Whether their absence has been one semester or twenty years, returning students can use a variety of UA services in order to readjust to their academic environments and develop efficient plans for picking up where they left off.
The most important contact for a returning student is the academic advisor in his or her major of interest. The advisor can review course requirements, evaluate any transfer work that was completed during the absence, and help formulate an efficient pathway toward graduation. Students who left the UA with a GPA below 2.0 will need to work especially closely with an advisor in order to plan for quick academic improvement. Students are highly encouraged not to wait until actually being readmitted to the UA before talking to an advisor, but rather to contact them early in the application process.
Academic Renewal allows students to have up to three consecutive semesters removed from their GPA calculation once five years have passed and the student has earned 30 new units with at least a 2.5 average GPA. Academic Renewal provides an excellent opportunity recover from a poor academic history. However, students do lose credit for any courses passed during semesters in which Academic Renewal is applied. Students should work closely with their advisors to see if they qualify to use this tool and whether its benefits outweigh the costs.
Many returning students are older and at a different place in life than their average classmates, and therefore have diverse social and academic needs. The Office of Commuter Student Affairs provides programming and services to commuter students. Some of these programs include 25+ Cats, a student organization that provides social opportunities for non-traditionally aged students; Kidz Corner, a child-friendly study lounge/computer lab in the Student Union; and free continental breakfast for commuter students on Tuesday mornings.
Any student who takes even one semester away from the UA without filing for a formal Leave of Absence must reapply for University admission. Students should be sure to complete the application for readmission and to adhere to the application deadlines. Application deadlines for students who left the UA with a GPA below 2.0 must apply at an earlier date than those who left in good academic standing.
