Proposal:

Amend readmit policy requirements to forego petition requirement for students who leave institution
due to circumstance beyond their control.

Requested effective date:

Spring 2021

Background:

At present if a student in good standing leaves the institution and attempts readmission to previous
major, they may be required to petition for readmission if their USC GPA does not meet readmission
minimum, even if their GPA met progression requirements at time of departure.

Current Policy Proposed Policy

An application for readmission must be An application for readmission must be

submitted by any former student who wishes submitted by any former student who wishes
to return to the University after missing a to return to the University after missing a
major (fall or spring) semester. Summer major (fall or spring) semester. Summer
sessions do not count as a major semester in sessions do not count as a major semester in
this instance. The readmit application is this instance. The readmit application is
available available
at http://www.sc.edu/admissions. Readmiss at http://www.sc.edu/admissions. Readmiss
ion to the University and to the program in ion to the University and to the program in
which the student was previously enrolled is which the student was previously enrolled is
not automatic. An interview may be not automatic. An interview may be
requested and some basis for a favorable requested and some basis for a favorable
decision may be required. decision may be required.

The University of South Carolina’s minimum The University of South Carolina’s minimum
USC GPA requirement for readmission is 2.0, USC GPA requirement for readmission is 2.0,
but some colleges and schools have a higher but some colleges and schools have a higher
requirement. Please requirement. Please
review http://www.sc.edu/admissions for review http://www.sc.edu/admissions for
current readmission requirements. current readmission requirements.

Students who leave the university due

Students who attend the University as special to complications related to public health
students (including probationary or non- emergency (e.g., COVID-19) or military
degree candidates) are not considered for service and have not attempted any college
“readmission” because these students were credits during their absence will be
not fully admitted to the University originally. readmitted based on degree progression
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If special students wish to return to the requirements. The absence is limited to 2
University as degree-seeking candidates, they major semesters.
must apply for regular admission as freshmen
or transfer students, furnishing all official Students who attend the University as special
transcripts and any entrance test scores students (including probationary or non-
which may be required. degree candidates) are not considered for
Students who leave the University in good “readmission” because these students were
standing, miss one or more major semesters, not fully admitted to the University originally.
and attend another institution while away If special students wish to return to the
must submit the application for readmission University as degree-seeking candidates, they
and official transcripts of all college-level must apply for regular admission as freshmen
work attempted during their absence from or transfer students, furnishing all official
the University. Such applicants must meet transcripts and any entrance test scores
the same requirements as transfer students. which may be required.
Students who leave the University in good
A student who leaves the University on standing, miss one or more major semesters,
suspension must apply for readmission upon and attend another institution while away
completion of the period of suspension and must submit the application for readmission
qualify for readmission to the major program and official transcripts of all college-level
requested. To attempt to return to the work attempted during their absence from
University prior to the completion of the the University. Such applicants must meet
suspension period requires: the same requirements as transfer students.
1. an application for readmission and a
petition for reinstatement if a major semester A student who leaves the University on
has been missed; or suspension must apply for readmission upon
2. a petition for reinstatement if the completion of the period of suspension and
attempt is being made after notification of qualify for readmission to the major program
suspension but prior to missing a major requested. To attempt to return to the
semester. A petition for reinstatement is University prior to the completion of the
made to the University college from which suspension period requires:
the student was suspended. 1. an application for readmission and a
If students attend another college-level petition for reinstatement if a major semester
institution while suspended from the has been missed; or
University, they must maintain a satisfactory 2. a petition for reinstatement if the
average at that institution in order to retain attempt is being made after notification of
the privilege of being considered for suspension but prior to missing a major
readmission at the conclusion of their semester. A petition for reinstatement is
suspension. The University does not transfer made to the University college from which
credit earned during a period of suspension, the student was suspended.
but the quality of grades could affect the If students attend another college-level
decision on readmission. institution while suspended from the
University, they must maintain a satisfactory
average at that institution in order to retain
the privilege of being considered for
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 readmission at the conclusion of their
suspension. The University does not transfer
credit earned during a period of suspension,
but the quality of grades could affect the
decision on readmission.

Justification:

Changing the policy will ensure that students who are required to leave the institution for reasons
beyond their control are not subjected to the time intensive and potentially confusing
readmission/petition process, even when they were eligible to continue in their major at time of
departure.

This process is military friendly. Additionally, it serves students who may have had to depart the
institution due to health/pandemic-related emergency (i.e., contracted illness, cared for someone with
illness)

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