Petition Process

Animation
Associate Degree Nursing (R.N.)
Dental Assistant
Interior Design
Medical Assistant
Medical Coding Specialist
Nursing Completion LPN to ADN
Nursing Completion Paramedic to ADN
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Practical Nursing
Radiography
Respiratory Therapy
Surgical Technologist (one-year)
Surgical Technology (two-year)
Veterinary Technician

Below are estimated wait times for programs that follow the petition process. These estimates start at the time a student is accepted into a pre-program status*. This estimate is subject to change due to the variable nature of students in the pre-program status and the number of students ready to petition each semester.

It is important to note that only students who have completed or are in-progress with all requirements can petition to enter core program classes. Therefore, the number of times a student must petition may be dependent on when the student is complete with requirements.

• Animation - Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 2 years
• Associate Degree Nursing – Petition process occurs each semester, excluding summer, estimated wait time 1-3 semesters, also subject to change due to program option (traditional, Paramedic-AD, or LPN-AD)
• Dental Assistant – Petition process occurs each semester, including summer, estimated wait time 0-1 semesters
• Dental Hygienist – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 4-5 years (estimate is subject to change)
• Interior Design – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 1-2 years
• Medical Assistant – Petition process occurs each semester, excluding summer, no current estimated wait time
• Medical Coding Specialist – Petition process occurs each semester, excluding summer, estimated wait time 0-1 semesters
• Nursing Completion LPN to ADN – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 0-1 years
• Nursing Completion Paramedic to ADN – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 0-1 years
• Occupational Therapy Assistant – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 0-1 years
• Practical Nursing – Petition process occurs each semester, excluding summer, estimated wait time 1-3 semesters
• Radiography – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 2-3 years (estimate is subject to change)
• Respiratory Therapy – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time 0-1 years
• Surgical Technologist (one-year) – Petition process occurs once a year, estimated wait time
  1-2 years (estimate is subject to change)
• Surgical Technology (two-year) - Petition process occurs once a year beginning Fall 2023, no current estimated wait time
• Veterinary Technician – Petition process occurs once a year, no current estimated wait time

*Note: Application completion dates do not transfer between programs. Please see "How are students selected?" for more information about how completion dates impact entry into core courses.

Selection for entry in to core courses will be determined based on successful completion of all petition requirements, admit term, residency priority and then date of program application completion. Application completion dates do not transfer between programs. Programs may adopt additional selection criteria to meet the needs of their program, labor market, and College strategic plans.

Petition requirements must be completed or be in-progress at the time of petition. Priority for entry into the core courses will be given to those candidates who have all requirements completed at the time of petitioning.

• If all first-semester spaces are not filled by candidates with all petition requirements completed, the remaining petitioners will be reviewed and any open spots will be tentatively awarded to qualified petitioners who are in-progress with the remaining requirements.
• The tentatively awarded spots will become permanent only after the candidate successfully completes the remaining in-progress requirements.

Priority will be given to district residents, then non-district state residents (including Minnesota residents), followed by out-of-state residents.

Students interested in beginning the core courses in the program must petition during specified petition dates. Only those students who have completed or are in-progress with all petition requirements should submit a petition. Students admitted into a pre-program status should run a Degree Progress Report to see which requirements they have completed. 

Students will be notified if they are selected for entry into core courses approximately 15 business days after the close of the priority petition window. Students who are not selected are encouraged to petition again during a future petition window. All decisions regarding selection are final and cannot be appealed. The petition process is subject to change each term. Changes may include programs that utilize petition, petition requirements, the selection process, and priority categories.

Beginning core program courses will require a full commitment. Successful students become immersed in their program of study and are not as readily available for other commitments. You should determine if this is the right time for you to begin the program based upon personal and financial commitments.

Petition requirements vary by program. Students should run a Degree Progress Report to review the petition requirements and see which requirements they have completed. If your Degree Progress Report does not show that you have completed or are in-progress with all petition requirements, then you will not be eligible to submit the petition form.

Applicants are responsible for submitting official high school transcripts, college transcripts, or test scores that demonstrate completion of the petition requirements. If your transcripts include a former first or last name, contact the Enrollment Center to minimize processing delays. 

As transfer credit, test scores and grades are posted to your student record, your Degree Progress Report will automatically update to show your progress with petition requirements. You should run your Degree Progress Report to confirm which petition requirements you have completed.

If a petition requirement shows as not satisfied on the Degree Progress Report and you believe you have completed this requirement through previous coursework at another institution, please complete a Transfer Credit Evaluation Request Form to have your transcript(s) reviewed. If you have not already submitted an official college transcript from that institution, please submit this for evaluation. To allow for processing time, you will need to submit the transfer credit evaluation form and transcript(s) 15 days prior to the opening of the priority petition window. It is important to note that any additional documentation submitted to complete petition requirements can take up to a week to update on your record.

If you complete the petition workshop or testing at Madison College, it is important to note that it can take approximately 48 hours to update on your record.

Only those students who have completed or are in-progress with all petition requirements should submit a petition. The petition process happens one to three times per year, depending on your program. 

Spring 2023 Petition

The Spring 2023 term has begun and the petition form is no longer available for entry into this term.

Summer 2023 Petition: Open

Petitioning for Summer 2023 program courses begins February 1, 2023 for the following programs:

• Dental Assistant 
• Medical Laboratory Technician - Accelerated: This program will not petition for Summer. Students who are ready to petition should contact the School of Health Sciences to confirm next steps.

The priority petition window will close end of day February 15, 2023. Students who petition during the priority petition window (February 1, 2023 – February 15, 2023) will be considered first.

If the program is not full at the end of the priority window (February 15, 2023), the window will be extended until the program is full or until one week prior to the semester start, whichever comes first. 

Only students admitted into a pre-program status for the Summer 2023 term or prior will have access to petition for the Summer 2023 term.

Programs not listed above do not petition for summer terms.

Fall 2023 Petition begins April 1, 2023

Petitioning for Fall 2023 program courses will begin April 1, 2023 for the following programs:

• Animation
• Associate Degree Nursing -- petition window closes on April 15, 2023 
• Dental Hygienist -- petition window closes on April 15, 2023  
• Interior Design
• Medical Assistant 
• Medical Coding Specialist 
• Nursing Completion LPN to ADN 
• Nursing Completion Paramedic to ADN 
• Occupational Therapy Assistant 
• Practical Nursing 
• Radiography -- petition window closes on April 15, 2023 
• Respiratory Therapy 
• Surgical Technologist (one-year): Students admitted into the one-year pre-program who have completed the petition requirements for the one-year program can petition for Fall 2023
• Surgical Technology (two-year): Students admitted into the one OR two-year pre-program who have completed the petition requirements for the two-year program can petition for fall terms beginning Fall 2023)
• Veterinary Technician 

The priority petition window will close end of day April 15, 2023 for all programs except Dental Assistant. Students who petition during the priority petition window (April 1, 2023 – April 15, 2023) will be considered first.

If the program is not full at the end of the priority window (April 15, 2023), the window will be extended until the program is full or until one week prior to the semester start, whichever comes first. This does not apply to Associate Degree Nursing, Dental Hygienist and Radiography; the deadline for these programs will remain April 15, 2023.

Petitioning for Fall 2023 program courses will begin June 1, 2023 for the following program:

• Dental Assistant

The priority petition window for Dental Assistant will close end of day June 15, 2023. Students who petition during the priority petition window (June 1, 2023 - June 15, 2023) will be considered first.

If the Dental Assistant program is not full by the end of the priority window (June 15, 2023), the window will be extended until the program is full or until one week prior to the semester start, whichever comes first.

Only students admitted into a pre-program status for the Fall 2023 term or prior will have access to petition for the Fall 2023 term.

Programs not listed above do not petition for fall terms.

Spring 2024 Petition begins September 1, 2023

Petitioning for Spring 2024 program courses will begin September 1, 2023 for the following programs:

• Associate Degree Nursing -- petition window will close on September 15, 2023
• Dental Assistant     
• Medical Coding Specialist
• Nursing Completion LPN to ADN
• Practical Nursing

The priority petition window will close end of day September 15, 2023. Students who petition during the priority petition window (September 1, 2023 – September 15, 2023) will be considered first.

If the program is not full at the end of the priority window (September 15, 2023), the window will be extended until the program is full or until one week prior to the semester start, whichever comes first. This does not apply to Associate Degree Nursing; the deadline for this program will remain September 15, 2023.

Only students admitted into a pre-program status for the Spring 2024 term or prior will have access to petition for the Spring 2024 term.

Programs not listed above do not petition for spring terms.

Students must petition to gain access to core program courses. Only students active in a pre-program status will have access to the Petition Form. To access the form:

1. Log into the myMadisonCollege student center
2. Click on "Communications"
3. Click the "To Do's"
4. Select the petition to do list item
5. Click the petition form hyperlink in the description
6. The petition form will open
7. Answer all questions and review all information provided within the form
8. Click the “Submit” Button
9. Within an hour after submitting the form you will receive a confirmation message in your student center on myMadisonCollege. If you do not receive this confirmation message within 24 hours, you must contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or call 608.246.6210.

Madison College will review the petition form that you submitted and make sure that you meet all of the petition requirements. Students will receive letter or email notification outlining their next steps approximately 15 business days after the close of the priority petition window. Students who are not selected will have the opportunity to petition during the next open petition window.

Communications will be delivered to your Madison College email or your mailing address.

If selected, you will receive instructions regarding next steps and required items. Failure to successfully complete these required items may result in the forfeiture of the awarded space and start the application process from the beginning. 

Students that are awarded a seat are expected to start the core program courses for the awarded term. Students that choose not to begin the core program courses or are not able to begin core program courses may be discontinued from the pre-program status. 

Students who are awarded a seat must continue to successfully meet program requirements to remain in the program. Failure to successfully complete program requirements will result in discontinuation from the program and the student will be required to follow program policy to re-enter. If enrolled in future semester core classes they are no longer able to take, students will be notified of the requirement to drop and/or be dropped by the College.

If you have been awarded a seat and are in-progress with one or more petition requirements, you are required to earn a C or better in the course(s) and send notification of successful completion to Madison College. 

Notification is due by the following dates based on which term you are completing the course(s).

• Summer: August 23
• Fall: January 5
• Spring: June 15

If you are completing the course(s) at Madison College, email EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu when the final grade is posted in your myMadisonCollege account. 

If you are completing the course(s) at another college, submit the final, official transcript by the deadline to Madison College. Your transcript must be sent directly from the current school to Madison College to be considered official. 

Students who do not show completion of the in-progress course with a grade of C or higher will forfeit their awarded seat in the program.

Students that are interested in having additional questions answered, meeting with an academic advisor, and/or understanding the next steps to complete in the petition process are encouraged to attend a drop-in advising session.