File for Reinstatement

Students who have been academically dismissed from the university must petition to return. Each college has a formal process for submitting a petition, reaching a decision, and alerting the student. Talk to an advisor in the office that offers the major you intend to study to understand the process, as well as how to prepare an effective petition.

Students who have been dismissed from the university for academic reasons can petition for reinstatement. Students are typically asked to spend at least two semesters away from the university to address the issues that led to their academic struggles. Reinstatement is not guaranteed, and desire to return is not enough support for a petition.

Students who wish to return to the university should think about how they have demonstrated a commitment to their academic and/or career goals. It can be a good idea to take course work elsewhere, to show that you are able to complete college-level work successfully. If you plan to attend another institution with the goal of returning to Ohio State, see an academic advisor for help selecting appropriate courses.

Schedule an Appointment

Before you meet with an advisor

Students are rarely allowed to return into University Exploration. As part of their time away from Ohio State, students are expected to choose an attainable major. Reinstatement petitions should be discussed with the advising office for the major that you intend to complete. An advisor will explain the process, and give you tips for preparing an effective petition.

It is very helpful if you can come prepared with the following documentation:

A statement based on the guidelines and/or questions presented to you by the college you are petitioning; ask for the email address of the advisor you are scheduled to meet with, so you can inquire about this information
Unofficial transcript from another university/college if you took courses during your time away
Any other supporting documentation you feel will help your case (for example, a letter from an instructor, medical professional, and/or employer, etc.)

The published university deadlines for submitting a reinstatement are:

Autumn Semester June 1*
Spring Semester October 1*
Summer Term February 1*

*or the first business day following, if these dates fall on a weekend

Fresh Start

Students who have been away from the university for at least five years may want to petition to use Fresh Start. While all the courses you have taken will remain on your transcript, only courses in which you received a C- or higher will be counted for credit toward your degree. Other course work will not be counted for credit, towards any requirement, or toward graduation. You will return to Ohio State with a recalculated cumulative GPA of 0.00. You must complete a minimum of two terms and 30 credit hours after using the Fresh Start Rule before you can be eligible to graduate.

Points to remember:

Fresh Start only adjusts your academic record; your previous coursework may still impact your financial aid eligibility
If you are considering applying to graduate or professional schools, or even to other undergraduate programs at Ohio State, their admission processes may look at all of your grades and recalculate the original grade(s) into your total.

Talk to career services about how to address Fresh Start in your application