Board of Regents Policy Academic Fresh Start (CT State Community College)

Academic Fresh Start is a one-time opportunity for eligible students who have not attended college for a period of one or more years (two standard semesters) to have prior grades earned at Connecticut State Community College, or one of the legacy Connecticut community colleges, excluded from their academic Grade Point Average (GPA) after re-admission to Connecticut State Community College.

All grades previously earned will remain on the student's transcript. The semesters for which Academic Fresh Start is invoked will include a transcript symbol indicating that the policy is in effect. The refreshed GPA will reflect academic amnesty, but the original GPA will be maintained for the purpose of determining Financial Aid eligibility. If the Academic Fresh Start option is approved, the student will retain credit for courses with a grade of "C-minus" or above, including "P" (Pass), “CR” (Credit), and “CRT” (Credit Transfer).

After re-enrollment, a student must complete 9 credits with a GPA of 2.0 in order to have the Academic Fresh Start applied to their record. A student must complete a minimum of 15 credits after returning to college under the Academic Fresh Start option to be eligible for a degree and for graduation honors or twenty-five percent of the credits necessary for the completion of a certificate to be eligible for that certificate and graduation honors.

An Academic Fresh Start does not guarantee admission or re-admission to a selective admission program.

The Academic Fresh Start option does not apply to any completed degree or certificate.

The Connecticut State Community College administration is responsible for developing its own procedures for managing Academic Fresh Start, including where and how the student applies, what forms are used, who approves the application, and how the student's progress is monitored.

Policy History:
Adopted 7/28/03
Revised 6/19/06, 5/19/22