Academic Renewal

Academic Renewal allows North Georgia College & State University degree-seeking students who earlier experienced academic difficulty to make a fresh start and have one final opportunity to earn a Bachelor's degree.

1. In order to qualify for Academic Renewal a student must (a) be absent from institutions granting transferable credit for a period of five consecutive calendar years; (b) have exited learning support; (c) apply for Academic Renewal. Academic renewal is not granted to students who have already earned a Baccalaureate degree.

2. Academic Renewal will be granted only one time.

3. Granting of Academic Renewal does not supersede financial aid policies regarding satisfactory academic progress.

4. A transfer or former student who is returning and who qualifies for Academic Renewal may be accepted and have her/his transcript evaluated for Academic Renewal upon written request to the Director of Undergraduate Admissions or may apply for Academic Renewal within one year of re-entry into North Georgia following a five-year absence, upon written request to the University Registrar.

5. Currently enrolled students who qualify may apply for Academic Renewal within one year of the implementation of the Academic Renewal policy. The Academic Renewal begins with the first-time enrollment after the five-year absence.

6. Students granted Academic Renewal shall retain academic credit for previously completed course work in which a grade of A, B, C, or S has been earned. Grades for retained courses are not calculated in the Academic Renewal GPA (AR-GPA).

7. The AR-GPA begins at the time of entry into North Georgia following a five-year absence and applies to courses completed subsequent to the date of Academic Renewal.

(a) The transcript shall show all transferable academic course work and a true cumulative GPA shall be recorded on the transcript for Academic Renewal students.

(b) A legend shall appear on the North Georgia transcript for the transfer student below the transferred credits or on the native student's transcript indicating the date of Academic Renewal. This legend shall be followed by a listing of courses for which Academic Renewal credit has been retained.

(c) Classes that are repeated shall be indicated as repeat classes even though credit has not been granted.

8. Granting of Academic Renewal will supersede the grade point average requirements of the Departments of Education, Nursing, and Physical Therapy under the following conditions:

(a) A student granted Academic Renewal shall earn at least 18 additional semester hours of academic credit, excluding basic military science and physical education activities classes, with an acceptable grade point average before being considered for admission into any of the programs.

(b) Re-entry into education, nursing, or physical therapy, for previously admitted students who request Academic Renewal, is not automatic and requires departmental approval.

9. United States and Georgia history and constitution requirements met prior to the granting of Academic Renewal will remain on the student's permanent record even though the courses used to satisfy these requirements may not be included in the Academic Renewal credit.

10. A transfer or native student who receives Academic Renewal shall be subject to academic performance guidelines, probation and suspension policies, and Regents' Test requirements as stated in the North Georgia Undergraduate Bulletin. Hours for the application of these policies shall be the cumulative attempted hours, not the Academic Renewal credit hours.

11. A student who has been granted Academic Renewal shall present 30 additional semester hours of academic credits, excluding basic military science and physical education activities courses, in order to be eligible for graduation honors or any other honors having academic requirements.

12. The AR-GPA shall be used for graduation purposes. All other graduation requirements as stated in the appropriate North Georgia Undergraduate Bulletin shall apply.