Academic Fresh Start
Under Texas Education Code, § 51.931, the Academic Fresh Start program allows Texas residents to apply for admission or re-admission to a Texas public institution of higher education without prior poor academic performance negatively affecting admissions decisions, course enrollment, GPA, or academic standing.
When an applicant meets the eligibility requirements and seeks admission under this provision, institutions must exclude from consideration all coursework completed at any postsecondary institution 10 or more years prior to the start date of the semester for which admission or re-admission is sought.
- Note: Lone Star College is an open-enrollment two-year institution. As such, prior academic performance is not a factor in general admissions decisions and is only considered for selective, competitive, or limited-enrollment programs.
Admission under Academic Fresh Start may be used only once at Lone Star College. To qualify for Academic Fresh Start, a Lone Star College applicant must:
- Be a Texas resident based on residency determination for the intended term of initial enrollment or re-enrollment at Lone Star College;
- Seek admission to an undergraduate program at Lone Star College;
- Have completed college-level coursework at least 10 years prior to the intended term of initial enrollment or re-enrollment at Lone Star College;
- Submit official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions regardless of timeframe, including those at which college-level coursework was attempted;
- Ensure that official transcripts from all prior institutions are received and evaluated by Lone Star College; and
- Submit an official request for Academic Fresh Start at the time of application or re-application and prior to enrolling or re-enrolling at Lone Star College.
Applicants requesting admission under this provision may not select the courses to be excluded or included. If an applicant requests exclusion of credit and grades under this provision, ALL college-level credit and grades earned at any college or university 10 years or more prior to enrollment are excluded.
- Cannot be used to meet prerequisite requirements;
- Cannot be counted toward a degree;
- Will not be counted in the GPA calculation or academic standing.
All Lone Star College applicants must satisfy TSI requirements prior to enrollment.
Academic Fresh Start affects only the applicant’s academic record in terms of GPA calculation. Academic Fresh Start does not override federal financial aid regulations. All attempted coursework and academic history – regardless of age or institution - must remain included in the calculations below, which may result in ineligibility for financial aid or limitations on aid eligibility despite the Academic Fresh Start benefit:
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Maximum Timeframe (150% rule)
- Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility (LEU)
It is strongly recommended that those who intend to apply for financial aid visit with Financial Aid at their home campus or contact the Financial Aid Contact Center at 281-290-2700 or FACC@LoneStar.edu.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not recognize Academic Fresh Start as a reset of the academic record. All prior coursework and training remain part of the student’s VA educational history.
It is strongly recommended that those who intend to attend Lone Star College using VA benefits contact Veteran Advising at LSC-VA-Advising@LoneStar.edu.
While Academic Fresh Start affects an applicant’s GPA, the excluded courses and grades are not removed from the transcript. All coursework and grades remains part of the student’s academic record and will continue to appear on the Lone Star College transcript, with a notation indicating that the grades are excluded from the GPA calculation.
A student’s decision to be admitted under the Academic Fresh Start provision is final and may not be reversed.
To request Academic Fresh Start, applicants must:
- Complete the Academic Fresh Start Request Form
- Ensure all official college transcripts are on file and have been evaluated
- Meet with a designated Lone Star College official to confirm eligibility and complete the application process