Grade Forgiveness

Policy Overview

Under the grade forgiveness policy, degree-seeking undergraduate students may retake a course in which they earned a grade below C- to improve their cumulative GPAs. Non-degree seeking students, including certificate-only students are not eligible for grade forgiveness.

General Eligibility

Understand Grade Forgiveness

Grade Forgiveness Request Form

If you would like to request grade forgiveness for a course please complete this form. You must be fully enrolled in the class (waitlisted classes are ineligible) before completing this form. Submit this form by the grade forgiveness deadline for the semester in which the class is being offered, per the Academic Calendar. Students may also cancel their grade forgiveness request by this same deadline. Submission of this form does not automatically grant grade forgiveness.

Deadline for Spring 2023: Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Deadline for Summer 2023: Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Course Eligibility

Only courses offered by and taken through CU Denver are eligible for grade forgiveness. Courses must meet three requirements to qualify for forgiveness.

  • Original course and courses repeated for grade replacement must be taken for a letter grade (not audit, pass/fail, no credit)
  • Be lower division — 1000 or 2000 level
  • Not exceed the total grade forgiveness credit limit of 18 credit hours

Course Ineligibility

Courses that are Ineligible for grade forgiveness include special topics, repeatable courses, academic dishonesty courses, mismatched credit hours, and equivalent cross-listed courses. Courses repeated for grade forgiveness must be taken for a letter grade, not audit, pass/fail, or no credit. Grade forgiveness is limited to one attempt per course, up to a maximum of 18 credit hours.

How Grade Forgiveness Works

The grade forgiveness course must be a CU Denver class for which you have already earned a grade. Students may retake a course for grade forgiveness only one time. Both grades for courses will still appear on your transcript but only the higher grade will be calculated into your cumulative GPA.

Requirements to Apply for Grade Forgiveness

The deadline to submit your grade forgiveness application form is the day before the Late Add period begins

  • Be a degree-seeking undergraduate student at CU Denver pursuing your first CU Denver degree
  • Have earned lower than a C- in your prior attempt of a course
  • Course withdrawals don't count
  • Submit an online form to request grade forgiveness.

Your Next Steps

  • Contact your advisor to learn more about grade forgiveness and discuss your options
  • View upcoming grade forgiveness request deadlines
  • Review the grade forgiveness policy in full.
  • Request grade forgiveness, or cancel a submitted request, using the online form.

Repeating a Course Without Grade Forgiveness

You may repeat CU Denver courses at any point without invoking grade forgiveness. The grade and credits you earn in each attempt of a repeated course are included in your credit and GPA totals and calculations on your official academic record.

Appeals

Students can appeal a grade forgiveness petition that has been denied.

Valid reasons for appeal include, but are not limited to: 

1. Student was misadvised by a CU Denver employee on the proper procedures for petitioning for grade forgiveness. 
2. Student has a documented reason for missing the deadline to petition for grade forgiveness. 
3. Student was not aware of the grade forgiveness policy when registering for a repeat course 

Invalid reasons for appeal include, but are not limited to: 

1. Retroactive withdrawals 
2. Student petitions to revoke a repeated course that was completed under grade forgiveness

If you have additional questions, contact the Registrar’s Office at GradeForgiveness@ucdenver.edu.