Fresh Start

Get a fresh start through academic renewal

This is an update to the policy formerly known as Grade Forgiveness. 

If your first attempt at your undergraduate degree from IU was not as successful as you might have hoped, Fresh Start through Academic Renewal offers a second chance. 

You may apply for Fresh Start if: 

  • You’re an undergraduate student
  • You’re pursuing your first bachelor’s degree
  • You have not enrolled at any IU campus for 36 or more consecutive months (3 years)

The Fresh Start through Academic Renewal policy allows you to start over with a  GPA of 0.00.  For any courses in which you previously received a P, S, or a C or better, the credit hours will count toward your degree but won't be factored into your GPA.

All IUPUI undergraduate, degree-seeking students who meet the criteria, regardless of the unit of enrollment, are eligible to apply.  Application for Fresh Start must be made by the last day of classes in the second term of enrollment after returning from hiatus.  If you're interested in Fresh Start, talk with your academic advisor or school for details.

The fine print

You can request Fresh Start only once. However, taking advantage of this doesn’t keep you from using other available course-specific grade replacement options after you start taking classes again.

You must complete a minimum of 30 hours on the IUPUI campus after your return in order to meet the graduation residency requirement. 

Fresh Start is available for courses taken at any Indiana University campus and may be applicable to certain Purdue enrollment.  

A note about Financial Aid: Fresh Start may have impact on Federal Aid eligibility, but it does not replace such processes as appeals for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). If you have applied or will apply for Federal Student Aid, please see information about separate SAP processes.

For more information about Fresh Start through Academic Renewal at IUPUI, read the IUPUI Faculty Council's policies and resolutions.