Academic Renewal/Alleviation

Academic renewal, also called alleviation, allows students to request that previously recorded substandard academic work that no longer reflects their demonstrated academic ability be excluded from the calculation of their cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for academic renewal, students must meet the following conditions:

1. Substandard coursework: The coursework must have received a substandard grade.
   

2. Subsequent academic progress: After the academic term containing the coursework being considered for alleviation, the student must complete at least one of the following at any accredited institution or combination of accredited institutions:
   

   1. Six semester units or nine quarter units with a GPA of at least 2.0
      
   2. Six semester units or nine quarter units with grades of Pass
      
   3. At least 288 hours of noncredit coursework with grades of Pass
      
   4. A combination of the credit and noncredit options listed above
      
3. Multiple requests: Students may submit requests for academic renewal multiple times. There is no cumulative unit limit.
   

How to Submit a Request

Students must initiate an Academic Renewal/Alleviation request through Campus Solutions.

1. Log in to the PCCD student portal
   

2. Select the Admissions & Records eForms tile
   

3. Select Create a New eForm
   

4. Locate and select the Academic Renewal/Alleviation eForm
   

5. Complete the form, identify the coursework for consideration, and submit the request
   

Students may review the status of their eForm and approver information in Campus Solutions. Notifications regarding approval or denial will be sent to the student's PCCD email address.

For step-by-step instructions, consult the Academic Renewal/Alleviation eForm Guide (PDF).

Important Information

Academic renewal does not erase coursework or original grades from a student's permanent academic record. All attempted coursework and grades remain legible on the transcript, with an annotation explaining why the applicable grades are excluded from the GPA calculation.

Academic renewal does not guarantee that another college or university will disregard the coursework when evaluating transfer credit, admission, or academic standing. Other institutions determine how they will treat alleviated coursework.