and test scores), as well as any relevant official documentation, and submitted by the appeal deadline. Relevant official records or documentation includes, but is not limited to, outstanding official records; updated official transcripts with grade changes; and supporting letters from teachers, counselors, and/or doctors. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure a complete appeal. Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed. Any clarification questions can be directed to (831) 459-4008. The CARC may deny an appeal due to incompleteness or if submitted after the deadline. 

Appeal Outcomes: The appeal may be granted or denied. If an admission cancellation appeal is granted, the student’s admission will be reinstated. For Intent to Cancel cases that are denied, the student will be cancelled. In rare cases, CARC may allow the student to complete the term and/or apply for readmission. 

Freshman applicants whose appeal is denied are encouraged to apply, if eligible, as transfer students in a future year. In rare cases, entry or reentry during a later quarter may be provided as an option for transfer students. In cases of falsification, the University of California Office of the President and all University of California campuses will be notified of the falsification, making future enrollment at any University of California campus unlikely. 

Appeal Response: The decision regarding a student’s complete cancellation appeal will normally be communicated within 14 to 28 calendar days by email. In rare circumstances when additional information is required, or resolution of the appeal review may take longer, Undergraduate Admissions will inform the student of this within 28 calendar days of the receipt of the appeal.

It is the expectation of the Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid (CAFA) that admitted students meet all established deadlines. Failure to adhere to all deadlines, especially those outlined in the acceptance process and the Conditions of Admission Contract, will result in the cancellation of an applicant’s admission.

Missed Deadline Appeal Content: The student must include a statement explaining why the deadline was missed, and ensure that all missing official record(s) (e.g., official transcripts and relevant test scores) are received by Undergraduate Admissions by the appeal deadline. The appeal, official records, and relevant documentation supporting the effort to submit records prior to the missed deadline, must be received by the appeal deadline. 

Submission of official records: An official transcript is one that is sent directly to Undergraduate Admissions from the institution in a sealed envelope or electronically with appropriate identifying information and authorized signature.

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo English Test (DET), or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam results must be submitted directly to Undergraduate Admissions (UA) from the testing agencies. 

Missed Deadline Appeal Considerations: The CARC will evaluate the merit of the appeal based on new and compelling information brought forth by the applicant. In determining the outcome of the appeal, the CARC will consider a variety of factors, including but not limited to, contributing factors truly outside of the student’s control, documentation (e.g., copy of certified or registered mail receipt, proof of delivery, transcript request) indicating the timely request for missing information by the student prior to the deadline, and any error on the part of UA. If the applicant did not make a sufficiently timely effort to meet the deadline for official records, the CARC may deny the appeal.

It is the expectation of the CAFA that applicants maintain their planned course of study and perform satisfactorily in those courses as explicitly stated in the Conditions of Admission Contract. Academic verification is conducted on all new students in accordance with the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools Guidelines for Implementation of University Policy on Academic Verification, per UC Regents Policy on Undergraduate Admissions: 2102.

Academic Performance Shortfall Appeal Content: The student must include a statement explaining the poor performance. Any documentation relevant to the particular circumstances of the academic shortfall, if it exists, must be submitted along with the appeal. Appeals are expected to contain any required academic records, including high school/college transcripts and test scores (unofficial copies are acceptable if official copies have already been submitted and received by UA prior to the cancellation notice), as well as any relevant official documentation, and submitted by the appeal deadline.

Academic Performance Shortfall Appeal Considerations: The CARC will consider a variety of factors, including but not limited to, new and compelling information relevant to the specific academic shortfall(s); the nature, severity. and timing of the shortfall(s) in the context of the performance and rigor of other courses; implication for likelihood of success; and any error on the part of UA.

The Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid (CAFA), and the University of California system as a whole, considers the integrity of the admissions process to be of the utmost importance. Applicants are expected to complete their University of California application completely and accurately, and the veracity of that information is at the core of all admissions decisions. This expectation pertains to all academic records, regardless of how far in the past or where (domestic or international) the record was created, and includes any and all transcript notations (e.g., incompletes, withdrawals, etc.). In cases where an applicant has submitted incomplete or inaccurate information on their University of California application, the matter will be treated as a case of falsification. Per the University of California Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline, substantiated falsification may be the cause for denial of admission, or withdrawal of an admission offer, registration cancellation, expulsion, or revocation of a University of California degree, regardless of whether the misrepresented information or data are used in an admissions decision. Any student conduct outcome (formerly sanction) imposed will be appropriate to the violation, taking into consideration the context and seriousness of the violation.

Students cancelled for falsification based on the University of California system-wide verification process must appeal to the University of California Office of the President. This pre-admission verification process includes: academic history, awards and honors, volunteer and community service, education preparation programs, coursework other than a-g, extracurricular activities, personal insight questions (including plagiarism check), and work experience. Additional details can be located in the UC Quick Reference Guide located on the UC website for counselors.

Falsified application information may include but is not limited to: making inaccurate statements on the application, withholding information requested on the application, giving false information, or submitting fraudulent or falsified documents in support of an admissions application  — see the University of California Statement of Application Integrity.

Falsification Appeal Content: The student must include a statement including relevant information as to why the cancellation is inappropriate. Any supporting documentation that has direct bearing on the case must be included. Appeals are expected to contain any required academic records, including high school/college transcripts and test scores (unofficial copies are acceptable if official copies have already been submitted and received by Admissions prior to the cancellation notice), as well as any relevant official documentation, and submitted by the appeal deadline.

Falsification Appeal Considerations: The CARC will consider a variety of factors, including but not limited to, new and compelling information and the nature, severity, and timing of the falsification. The CARC may consult with other UC Santa Cruz officials, such as College Provosts, Office of Conduct and Community Standards, and the Office of Campus Counsel, as appropriate.

Application falsification may be discovered after the student’s matriculation quarter begins. In such cases, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will inform the student of the alleged falsification and potential UC Santa Cruz Code of Student Conduct student conduct outcomes (formerly sanctions), that may include, but are not limited to, dismissal, transcript notation, suspension, disciplinary warning, delayed awarding of degree, or other student conduct outcomes. The student may appeal the sanction to the Cancellation Appeals Review Committee following the process outlined above. If the CARC finds the student responsible for falsification, it may impose the recommended sanction or an alternative sanction.

In cases where the student is found responsible for falsification after completing their matriculation quarter, and the assigned sanction is admission cancellation, dismissal, suspension, or revoking or delayed awarding of degree and/or UC credits, the student will be formally referred to Student Conduct for an incident review meeting within 10 business days after CARC decision notification.

Appeals of admission cancellation related to the system-wide University of California verification process must be delivered to the University of California Office of the President according to their policies. The administrative action related to such cancellation occurs immediately, irrespective of timing.