Academic Re-evaluation

Academic Re-evaluation is a policy that is sometimes known as "academic forgiveness"

Academic Re-evaluation is the process of removing all prior grades from future GPA calculation for those students enrolling at Minnesota State University, Mankato after an absence from post-secondary education of at least four years. It provides returning students who have had academic difficulties at an earlier stage of their academic career the opportunity for a "second chance" at academic success in earning a degree. A student may petition for academic re-evaluation when all of the following conditions are met:

• The student has not been enrolled at Minnesota State University, Mankato or ANY post-secondary institution (including two and four-year colleges, universities, or technical colleges) for at least 4 consecutive calendar years at some point prior to re-enrollment and/or transfer admission to the University.
• Following the minimum four-year absence, the student enters or re-enters Minnesota State University, Mankato, completing at least 30 semester credits here, earning a minimum GPA of 2.00 each semester, and earning a 2.5 cumulative GPA for the 30 credits.
• The student has not earned a previous degree (Associate or Baccalaureate) using any of the credits to be re-evaluated.

Initiating Re-evaluation

Eligible students would complete a [PDF] petition for academic re-evaluation (76 KiB), available through the Office of the Registrar, and submit this petition, along with academic records from Minnesota State University, Mankato and any transfer institutions to the Office of the Registrar. If the petition is approved, the Office of the Registrar processes the petition. If the petition is not approved, the Office of the Registrar will notify the student of non-approval and basis for that decision.

Transcript Changes Following Re-evaluation

The Minnesota State University, Mankato transcript will be divided into two sections. The first section will include ALL courses completed before the minimum four-year absence and enrollment/re-enrollment at the University. All prior credit-bearing courses (grades of A, B, C, D, or P) will be computed as "pass" (P) credit. All prior non-credit bearing courses (grades of F, NC, I, or IP) will be computed as "no credit" (NC). All grades from previous courses will remain on the transcript, but will be eliminated from GPA calculation. Academic re-evaluation will be noted on the transcript at the time it is processed, and this notation will indicate the division of the transcript into two sections for GPA calculation. The second section of the transcript will include all Minnesota State University, Mankato and/or transfer credits completed after the reevaluation, along with the grades earned. The student's recomputed GPA would include no grades before the four-year absence from enrollment.

Department/Program Requirements

Individual departments/programs may require majors and minors to repeat required courses completed prior to the academic re-evaluation for their program.

Request for Exception

Students with extenuating circumstances may request exception from the four calendar year sit-out requirement by submitting a written request to the Office of Academic Affairs along with the application for academic re-evaluation. This request must include direct evidence of the existence of extenuating circumstances; e.g, written letter from health care provider, copy of death certificate, or other evidence of death. Letters from family members and friends will not be accepted as evidence. Requests for exception must be submitted by the second Friday of fall or spring semester.

Academic re-evaluation request forms are available at the Office of the Registrar or [PDF] online (76 KiB).

Questions concerning academic re-evaluation should be directed to

Records and Grades

room:  WA 132; phone:  389-2577