Academic Amnesty Policy for Prior Course Work at Rockford University

Grades for prior course work at Rockford University may be excluded from the computation of a student’s official GPA. Applications for Academic Amnesty must be submitted in writing to the Academic Standards Committee (ASC). Application instructions are available in Student Administrative Services (SAS).

Eligibility for application:

• Re-entering students seeking readmission to Rockford University for a four-year baccalaureate program who have not earned a bachelor’s degree may be eligible for exclusion of grades earned at Rockford University five or more years prior to their current term of admission as degree-seeking students. This policy does not apply to graduate programs.
• A student who is not eligible for readmission to the University with their incoming GPA may make a formal written application to the Academic Standards Committee (ASC) for provisional readmission. The student needs to provide reasons for previous performance, and information about current educational plans.
• Upon successful completion of one semester as a full-time student or 16 credits as a part-time student, academic amnesty will be granted. “Successful completion” is defined as “satisfactory academic progress” as described in the current Rockford University Academic catalog.
• A student who qualifies for readmission to the University is eligible to apply to ASC for academic amnesty no later than the end of their first semester of readmission.
• A student can apply for and receive academic amnesty only once. The decision of the ASC is final. There is no appeal process.

If Academic Amnesty is Granted

• All courses and grades taken during an identified academic term(s) at least five years before readmission will continue to appear on the student’s record. Note: If multiple terms are included in the granting of academic amnesty, the terms must be contiguous.
• The grades of all courses in the applicable term(s) will be excluded from the computation of the student’s official cumulative GPA. Only the official GPA will be considered for eligibility for graduation honors.
• The credits of all courses in the applicable term(s) will not count as credits earned toward the degree.
• The courses in the applicable term(s) cannot be used to satisfy any degree requirements.

Effect on Student Financial Aid

Students should confer with SAS to check their eligibility for financial aid. Academic amnesty does not adjust the GPA, nor does it adjust the number of credits attempted and counted toward satisfactory academic progress for financial aid.

Effect on Admission to Programs

Academic amnesty applies to readmission to the University, not to particular programs. The program remains the ultimate authority to determine admission into that program. Accordingly, programs retain the right to limit the number of repeated courses. If eligible for admission to a program after receiving academic amnesty, a student cannot be rejected by the program solely because the student has been granted academic amnesty.

All other University policies remain in effect and are not changed by the Academic Amnesty policy.