• You must be in good standing with the university.
• You must have fulfilled all previous financial/judicial/health obligations to the university. All university holds on your records must be resolved prior to applying for readmission. Contact the Office of Records & Registration to determine if you have any holds.
• If you were "Academically Dismissed," then you are not eligible for consideration for readmission until one full year has elapsed since your last date of attendance at New Paltz. You must also have completed a minimum of 12 credits of academic course work with at least a 2.75 GPA at another institution for consideration.

• Fall semester - April 1
• Spring semester - November 1

There is no summer session readmission.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ART, ART EDUCATION, MUSIC & THEATRE READMISSION APPLICANTS

• You must submit a new portfolio or participate in a new audition/interview in order to be considered for readmission. Contact the appropriate department for details.
• Department contact information can be found here.
• Graphic Design BFA is only a Fall entrance program.

• For applicants who have been separated from SUNY New Paltz for less than three years and six semesters, and who are looking to return to the same major that they were enrolled in, the application decision will be made by the Office of Undergraduate Admission.
• For applicants who have been separated from SUNY New Paltz for more than three years and six semesters, the application decision will be made by the academic department of your intended major. Readmission is not guaranteed and your application will be evaluated according to the current department entrance criteria.
• All applicants, regardless of their length of separation from SUNY New Paltz, who are pursuing a new or change of major will have their application decision made by the department of their intended major.  
• Many majors have specific entrance requirements.
• View the list of entrance requirements on the Transfer Admission webpage.
• Your admission decision will be made available on your applicant portal.

WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN ADMITTED

• You must submit the $140 Pre-Enrollment Deposit (PED) to confirm your attendance. You cannot register for classes until the PED is paid.
• Follow the instructions outlined in your admissions status portal. 
• This includes paying the orientation fee, scheduling an orientation session, and completing the New Student Survey, which will help you begin the academic advising and course registration process
• Unfortunately, your acceptance is only valid for the semester you applied for.  If you cannot attend, you will have to reapply for a future semester. 

• If you return within 3 years (6 consecutive semesters) of your last date of attendance at SUNY New Paltz you may continue under the General Education requirement in effect at the time of your first matriculation.
• You may resume the same major requirements in effect at the time of your first matriculation. If your original major has been revised since that time and is no longer available, an amended plan of study or a new major declaration will be necessary.
• If you return and are admitted to a new major, you will complete the major requirements in effect at the time of your return.

• If you were academically dismissed and are readmitted, you are now responsible for all University, SUNY, and major/department requirements effective at the time of your return.
• If academically dismissed for a second time, you will no longer be eligible for readmission and will not be eligible to enroll as a degree or non-degree student at SUNY New Paltz.

Purpose: 

The Academic Forgiveness Policy is intended to support undergraduate students who have been readmitted after having academic difficulty during previous attendance at SUNY New Paltz. This policy applies to students who have been readmitted with Academic Probation status after being separated between 2 and 6 consecutive semesters. If eligibility criteria are met, the policy improves the student’s grade point average by removing the forgiven courses from their GPA calculation. Forgiven courses will remain on the student’s transcript with a special notation. Not all courses can qualify for forgiveness. Please see eligibility criteria below.  

Eligibility: 

To be eligible for Academic Forgiveness, students must meet the following criteria:  

1. Be readmitted to New Paltz on academic probation. Qualifying students may be readmitted after being separated for at least 2 semesters by reason of academic dismissal or voluntary withdrawal from New Paltz, or by being unenrolled for at least 3 semesters. Students who are separated for 7 or more semesters are not eligible under this policy.  
2. Meet with their academic advisor (Office of Academic Advising, EOP, ACE, AC2) and the department chair or program coordinator of their intended major to develop a plan outlining the path to graduation that considers courses selected for forgiveness.  
3. Meet with a Financial Aid Advisor (if applicable) to determine whether the proposed plan will present any barriers to receiving Federal or State aid.  
4. Complete at least 12 credits (full or part time) after returning, earning at least a C- in each course, and at least a 2.00 average GPA since returning.  

Policy Provisions 

1. Up to 16 credits from courses earning a grade of C- or below may be forgiven. 
2. Forgiven courses can be from one semester, or up to two consecutive semesters. 
3. Forgiven courses cannot count toward degree requirements, though they will still appear on the student’s transcript. 
4. Academic forgiveness can be applied only to New Paltz courses. 
5. This policy can be applied only once and cannot be applied to a previously completed degree. 
6. Once applied, academic forgiveness cannot be reversed. 
7. The transcript will include a notation indicating that Academic Forgiveness was granted and the term from which it became effective.  
8. After grades are forgiven, academic standing will be determined based on new GPA. 

Purpose: 

The Fresh Start Policy allows readmitted undergraduate students who have experienced previous academic difficulties an opportunity to return to the New Paltz after an extended absence and exclude previously earned unsatisfactory and failing grades. This policy provides a pathway toward degree completion without unduly penalizing students for past academic performance. 

Eligibility: 

To be eligible for Fresh Start admission, students must meet the following criteria: 

1. Intend to seek readmission and complete an undergraduate degree program at New Paltz. 
2. Must be separated from the University for a minimum of 7 consecutive semesters prior to readmission.
3. Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree from New Paltz. 
4. Students must demonstrate maturity and ability to succeed academically.  This may include: 
   1. Successful study at another higher education institution.
   2. Employment history and experience 
   3. Military service 
   4. Gap statement and resume 
5. Students must have separated from the University with an academic standing of academic warning, academic probation, or academic dismissal. 

Policy Provisions 

1. The Fresh Start Policy does not apply to transfer coursework.
2. A maximum of 30 credits may be excluded. All courses with a grade of D+ or lower will be forgiven until the total reaches 30 credits or as close to 30 credits as possible.  
3. All eligible credits will be forgiven automatically; applicants will not be able to select which courses are excluded. If a student has more than 30 credits with grades of D+ or lower, the oldest credits, up to the 30‑credit limit, will be forgiven first.  
4. Courses that are excluded will not count for credit and will not meet any degree requirements. 
5. Only grades of D+ and below will be removed from the calculation of the cumulative GPA. All grades completed prior to Fresh Start will remain on the permanent transcript. 
6. The transcript will include a notation indicating that a Fresh Start was granted and the term from which it became effective. 
7. Fresh Start may only be granted once during a student’s academic career at New Paltz and once granted it is not reversible. 
8. Students seeking professional licensure or certification should be aware that external agencies or institutions may still consider excluded grades and coursework.
9. Excluding grades by opting for Fresh Start may impact financial aid. Readmitted students should discuss their options with an academic advisor and financial aid advisor. 
10. Students admitted through the Fresh Start program will be assigned to a second-semester probationary academic standing upon enrollment. 

• If the student has been separated from the University for 3 years (6 consecutive semesters) or less, the student may be readmitted to the degree program in effect at the time of their separation from the University. If the degree program has been revised since the student’s separation and is no longer available, an amended plan of study or a new major declaration will be necessary.
• If more than 3 years (6 consecutive semesters) have passed since the student's last date of attendance at the University, the student is responsible for all New Paltz major and degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission. As major and degree requirements may have undergone significant changes, the student may be required to complete additional coursework. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the appropriate academic Dean. Adopted: Council of Dean, March 2009; Revised: Academic Deans Council, August 2019

• If an undergraduate has been gone for more than seven (7) years, all of the completed courses may not be honored. Exceptions to this may be made at the discretion of the appropriate academic Dean. Policy change effective March 2009.

Office of Undergraduate Admission
100 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, New York 12561
Phone: (845) 257-3200
Email: admissions@newpaltz.edu

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS WHO HAVE PRIOR FELONY CONVICTIONS

State University of New York Board of Trustees policy prohibits SUNY New Paltz admission applications from inquiring into an applicant's prior criminal history.  However, after acceptance, the University shall inquire if the student prevails has been convicted of a felony if such an individual seeks:

• On-campus housing,
• Participation in clinical or field experiences,
• Participation in internships or cooperative experiences,
• Participation in study abroad programs.

The information required to be disclosed under SUNY Trustees policy regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law.

Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet the licensure requirements for certain professions.  Specific SUNY New Paltz majors may pose challenges in obtaining field experiences, internships, or licensing for individuals. These programs include, but are not limited to:

• Accounting
• Adolescence Education
• Art (Visual Arts) Education
• Early Childhood & Childhood Education
• Communication Disorders
• Counseling
• Music Therapy
• Psychology
• Human Services
• Pre-Health Professions

Individuals with prior criminal histories are advised to seek advice and guidance from the chairperson of the academic department regarding the impact of a criminal record on meeting the requirements of the major/professional licensure or certification prior to declaring the major.