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Academic Fresh Start

"Academic Fresh Start", in accordance with Tennessee Tech Policy 1205, is a plan of academic forgiveness which allows undergraduate students who have experienced academic difficulty to make a clean start upon returning to college after an extended absence. The Academic Fresh Start allows eligible students to resume study without being penalized for his/her past unsatisfactory scholarship and signals the initiation of a new QPA/GPA to be used for determining academic standing. Readmitted students who were formally enrolled in the institution as well as transfer students who meet institutional requirements for admission and who have been separated from all institutions of higher education for a minimum of four (4) years are eligible for the Fresh Start. After the admission or readmission as a degree-seeking student, a student may file formal application to the Office of Enrollment Management describing an academic plan and requesting the Academic Fresh Start. A student may be granted a Fresh Start only once. After applying for Fresh Start, completion of at least fifteen (15) semester hours of earned degree coursework with a minimum QPA of 2.0 is required for all work attempted in order for Fresh Start to be granted.

Terms of the Academic Fresh Start

  1. The student's permanent record will remain a record of all work; however, courses taken and previously failed will be excluded from the calculation of the QPA/GPA. The student's transcript will note that the Fresh Start was made and the date of the Fresh Start.

  2. Courses with a D grade will also be excluded from the calculation when a grade of C or better is required in the student's current major.

  3. QPA, GPA and credit hours will reflect courses for which passing grades were earned and retained.

  4. Retained grades will be calculated in the Fresh Start QPA/GPA.

  5. Courses with D or F grades must be repeated at the institution when they are required in the student's current major.

  6. All remaining courses for the current degree objectives must be completed at the institution.

  7. No transient credit will be accepted after invoking Academic Fresh Start.

  8. The application of retained credit toward degree requirements will be determined by the requirements currently in effect at the time the academic renewal status is conferred on the student.

  9. Specific program regulations must also be met.

  10. Previously satisfied ACCUPLACER requirements will not be forfeited.

  11. Upon degree admission, Fresh Start applicants who did not satisfy ACCUPLACER requirements at the time of previous enrollment and whose academic plan includes completion of a college-level English or mathematics course must meet current ACCUPLACER requirements regarding enrollment in college English and mathematics courses.

  12. This policy is independent of financial aid regulations. Financial aid requirements at the time of application will apply. Therefore, a Fresh Start applicant should check with his/her financial aid counselor for guidance.