The grade exclusion policy is not applicable for course(s) in which the student’s grade of D+ or below resulted from a UH Academic Honesty policy violation.

Students who earn a D+ or lower in a course during their first year at University of Houston (UH) may repeat the course within 12 months and exclude the original grade from their cumulative GPA. Grade exclusion is applicable to a maximum of three courses at the 3000-level or below, and other restrictions may apply (see full policy details below). This policy only applies to students who entered UH in Fall 2018 or later and it will not retroactively alter academic or financial aid status.

To access the application form, you will need to sign in using your CougarNet ID and password using this format: cougarnetID@cougarnet.uh.edu (e.g. UhShasta@cougarnet.uh.edu ).

Please wait to apply for Grade Exclusion until after you have completed and earned a grade for the repeated course. Requests may not be reviewed or approved until the repeated course grade is posted to the academic record.

Review the Frequently Answered Questions and speak with your academic advisor to weigh your decision before retaking a course or using one of your 3 grade exclusions.

If the answer is YES to all of the questions above, you are ready to submit your request for grade exclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

The UH grade replacement policy only applies to students who entered in UH Fall 2018 and subsequent semesters. If you began enrollment at UH before Fall 2018, even if you were readmitted after a significant lapse in your enrollment, this policy will not apply to you.

Up to three UH courses taken within the first 12 months of matriculation to UH may be excluded. These courses may be 1000, 2000 or 3000-level, but no more than one 3000-level course. No courses above 3000 level may be excluded.

Grade exclusion will not retroactively alter academic or financial aid actions, decisions, or sanctions that resulted from the original grade or original semester GPA. Contact your academic advisor or financial aid advisor for specific questions about how this may impact you.

The grade exclusion policy is not applicable for courses in which the student’s grade of D+ or below resulted from a UH Academic Honesty policy violation.

The policy applies only to courses with a grade of D+ or lower. If you received a higher grade, you will not be able to exclude the original grade from your GPA.

We recommend that you discuss this decision with your academic advisor before you decide to re-enroll in the course. Many consequences could result from this choice, and we recommend that you get the full picture before investing the time, money and effort in a second attempt in the course. You may wish to meet with your financial aid advisor as well.

Students must enroll in a repeated course within twelve months of earning the original grade in order to be eligible for grade exclusion.

Example: If you earned an F in a course taken Fall 2018, you must re-enroll in the course by Fall 2019 in order for the original grade to be excluded.

Semester of First Attempt Semester Second Attempt Must be Enrolled In / Completed Fall 2018 Fall 2019 Spring 2019 Spring 2020 Summer 2019 Summer 2020

The original grade will appear on your official transcript, but it will be noted that this grade was excluded from your GPA because you retook it per the policy.

Students must apply for grade exclusion after the course(s) in question have been completed and a grade earned in the repeated course, submit a Grade Exclusion request using this link. Upon receipt and review of your application, you will be contacted about your eligibility and further steps, if any.

Both the course excluded and the retaken course must by UH courses. Transferred courses do not impact UH cumulative GPA.

Is grade exclusion automatic? If I retake the course am I committed to using it for grade exclusion?

Students must apply for for grade exclusion (see link) and identify which course(s) to which the exclusion applies. There is a 3 course limit.

Is there a deadline to submit requests for grade exclusion?

Students should submit the request prior to applying to graduate.

There is a deadline to retake a course. Students must enroll in a repeated course within twelve months of earning the original grade in order to be eligible for grade exclusion. It is encouraged that as soon as a student successfully retakes a course and knows that they want to use it for one of the 3 grade exclusions they submit an application and do so no later than before applying to graduate.

