Academic Renewal

Academic Renewal – Former Returning Students

In most cases, the Clayton State University Institutional GPA will serve the needs of a student whose academic performance was weak in previous years. However, another option is available to students through the Academic Renewal Policy. This policy allows degree-seeking students who have experienced academic difficulty at Clayton State University to make a fresh start after an absence of three calendar years from Clayton State University. The policy is as follows:

Eligibility Requirements

  1. A student must have been absent from Clayton State University for three calendar years.
  2. Only undergraduate degree-seeking students may be eligible for Academic Renewal.
  3. Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree are not eligible for Academic Renewal.
  4. Students who have earned an associate degree may be eligible for Academic Renewal if they are now seeking a bachelor's degree. Students pursuing a second associate degree are not eligible for Academic Renewal.
  5. Academic renewal is intended to allow students who have experience academic difficulty to make a fresh start, therefore your institutional GPA must be below a 2.5 in order to be considered.
  6. A student must be readmitted and remain enrolled in classes (beyond the drop/add period) in order to be eligible for academic renewal.
  7. If a student does not request Academic Renewal at the time of re-enrollment after a three-year or greater period of absence from Clayton State University, the student must do so within 12-months of the first semester of re-enrollment. The 12 month application deadline does not change if the student sits out a semester.
  8. A student can be granted Academic Renewal only one time within the University System of Georgia.
  9. If a student attended another institution during their absence from Clayton State University, academic renewal is not applied toward transfer credit, unless it also meets the academic renewal criteria and is requested by the student.

Renewal Policies and Guidelines

  1. All previously attempted Clayton State coursework continues to be recorded on the student’s official transcript. A cumulative GPA (including all courses taken) and an Academic Renewal GPA must be shown on the academic record.
  2. Any academic suspensions that occurred in the past will remain on the student’s academic record.
  3. An Academic Renewal GPA and academic standing begins when the student resumes taking courses once approval for Academic Renewal has been granted. The institution will place a statement on the student’s transcript indicating the Academic Renewal status and the beginning of a separate Academic Renewal GPA.
  4. Academic credit for previously completed coursework–including transfer coursework–will be retained only for courses in which A, B, C, or S grades have been earned. Retained grades are not calculated in the Academic Renewal GPA.
  5. Because courses with a grade of D are no longer retained for credit, they will not be used to meet a pre-requisite or degree requirement.
  6. The Academic Renewal GPA will be used for determining academic standing and eligibility for graduation.
  7. No grades earned after the student returns to Clayton State will be eligible for academic renewal.
  8. The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede financial aid policies regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  9. The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede eligibility for certain programs (e.g. Education, Nursing, and Dental Hygiene).
  10. Academic Honors will be calculated on all coursework (including all transfer) completed including any coursework eligible for academic renewal.
  11. Coursework completed prior to the institutions Minimum Period of Absence cannot be used to satisfy residency requirements (the number of credit hours applied toward the degree that must be earned at the degree-awarding institution). Residency requirements must be satisfied by coursework completed after the period of approved academic renewal.

Academic Renewal – Transfer Students

In most cases, transfer students will meet the regular admission requirements to Clayton State University. However, in the event a student is not eligible for admission or has a poor academic record from a prior institution, another option is available to students through the Academic Renewal Policy. This policy allows transfer students who have experienced academic difficulty at other regionally accredited institutions of higher education to make a fresh start after an absence of three calendar years from their previous institution. The policy is as follows:

Eligibility Requirements

  1. A student must be absent from their transfer institution for three calendar years.
  2. A student may request Academic Renewal at the time of application to Clayton State University. If a student does not request Academic Renewal and is denied admission to Clayton State, the Admissions Office will send the student information on how to apply for academic renewal. Please note. If a student is eligible for admission without requesting academic renewal, it is generally in the best student's best interest to allow our transfer credit policies to apply to previous coursework rather than academic renewal.
  3. If academic renewal was granted at another University System of Georgia (USG) institution, it will be honored at Clayton State University. However, the student will be responsible for obtaining the necessary documentation from the institution where Academic Renewal was awarded.

Renewal Policies and Guidelines

  1. All previously attempted transfer coursework will be recorded on your Clayton State transfer evaluation.
  2. Academic credit for transfer coursework will be retained only for courses in which A, B, C, or S grades have been earned. Retained grades are not calculated in your Transfer Academic Renewal GPA.
  3. Because the Academic Renewal policy does not permit credit for any course in which a D has been earned, any transfer credit with a grade of D that would have been accepted under our normal practices will be denied.
  4. Clayton State University will place a statement on your Clayton State University transcript indicating the Academic Renewal policy was applied towards your transfer evaluation.
  5. The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede financial aid policies regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  6. The granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede eligibility for certain programs (e.g. Education, Nursing, and Dental Hygiene).
  7. Academic Honors will be calculated on all coursework completed including any coursework eligible for academic renewal.
  8. Academic Renewal at Clayton State University will not result in altering transcripts from previous institutions.