Academic Bankruptcy

Academic bankruptcy is the removal of one to three semesters of grades from the calculation of a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA). The following apply to any request for academic bankruptcy:

  • Academic bankruptcy is initiated by a written request from the student to the registrar/records official.
  • Upon receipt of the student’s request, the College will inform the student that an award of academic bankruptcy may impact his/her financial aid status.
  • Academic bankruptcy may only be declared once and may be applied to no more than three (3)   semesters, which do not have to be consecutive.
  • The bankrupted courses and grades remain on the transcript but are not calculated in the student’s cumulative GPA.
  • None of the coursework taken during a semester for which academic bankruptcy is declared, including hours completed satisfactorily, will be used to fulfill degree requirements.
  • Developmental courses successfully completed during a period of academic bankruptcy can the used to fulfill prerequisites.
  • To be eligible for academic bankruptcy, the student must have completed 12 semester credit hours of coursework at the College since the most recent semester for which the academic bankruptcy is requested. A grade of “C,” “S,” or higher is required in each course in 12 semester credit hours in the post-bankruptcy period.
  • When a student receives a declaration of academic bankruptcy, a permanent notation of “ACADEMIC BANKRUPTCY” will be reflected on the transcript for each semester affected.
  • Approval of the academic bankruptcy status at a college does not guarantee other institutions will honor that status. This determination will be made by the respective transfer institution(s). (Board Policy 713.03, August 9, 2017)