Academic Amnesty

In recognition of the various paths students take in pursuit of their undergraduate degrees, St. John Fisher College has developed a policy of academic amnesty that provides eligible students with the opportunity to renew their studies at Fisher by beginning their cumulative averages anew. The program is available to all students who attend Fisher in matriculated status for a period of time, then do not take Fisher classes, either matriculated or non-matriculated, for a period of four consecutive calendar years (eight academic semesters). Not every student will be served well by selecting to participate in the academic amnesty program.

For those students who do elect to take part, credit will be lost for every previous Fisher course taken in which a grade below “C” was obtained. Credits earned in courses in which grades of “C” or above were obtained will be retained as “Previous Fisher Credit” and will be treated the same as transfer credit. No courses or grades will be removed from the transcript of participating students; however, their Fisher cumulative GPA will begin “anew” upon their return.

Each student requesting academic amnesty will be required to complete at least 30 credits in residence at Fisher after returning to the College. Academic honors will be based on at least 60 credits for grades taken at Fisher after the student returns with academic amnesty.

Students who elect academic amnesty will have a statement placed on their transcripts indicating that academic amnesty was requested and granted. Students will have until the end of the Drop/Add period of the second consecutive semester they are in attendance at Fisher, after their return, to apply for the amnesty program. Once the student completes the form to request academic amnesty, the request cannot be revoked.

Questions regarding academic amnesty should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.