New Business —

Weizhang Huang recommended that even though we have access to multiple universities’ programs, we should focus on the current KU policy.

Hollie Hall stated that a shorter period of time lapse than the current 4 year requirement may attract more students to want to return to school.

Karen Ledom stated that the 4 year gap requirement seems to be the most disadvantage in the current policy and should be a shorter term and the committee recommendation was to reduce the 4 year lag to 2 years. Anything shorter may encourage sitting out for one semester and returning. Sean Seyer concurred that one semester was too short a lag period.

Karen Ledom reminded the committee that even with forgiveness, the classes and grades would remain on the transcript but would not be part of the GPA calculation and that the forgiveness would only apply to KU classes not transfer classes.

After discussion on the length of time lag, the number of covered semesters and the minimum GPA for forgiveness, the committee voted to approve the draft to be forwarded to the University Senate. As shown below with some minor corrections as approved via e-mail by the committee.

Section 8. Academic Forgiveness

2.8.1 An undergraduate student may request the Office of the University Registrar, with the approval of the Dean or the Dean’s designee, to invoke academic forgiveness in cases where the following conditions are met. (The term "academic forgiveness" shall mean the suspension of University Senate Rules and Regulations, Article 2.4.2.1, in order to discount the coursework of past academic semester(s).)

2.8.2 A student may request Academic Forgiveness from the Office of the Registrar if the student meets all the following conditions:

1. Is currently classified as an undergraduate student at KU.
2. Has had a break in attendance of at least two years from KU.
3. Has earned an overall GPA of less than 2.5 prior to the two-year break from KU.
4. Currently has an overall GPA since returning to KU of at least 2.5.
5. Has earned at least 12 credit hours since returning to KU.

2.8.3 When invoking academic forgiveness, a student may designate not more than four (4) academic terms to be discounted in the student's academic record. The grades will remain on their transcript but will not be used to compute their new GPA. Academic Forgiveness does not apply to credits taken at other colleges/universities.

2.8.4 Academic terms discounted for a student using the academic forgiveness policy shall not be computed into the student's current G.P.A., nor shall any hour completed, or degree requirements satisfied in these discounted terms be counted toward a degree granted from the University of Kansas.

2.8.5 When invoking academic forgiveness, a student must obtain the approval of the Dean or the Dean’s designee in the student's academic unit. The student then submits the request for academic forgiveness to the University Registrar.