Fresh Start Policy

Purpose. A student who has been separated from the university for a minimum of two calendar years (24 consecutive months) and has reenrolled may apply to the appropriate college dean or designee for a Fresh Start. Having reviewed the prior and intervening factors for evidence of potential for improved academic success, the college dean or designee may implement this policy.

Academic Standards. A student reenrolled under this policy must meet current degree requirements and will be reviewed under current academic standards requirements applicable at the time of reenrollment. A student reenrolled under this policy waives the right to exercise the Canceled Semester Policy.

Transcript Effects. All credits and grades for IUP course work taken before reenrollment under this policy shall remain on the transcript. Upon reenrollment, a new cumulative (GPA) is established based on credits and grades earned from the date of reenrollment.

Previously accepted transfer credits and IUP credits/grades earned before reenrollment will be reviewed in terms of appropriateness (applicability, timeliness) to the new degree. Those courses, approved by the college dean or designee, will be counted as credits earned and applied toward graduation in the manner of transfer credits.

Financial Aid Effects. Students reenrolled under the Fresh Start Policy must still meet the financial aid qualitative and quantitative SAP requirements (using all previously enrolled semester data). Federal regulations do not permit the financial aid office staff to remove or ignore any academic statistics.

Constraints. This policy may be applied only once. For a first bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 30 credits must be completed at IUP after a student returns to IUP under this policy. For a first associate degree, a minimum of 15 credits must be completed at IUP after a student returns to IUP under this policy. A student who wishes to enter a major in a college other than the one from which they were dismissed will apply to the original college, which will forward the application and related records to the new college for action.

Please note that students must complete their returning semester classes before the Fresh Start Policy will take effect and be applied to their academic record