Academic Renewal

A student may petition to have substandard academic work (D+, D, D-, F, NC, or NP) disregarded from their cumulative grade point average when such work does not reflect their current demonstrated ability.

A student who wishes to qualify for a degree, certificate or transfer may petition to disregard up to three consecutive quarters, plus a summer session, for a maximum of 45 quarter units, of work completed at De Anza or Foothill college. 

Academic renewal actions are irreversible. 

Academic renewal does not guarantee that other colleges will accept this action.  Acceptance of academic renewal is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Once a degree has been awarded at either De Anza or Foothill college, courses taken prior to the awarding of the degree or certificate of achievement cannot be excluded.

Approval of the request is subject to the following conditions:

• At least three quarters must have elapsed since the last quarter to be disregarded was completed.
• Since the last quarter to be considered for Academic Renewal, students must have completed at least
  
  • 15 units with a 3.0 GPA, or
  • 30 units with a 2.5 GPA, or
  • 45 units with a 2.0 GPA
• Work completed at another institution, including upper division coursework, may be considered.
• A student may be granted academic renewal only once.
• A substandard grade in any course that has been discontinued may be disregarded from the student's cumulative GPA and may be granted an exception to the minimum requirements for academic renewal.
• Courses selected by the student for academic renewal will not be counted toward the student's GPA and unit requirements or totals.
• The student transcript will be annotated in such a manner that all work – including work that is disregarded through academic renewal – remains legible to ensure a true and complete history.