Greenfield Community College has a "fresh start" option for students. Once in a lifetime, if a student returns to GCC after an absence of at least one full year, and has not already been awarded a degree or certificate, they can elect one of two "fresh start" options. Once a "fresh start" option is approved, courses earned before the semester when "fresh start" starts, may be eligible to count towards graduation requirements but the grades will not be used to calculate a student's grade point average (GPA). Classes taken before the "fresh start" will only be eligible to be used for graduation if they meet the normal criteria for a particular program (e.g. passing grade, grade higher than a C for certain courses in Nursing).

The transcript will include a statement noting this "fresh start" option. All coursework including grades will show on the student's transcript. Grades for courses before the "fresh start" semester will be denoted with an "*" in front of the original grade (e.g. a grade of "D" will be changed to "*D" to distinguish them.

Students will choose one of two fresh start options:

• If the student has been away from Greenfield Community College for at least two full years, the student may elect "fresh start" with no conditions
• If the student has been away for at least one full year but less than two full years, a student may elect "fresh start" after completing at least 12 graded non-developmental credits with a cumulative GPA for the new work of 2.0 or greater.

To elect either "fresh start" option the student must fill out the Fresh Start Option Petition for Consideration form. Forms are available in MyGCC under the Submit a Form section. The form will be reviewed and the student notified via email of the petition decision. If approved, the student's record will be updated (e.g. grades and GPA).