SWS Waiver Request

Dr. Lindsay Ellis, the director of the SWS Program, will consider requests for changes in or waivers of the Supplemental Writing Skills Course requirement. Please do not submit a change or waiver request simply because you have taken a course that required writing. Changes of the requirement are granted only in extraordinary circumstances. Students planning to study abroad, who want to inquire whether a course offered while studying away, may submit an inquiry for advice using this system. Official waivers can only be submitted after a course has been completed, when the students' written work and grades can be evaluated.

Before submitting a waiver request, make certain that your course meets the main criteria for an SWS course:

At least one third of the course grade must be based on written assignments.
At least four class hours must be devoted to instruction/discussion of writing.
At least 3,000 words must be submitted.
Students must be taught revision. Courses which assign only essay exams or a term paper due in its final draft at the end of the semester do not qualify.
You must have completed the course with a grade of "C" or better (not "C-").

* denotes a required field

Student Information

First Name *

Last Name *

G-number *

Email *

Phone *

Address Line 1 *

Address Line 2

City *

State/Province *

Zip/Postal *

Course Information

Advisor's Name *

Professor's Name *

Semester in which you took Writing 150 or equivalent AND grade received *

Course for which you wish to receive SWS credit (must include course #, semester, and grade) *

Is this a GVSU course? *

Additional Information

Human Verification *

Page last modified March 6, 2026

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