Given that past performance does not always reflect a student’s actual ability, the Southwestern Community College District allows for previously recorded substandard academic performance (grades D, F, or NP) to be disregarded if it is not reflective of a student’s current demonstrated ability.

A student may petition to have their academic record reviewed for academic renewal of substandard academic performance (grade D or F) under the following conditions:

1. At least one academic year must have elapsed since the most recent coursework to be disregarded was completed. (i.e. end of fall semester one year after a substandard grade posted in the prior Fall semester) 
2. Since the most recent coursework to be disregarded was completed, the student must have completed at any accredited post-secondary institution:
   1. 12 units with at least a 2.5 GPA, or
   2. 18 units with at least a 2.0 GPA.

Substandard coursework completed at Southwestern College may have a maximum of 30 units eliminated from consideration in the computation of cumulative grade point average.

Courses used to fulfill the requirements of previously earned degrees are not eligible for academic renewal.

When academic renewal procedures permit previously recorded substandard coursework to be disregarded in the computation of a student’s grade point average, the student’s permanent academic record shall be annotated in such a manner that all coursework remains legible to ensure a complete academic history.

A student may be granted academic renewal only once at Southwestern College, and academic renewal decisions are irreversible and permanent.

Academic renewal procedures may not conflict with the District’s obligation to retain and destroy records or with the instructor’s ability to determine a student’s final grade.

Petitions to request academic renewal shall be available in the Admissions and Records Office or online at swccd.edu (click on Admissions and Financial Aid, then on Admissions Forms). Official transcripts of all academic work, from all accredited post-secondary institutions, must be on file in the Admissions and Records Office at the time of request for Academic Renewal.