Former Law Student and Academic Fresh Start

Contact the Admissions Office at (785) 670-1185 or admissions [at] washburnlaw.edu for more information about the process of applying for Academic Fresh Start.

  1. Although generally grades received at Washburn University School of Law are recorded on a student's transcript and are included in the cumulative GPA, there are unusual circumstances in which students may be granted academic fresh start. Academic fresh start includes the following:
    1. All previous academic work at Washburn University School of Law is disregarded with respect to graduation requirements;
    2. The prior academic record remains on the transcript. However, no credits, hours or grade points are carried forward a part of the student's program. The transcript will indicate "Academic Fresh Start" and the date it was granted;
    3. The student will then begin his/her law school study again under the current requirements;
    4. This policy applies only to Washburn University School of Law students enrolling at Washburn. A student transferring from Washburn University School of Law to another institution will have to follow the receiving institution's policy.
    5. A student may receive Academic Fresh Start only once.
  2. There are only two circumstances in which Academic Fresh Start is applicable. They are as follows:
    1. Students in Good Standing:

      Students in good standing (GPA of 2.0 or above) who choose to discontinue their studies may re-enroll at the beginning of any semester, including the summer session, if only two years or less have elapsed since the end of the semester in which they were last in attendance at law school and the beginning of the semester in which they re-enroll. If more than two years have elapsed, such students must apply for readmission.

      Such a student readmitted after a two year or greater absence, as defined above, may or may not be given credit for all previous course work, depending upon the preferences of the student, the length of time the student has been out of law school and the student's law school grade point average.

      Upon receipt of an application for readmission from a student in good standing, the Admissions Committee will determine whether the student should be readmitted and whether the student will be required or permitted to retake any or all courses. If such a student is readmitted and required or permitted to retake all courses, the student is granted Academic Fresh Start.
    2. Students Not in Good Standing

      Students who perform below a 2.0 in their first year or two and then withdraw or are not immediately readmitted are occasionally readmitted at a later date.

      Upon receipt of an application for readmission from a student not in good standing, the Admissions Committee will determine whether the student should be readmitted in accordance with the ABA standards for readmission of academically disqualified students.

      If the student is readmitted and if at least three years have elapsed between the end of the semester in which the student was last in attendance at law school and the beginning of the semester in which he or she is readmitted the student is required to begin law school over and is granted Academic Fresh Start.

Adopted: 11/26/85