Academic Fresh Start

Effective August 30, 1993, the Texas Legislature enacted into law Senate Bill 1321. This bill entitles residents of Texas to seek admission to public institutions of higher education without consideration of academic course credits or grades earned ten  or more years prior to enrollment. This bill has been called the “right to an academic fresh start”, and it gives students the option of electing to have course work taken ten  or more years prior to enrollment ignored for admission purposes. Applicants who make this choice  and who are admitted as students may not receive any course credit for any courses taken ten or more years prior to enrollment. Official transcripts may be required even if the courses are included in the Academic Fresh Start Program. Students should contact the Office of Admissions and Records for a copy of the law or more information. 

Students who receive federal and/or state funds administered by the Vernon College (VC) Office of Financial Aid, must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress. The VC Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is separate and stricter than VC Admissions and Records academic standards. Coursework attempted and grades earned in semesters forgiven through the state of Texas’ “Academic Fresh Start” program will be included in the satisfactory academic progress calculation.