EKU Work

Academic Fresh Start allows undergraduate students who are returning to Eastern Kentucky University after remaining out for an extended period of time to remove from their GPA a portion of the work attempted during prior college enrollment(s). EKU offers this option of academic renewal because it recognizes that some students fail to perform satisfactorily due to immaturity or to other factors that interfere with their academic performance.

Students considering academic fresh start should make careful note of the following policy conditions:

1. The student must not have attended Eastern Kentucky University or any other institution of higher education for a period of at least two consecutive years sometime after attempting work to be removed from GPA.
2. The student must be currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student at EKU.
3. The student must not have previously participated in Academic Fresh start or declared academic bankruptcy of EKU work.
4. Only semesters where the term GPA is below 2.0 will be considered.
5. Within eligible terms (see 4. above), only courses with grades of “D” or “F,” or the equivalent, may be considered.
6. During their first semester after being readmitted a student requesting fresh start must attain a minimum of a 2.0 term GPA. The student must earn no grade lower than a “C” on at least 12 hours of 100-level (or higher) EKU coursework, and pass any college readiness courses. All courses and grades, including repeated courses, will be counted in the qualifying term GPA.¹ For the purpose of determining fresh start a grade of “S” is acceptable.
7. A student who does not enroll in 12 credit hours of 100-level or higher coursework during their first term back at EKU will have their enrollment in the subsequent semester combined with that of the first to determine fresh start. All academic work attempted in the term that includes the twelfth credit hour is affected by the above grade restrictions.
8. Before formally requesting consideration for fresh start, the student must confer with fresh start experts in the Registrar’s Office to determine which semesters may qualify for and what the impact to the student’s GPA will be. The student will then complete and sign the Academic Fresh Start form.
9. Any academic work used to complete a baccalaureate degree is not eligible once the degree has been awarded.

¹

If it takes more than one semester to complete the necessary 12 credit hours, the student must maintain a consistent 2.0 term GPA since being readmitted.

If fresh start is granted, the class(es):

• Will remain visible on the transcript, but with a “$” designation.
• Will not be counted in the student’s GPA.
• Will not count as earned hours. (Note that Financial Aid will continue to count these hours as attempted hours.)
• Will be included in the separate GPA calculation which is done when determining graduation honors.
• Will be prevented by Degree Works from meeting any degree requirements (including the 42 hour upper division requirement). However, the dean of the college of the student’s major may waive major, supporting, and general education requirements met by fresh start courses. Note that this does not add back any credit hours from fresh start courses, the student may be required to complete additional elective courses to obtain the minimum number of credit hours required to graduate.

Transfer Work

Fresh start of transfer coursework undergraduate students who have been out of higher education for an extended period to void a portion of their earlier work attempted at other institutions. EKU offers this option because it recognizes that some students fail to perform satisfactorily due to immaturity or to other factors that interfere with their academic performance.

To qualify for transfer fresh start, a student must meet the following conditions:

1. The student must not have attended Eastern Kentucky University or any other institution of higher education for a period of at least two consecutive years sometime after attempting the work to be removed from GPA.
2. Students may request to fresh start prior work. However, all EKU fresh start restrictions and rules listed in the general academic fresh start section of this catalog apply.
3. After being admitted to EKU, the student must attain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA with no grade lower than a “C” on at least 12 hours of college-level (i.e., 100 or above) EKU courses and pass any attempted college readiness courses. All courses and grades, including repeated courses, will be counted when determining eligibility for academic fresh start. A grade of “S” is also acceptable for meeting academic fresh start eligibility. All work attempted in the academic term that includes the twelfth hour is affected by these grade restrictions.
4. The transfer student must submit a completed Academic Fresh Start request form to the Office of the Registrar. All students should consult with a fresh start expert in the Registrar’s Office. Together, they will identify the transfer institutions from which work is to be considered, as well as the specific semesters that qualify for academic fresh start.
5. The student may not have previously participated in fresh start or declared transfer bankruptcy at EKU.
6. Academic work earned before completion of a baccalaureate degree is not eligible once the degree has been awarded.
7. The student must be currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student at EKU.

If transfer fresh start is granted, the work:

• Will remain visible on the transcript, but with a “$” designation.
• Will not be counted in the student’s GPA.
• Will not count as earned hours. (Note that Financial Aid will continue to count these hours as attempted hours.)
• Will be included in the separate GPA calculation which is done when determining graduation honors.
• Will be prevented by Degree Works from meeting any degree requirements (including the 42 hour upper division requirement). However, the dean of the college of the student’s major may waive major, supporting, and general education requirements met by fresh start courses. Note that this does not add back any credit hours from fresh start courses, the student may be required to complete additional elective courses to obtain the minimum number of credit hours required to graduate.

Transfer students who have participated in academic fresh start (or academic bankruptcy/renewal) at a previous institution, and have not yet earned a baccalaureate degree, may petition through the University Exception process to either have the affected transfer coursework brought into EKU as it was recorded by the previous institution, or have the coursework applied through EKU’s academic fresh start policy.