Dear John:
I am writing on behalf of the Assistant Deans and the University
Registrar to ask you to present to the Committee on Undergraduate
Studies a request for a policy revision. The Assistant Deans and the
Registrar are proposing a revision to the existing policy on Academic
Renewal (Catalog, p. 43; see below). In effect, the Academic Renewal
policy re-starts the gpa calculation following renewal; only the
courses taken after renewal are included in the graduation gpa. Thus,
any poor grades prior to renewal have no impact on the final gpa.
The intent of the proposed revision is to bring the Academic Renewal
policy into line with the Academic Residency policy, which stipulates
that a student transferring to UD from another school must earn a
minimum of 30 credits at UD. No similar restriction is currently
included in the Academic Renewal policy, with the effect that a
student's graduation gpa might be calculated on the
basis of the 12
credits that are required to qualify for renewal (see #2 below). The
proposed revision would close this loophole, which was brought to our
attention through an actual case.
The policy and proposed revision are below. New text is in caps and is
new #5. Old #5 becomes new #6.
We would appreciate if you would please introduce this to the approval
process through the Undergraduate Studies Committee, with the intention
of including it in the Catalog.
Thank you.
Marcia
_______________________________________
ACADEMIC RENEWAL MAY ALLOW YOU TO START OVER
When a student leaves the University and later applies for admission or
readmission, he or she may wish to enter with a 'clean slate.' Students
who return to the University after a separation of at least five
calendar years are eligible for academic renewal if they earn a C or
better in each course for 12 semester hours after returning to the
University. In such cases, grades from previously taken courses are not
included in the calculation of the GPA.
The following regulations govern this option:
1. Students must consult with the dean of the college in
which the
student plans to major, and course selection must be approved in writing
before the student registers.
2. The request for academic renewal will be processed after
successfully completing 12 credit hours worth of course work.
3. All courses and grades will remain on the student's
transcript and
will be identified.
4. Credits completed prior to readmission with a grade of C
or better
may be counted toward the degree.
5. A MINIMUM OF THIRTY ADDITIONAL CREDITS APPLICABLE
TOWARD THE
DEGREE MUST BE EARNED FOLLOWING THE ACADEMIC RENEWAL. THIS
THIRTY
CREDITS MAY INCLUDE THE 12 CREDITS REQUIRED UNDER #2 ABOVE.
6. Academic renewal can be granted only once during the
student's
enrollment at the University.
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_____
M. Watson-Whitmyre, Ph.D.
Office of
102 Elliott
Hall
telephone: 302-831-1281