The University Senate of Michigan Technological University

Proposal 2-11
(Voting Units:  Academic)

“Academic Renewal: An Amendment by Replacement of
Senate Policy 110.1
(Proposals 21-02 and 30-04)”

Submitted by:  Instructional Policy Committee

Rationale:  Students who withdraw from the university following one or more terms of poor academic performance occasionally return to the university to continue their education.  Their prior low GPA may not be indicative of their potential and may pose a significant challenge to achieving university standards of acceptable academic performance.  Prior low grades may also serve as a deterrent to reenrollment to resume study.  Academic Renewal is designed to give returning students a second chance by providing an opportunity to remove a certain portion of prior course work from grade point computation.

Current Policy with proposed changes indicated in red:
Policy:  Academic renewal is designed to permit students with a grade point average deficiency to remove the effects of the low grades from their academic record, under the following conditions:  Degree seeking undergraduate students reenrolling (i.e., being readmitted or reinstated) at Michigan Technological University after an absence of five (5) years may elect Academic Renewal through the Registrar's Office for up to two (2) calendar years of prior work.  Courses in the terms for which Academic Renewal is elected will neither be considered in grade point computation nor counted for academic credit toward graduation.  The following conditions apply in cases of Academic Renewal:

1) A student enrolleding at Michigan Tech after an absence of five (5) years or more may elect Academic Renewal. This renewal will affect only those courses taken prior to the five (5) year absence and may be elected only once in a lifetime.  Academic Standing will be initialized to ‘Good Standing’ for students electing Academic Renewal.

2) This policy applies Academic Renewal is open only to undergraduate students, must be invoked prior to graduation and is not available to students who have completed requirements for a Michigan Tech Bachelor's or Associate's degree. admitted into a degree program.  Academic Renewal is forfeited if a degree program is not completed.

3) To qualify for academic renewal, a student must have an overall GPA below 2.00 for the renewal period.  Academic Renewal must be invoked prior to graduation and is not available to students who have previously completed requirements for a Michigan Tech Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree.


4) Renewal will apply to all courses taken during the period for which it is granted, regardless of the grade earned.  If more than one term is elected for Academic Renewal, the terms must be consecutive and have been completed within a maximum of two (2) calendar years for Bachelor’s degrees or one (1) calendar year for Associate’s degrees.

5) If more than one term is to be disregarded, they must be consecutive, completed within a maximum of two calendar years for baccalaureate degree candidates or one calendar year for associate degree candidates, with no intervening enrollments at Michigan Tech.  A student receiving a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree from Michigan Tech must meet the University residency for graduation requirement in the interval between the most recent course work elected for renewal and the completion of courses at Michigan Tech.

6) All courses and grades remain on the student's transcript with a notation that academic renewal has been granted for the approved period. All grades received will be annotated with an 'R' indicating Renewal. The grades received are excluded from University grade point average computations and academic standing is initialized to good standing. To qualify for Academic Renewal, a student must have an overall GPA below 2.0 for the renewal period.

7) Course credit will be granted for those courses subjected to academic renewal in which passing grades of C (2.00/4.00 scale) or higher have been obtained. Renewal will apply to all courses taken during the period for which it is elected regardless of the grade earned.  No course credit is granted for any courses in Academic Renewal terms.  Academic Renewal courses are not subject to the existing Repeat Policy rules.

8) A student receiving a baccalaureate or associate degree from Michigan Tech must meet the University residency for graduation requirements in the interval between the most recent course work to be disregarded and completion of courses at Michigan Tech.  All courses and grades in Academic Renewal terms will remain on the student’s transcript with a notation that “Academic Renewal has been granted”.  All grades will be annotated with an ‘R’ indicating Renewal, e.g. RD or RF.  Grades thus annotated will be excluded from University grade point average computation.

9) Academic renewal is a policy of Michigan Technological University. and As such, students should be aware it may not be recognized by outside institutions or agencies. (e.g., Michigan Department of Education, other universities and colleges).

10) Once elected, Academic Renewal is irrevocable. Students must consult with their academic advisor prior to election of Academic Renewal. Signed application forms will be processed and retained by the Registrar’s Office Office of Student Records and Registration.

Clean Copy of Proposal:

Policy:  Degree seeking undergraduate students reenrolling (i.e., being readmitted or reinstated) at Michigan Technological University after an absence of five (5) years may elect Academic Renewal through the Registrar's Office for up to two (2) calendar years of prior work.  Courses in the terms for which Academic Renewal is elected will neither be considered in grade point computation nor counted for academic credit toward graduation.  The following conditions apply in cases of Academic Renewal.

1) A student enrolling at Michigan Tech after an absence of five (5) years or more may elect Academic Renewal. This renewal will affect only those courses taken prior to the five (5) year absence and may be elected only once Academic Standing will be initialized to ‘Good Standing’ for students electing Academic Renewal.

2) Academic Renewal is open only to undergraduate students admitted into a degree program.  Academic Renewal is forfeited if a degree program is not completed.

3)  Academic Renewal must be invoked prior to graduation and is not available to students who have previously completed requirements for a Michigan Tech Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree.

4)  If more than one term is elected for Academic Renewal, the terms must be consecutive and have been completed within a maximum of two (2) calendar years for Bachelor’s degrees or one (1) calendar year for Associate’s degrees.

5)  A student receiving a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree from Michigan Tech must meet the University residency for graduation requirement in the interval between the most recent course work elected for renewal and the completion of courses at Michigan Tech.

6)  To qualify for Academic Renewal, a student must have an overall GPA below 2.0 for the renewal period.

7)  Renewal will apply to all courses taken during the period for which it is elected regardless of the grade earned.  No course credit is granted for any courses in Academic Renewal terms.  Academic Renewal courses are not subject to the existing Repeat Policy rules.

8)  All courses and grades in Academic Renewal terms will remain on the student’s transcript with a notation that “Academic Renewal has been granted”.  All grades will be annotated with an ‘R’ indicating Renewal, e.g. RD or RF.  Grades thus annotated will be excluded from University grade point average computation.

9) Academic renewal is a policy of Michigan Technological University. As such, students should be aware it may not be recognized by outside institutions or agencies.

10) Once elected, Academic Renewal is irrevocable. Students must consult with their academic advisor prior to election of Academic Renewal. Signed application forms will be processed and retained by the Registrar’s Office.

 

 

Introduced to Senate: 27 October 2010
Adopted by Senate: 10 November 2010
Approved by Administration with 2 inserts for clarification (in blue): 22 November 2010
Senate Adopted Clarification Inserts: 08 December 2010