3.16 Academic Renewal Policy

Related Minnesota State Board Policy: 3.29 College and University Transcripts

Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: 3.29.1 College and University Transcripts

Purpose: To allow students to exclude prior coursework from the calculation of the Normandale attempted/earned credits and GPA to increase the likelihood of meeting Normandale degree and/or selective program admission requirements.

Part 1: Definitions

Subpart A: Academic renewal.

Academic Renewal is the exclusion of one or more sequential term’s courses from the student’s overall attempted and earned credits and grade points at Normandale Community College, excluding those calculations made for determining financial aid eligibility and financial aid satisfactory academic progress.

Subpart B: Prior coursework.

Prior coursework includes credit-based coursework attempted at Normandale Community College.

Subpart C: Graduation credits and GPA.

Graduation credits and grade point average are those used to determine a student’s eligibility for graduation and the official college-level grade point average. The GPA calculated following academic renewal will not be used when awarding honors.

Subpart D: Selective program admission requirements.

Selective program admission requirements include a competitive grade point average for programs with limited capacity such as nursing and dental hygiene.

Part 2: Transcript

The Normandale Community College transcript will reflect the terms and courses for which a student has been granted academic renewal.

Part 3: Conditions

Subpart A: The coursework must have been completed at least two years prior to the semester the student submits the petition for academic renewal.

Subpart B: Following the term(s) for which academic renewal is sought and before applying for academic renewal, the student must complete at least 12 credits at Normandale with a minimum GPA of 2.00. The GPA will be determined by the student's cumulative Normandale record (all courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F, FN and FW).

Subpart C: Following the term(s) for which academic renewal is sought, the student must have completed (earned a grade of A, B, C, D or P) at least 67% of the cumulative courses in which they have enrolled at Normandale.

Subpart D: Prior to submitting a petition for academic renewal, the student is encouraged to meet with an academic advisor or counselor.

Subpart E: The semesters for which academic renewal is sought must be consecutive. All courses with grades of D, F, FN, FW, NA, NC, NW, and W will be excluded from GPA and credit calculations. Courses with grades of D for which academic renewal has been applied cannot be used to satisfy prerequisite, program or degree requirements. Courses with grades of A,B,C, and P will be included in GPA and credit calculations and be allowed to satisfy prerequisite, program, and degree requirements.

Subpart F: Academic renewal can be granted one time and cannot be reversed.

Subpart G: Consideration of courses

Students with earned degrees, Coursework attempted within a degree program cannot be considered for academic renewal after a student has earned a degree, even if that coursework was not used to satisfy program requirements.
Students without earned degrees.
Financial aid must include all courses when determining aid eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Academic renewal is recognized at Normandale Community College only. Academic renewal may not be acknowledged by other institutions to which the student transfers.

Policy History:

Date of Adoption: Established prior to 2011

Department / Owner: VP of Academic Affairs

Next Review Date: 2027

Date and Subject of Revisions:

8/18/2017 Updated Part 3, Subpart A from five years to three years. Updated Part 3 Subpart B from 15 credits to 12 credits and from GPA 2.5 to GPA of 2.0. Updated MnSCU to Minnesota State and links and formatting.

1/24/2024:

Part 3 Subpart A: Changed from three years to 2 years

Added Part 3 Subpart B; student must meet with an advisor before submitting AR petition.

Part3 Subpart D: Changed to Subpart E and modified the parameters so that students keep courses with grades of A, B, C and P.

Part 3 Subpart G.2: Split into two sections (students with earned degrees and students without) and added clarification that once MnTC or certificate has been awarded, courses used to satisfy requirements cannot be considered for academic renewal.

Part 3 Subpart G.4: Clarified language on the policy being applicable to Normandale and may not be recognized at other institutions.