POLICY (Approved March 2019)

A student may repeat an undergraduate course taken at VSU in order to replace an earlier grade earned in the same course. This policy would go into effect with courses repeated Spring 2019 or later. The courses must be taken and repeated at VSU. When undergraduate courses taken at VSU are repeated at VSU with a higher grade, the highest grade received will be counted in the institutional (VSU) GPA calculations. If a student repeats a course at VSU but receives a lower grade, the higher grade from a previous attempt will be used in the calculation of the institutional (VSU) GPA. The repeated course must have the exact same title as the original course. This policy does not apply to courses that must be repeated or are allowed a defined number of repeats as part of the course of study for a major.

The student’s transcript and cumulative (Regents) GPA will retain all course attempts and grades. The institutional (VSU) GPA will be used for all purposes except for those mandated by financial aid regulations and other state and federal requirements. The VSU transcript will reflect both GPAs.

This policy applies only to courses that were taken and repeated at VSU. Transferred courses are not calculated in the institutional (VSU) GPA. If a student repeats an institutional course as a transfer/transient student and receives a higher grade in the transfer/transient course, the repeated grade will be excluded from the institutional (VSU) GPA.

Students seeking to repeat a course are encouraged to meet first with an academic advisor or mentor to review why they have not been previously successful in the course and to assess whether they are following the appropriate course of study or major.

FAQs

What will happen if a student repeats an undergraduate course and earns a higher grade?

The higher grade is the one that will be calculated in the institutional (VSU) GPA.  The institutional (VSU) GPA will be used for all purposes except for those mandated by financial aid regulations and other state and federal requirements.

What courses will be affected by this new grade calculation?

This policy applies only to courses taken and repeated at VSU. The repeated course must have the exact same title as the original course.  This policy does not apply to courses that must be repeated or are allowed a defined number of repeats as part of the course of study for a major.

Will courses transferred from other institutions count in this new grade calculation?

No.  This policy applies only to courses that were taken and repeated at VSU. Transferred courses are not calculated in the institutional (VSU) GPA. If a student repeats an institutional course as a transfer/transient student and receives a higher grade in the transfer/transient course, the repeated grade will be excluded from the institutional (VSU) GPA.

Will the lower grades be erased from a student’s transcript?

No. All grades will still appear on the student’s transcript, and the cumulative (Regents) GPA will reflect all grades.

When does this policy go into effect?

The policy begins with the grades issued in Spring 2019 and will move forward from there.  If students in Spring 2019 are repeating the same VSU course they took in a later semester and they earn a higher grade, the higher grade is the only one that will be calculated in the Institutional (VSU) GPA.  No changes will be made to the institutional GPA from semesters prior to Spring 2019.

What should students do if they want to repeat a class?

Students should always consult with an advisor before repeating a class to assure that the class is needed for their program of study and that there is a benefit to the repetition.  Although a repeated class with a higher grade may help students’ institutional (VSU) GPA, it can also count as hours attempted in students’ financial aid.