UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 5, Page 12
September 29, 1994
Academic renewal offers students second chance
Like the old song about falling in love, to some people, getting
a college degree might be better the second time around.
The courses are not any easier, nor have the professors become
any less demanding with the passage of time, but changed life
circumstances and an enhanced appreciation for the value of a college
education brings many former students back to campus for another try
at earning a degree.
Helping returning students achieve this goal is academic renewal,
a policy established five years ago that rewards students for their
current successes rather than punishing them for past failures.
"The objective of the academic renewal policy is to create a way
for these students to get back on track academically," University
Registrar Joseph DiMartile, explained and, it seems to be working.
Since the policy's implementation, 76 students have been granted
academic renewal. The average grade point average (GPA) for these
students prior to their academic renewal was 1.34. This figure has
increased to 3.04 since their return.
Of the 16 students who have graduated, two have earned their
undergraduate degrees magna cum laude, and four are furthering their
education in graduate school programs.
This fall, 39 students are enrolled, with two expected to
graduate.
University academic policy requires that students maintain a 2.0
GPA. Students receive positive (plus) quality points for each letter
grade, and this determines the GPA.
If a student, through failing grades, incurs a quality point
deficit of (minus) 13 points, he or she may be dismissed from the
University.
"Years later, these students, now more mature and serious about
their educations, contact the Continuing Education Access Center,"
said DiMartile, "asking about the possibility of returning to the
University."
The main problem confronting these students is the issue of so
many negative credits hanging over their heads. Their poor academic
record from the past seems like an insurmountable roadblock to any
future success, he said.
Suzanne K. Smith, associate director for credit programs and
student services in the Division of Continuing Education, said
"Students would come back to school, and find that despite making
progress academically, they could not get out from under the weight of
all the deficit points they had accumulated during their initial
college experience."
The former policy, did not allow for any grace period according
to Smith, one of the originators of the academic renewal policy. The
negative credits stayed on the student's academic record forever, and
the grades were always included in the student's GPA.
It was an examination of the policy toward transfer students that
led to the creation of the academic renewal policy, which took effect
several years ago.
"When we looked at the grades of transfer students coming to the
University, we would only accept the courses for which the students
had achieved a 2.0 or better GPA," Smith said. "Their transcripts were
based only on courses in which a 2.0 grade had been achieved."
Smith said she felt that, by not extending this policy to former
University of Delaware students who wished to return, the University
was, in effect, punishing its own. The academic renewal policy was an
attempt to give returning adult students who attended the UD the same
equity that is extended to transfer students from other schools, she
said.
Under academic renewal, grades in courses taken prior to
returning remain on the transcript, but are not included in
calculating the student's GPA.
"One of the arguments in favor of academic renewal," Smith said,
"is that if students demonstrate a new-found ability, they deserve a
second chance academically."
The policy asks that returning students prove themselves worthy
of this equity, and there are certain conditions that must be met
before academic renewal is granted.
One is that students must be away from the University for at
least five years before returning, and they must complete 12 credits,
usually over two semesters, with grades of C or better.
"After the student decides which college he or she wants to gain
readmission to, arrangements are made to talk to the assistant or
associate dean of the respective college," Smith said.
A large majority of students who come to continuing education are
referred to the College of Arts and Science.
"These people are seeking ways to get back into school," said
Claudia G. Fischer, assistant dean of Arts and Science. "Continuing
education is the logical place for them to start."
Many former students, knowing they cannot enter a chosen field or
advance in their current field without a college degree, come directly
to the dean's office. These people, who often are depressed because
they know that with all those negative credits they face an uphill
academic struggle, are visibly relieved to hear about the University's
academic renewal policy.
"They literally float out the door of the office," Fischer said.
Although the 12 credits must be academic courses, Fischer advises
students to start with something they will look forward to taking.
"I encourage them to take courses that look really interesting
and exciting," Fischer said. "This is important in the first semester,
because it helps students who have been away from college for a long
time readjust to the academic climate."
Fischer said she feels that the academic renewal policy
acknowledges that a person's goals and motivations change with time.
"The enthusiasm that these students show is a wonderful thing to
see," Fischer said. "They are excited when they know that they are
doing well."
After the 12 credits are completed, the academic renewal form is
filled out by Fischer, who handles all academic renewal cases for the
College of Arts and Science.
One copy of this form is sent to the admissions office and
another to the University Registrar, and the student is given a
readmission application.
The registrar's office will then adjust the student's grade point
index, noting on the transcript that the academic renewal policy was
implemented at this time.
Academic renewal, which is offered only once during a student's
enrollment, has brought back people who had been away from college for
years.
"Students who use this option are adults, and many of them have
been away from school longer than five years," Smith said. "These are
the students to whom we wanted to give a fair chance to get their
degrees."
Smith said she feels that the academic renewal policy fits in
with the overall mission of the University.
"Our purpose is to help people earn an education," she said.
"I have great admiration for the students in this group," said
DiMartile. "I think, by any measure, you would have to conclude that
this policy has been a success."
-Jerry Rhodes