Admin Support
RTW FAQ for Program Administrators
Fresh Start – Student Success Program FAQ
- What is the Student Success Program (SSP)?
- How does it relate to the Fresh Start Program?
- Is it the same as last year’s Fresh Start Program?
- What makes this year’s Fresh Start / Student Success Program different from last year’s program?
- Who can I contact for more information about Fresh Start?
- Who is eligible to participate in the new Fresh Start program?
- When does the program begin?
- Who determines which students may participate in the program?
- What form do students need to complete in order to participate in the Fresh Start program?
- Where do students find the form to apply for Fresh Start program?
- Is the form different if a student wishes to transfer programs, not just be reinstated to their original program?
- What is the deadline to apply for the Fresh Start program if a student wishes to seek reinstatement?
- What is the deadline for students to apply for the Fresh Start Program if they wish to transfer programs?
- To whom is the application form submitted?
- If I approve the student’s application, where do I send the form for processing?
- What do I do if I do not approve a student’s request to participate in Fresh Start?
- Can a student appeal a decision to not allow them to participate in Fresh Start?
- How will students know that they have been accepted for the Fresh Start program?
- Can a student appeal their RTW standing and still participate in the Fresh Start program?
- Can a student request a “faint hope” chance and participate in the Fresh Start program?
- If a student is given a PRB6 override (faint hope) chance, can they participate in Fresh Start if they do not do well?
- Can a student defer their entry into the Fresh Start program, e.g., the student has made an employment commitment and wishes to delay the start of the Fresh Start program for one term, is this permissible?
- Can a student who was RTW before May 2011 apply for Fresh Start?
- Can a student participate in the Fresh Start program more than once?
- Can a student begin the program, finish the first semester, take a term off and then return for their second (EAP2) semester?
- If a student is unable to complete either an EAP1 or EAP2 semester for reasons beyond their control what happens?
- Can a student appeal the grade(s) they receive during Fresh Start?
- Can a student appeal their standing after EAP1?
- A student cannot afford to participate in Fresh Start. Are there any financial aid programs available to the student?
- What happens to a student’s OSAP eligibility for OSAP while participating in the Fresh Start program?
- A student has complained that they must begin to repay their OSAP, but we expect the student to return to near full studies (4 courses, EAP2) next semester. Can anything be done?
- A student has a hold on their account and can’t be enrolled for EAP1 (or EAP2). Can anything be done?
- A student fails the Fresh Start Strategies course, but passes all of their program courses. What happens to the student chances for reinstatement?
- A student has sat out for 12 months and has now applied for reinstatement. Do I have to reinstate them? Why didn’t they participate in the Fresh Start program?
- A student has applied to transfer out of their original program to a completely different program. Do I have to accept them for Fresh Start and enroll them in courses?
- If a student applies to transfer programs and is taking non-program related courses, how will their GPA be affected?
- Will such students continue to appear on my reports?
- Who will review these students progress?
- How will standings be calculated for such students?
- Will these students impact on my program’s retention values?
- Can a student drop a course while in the Fresh Start program?
- Can a student “restart” the Fresh Start program?
- If a student drops their program courses, but continues in the Fresh Start Strategies course, what happens?
- If a student completes their first semester (EAP1) with a term GPA of 1.97, can they apply for the faint hope override?
- If a student comes close to achieving the requirements for the first semester of Fresh Start, say they have a term GPA of 1.95 or higher, can I allow them to continue in the program?
- How will students that do not meet their EAP1 contracts be coded?
1. What is the Student Success Program (SSP)?
The Student Success Program is a generic term for an initiative which forms part of recent policy changes for students who have been Required to Withdraw (RTW) from their Ryerson undergraduate program. The intent of the program is to assist RTW students in pursuing reinstatement to the student’s former program or transfer to another Ryerson program.
2. How does it relate to the Fresh Start Program?
Fresh Start IS the student success program that Ryerson is implementing in response to the policy changes.
3. Is it the same as last year’s Fresh Start Program?
While there are similarities to the Fresh Start Pilot Program which was mounted last year, there will be a number of distinctive differences.
4. What makes this year’s Fresh Start / Student Success Program different from last year’s program?
Students who successfully meet their program’s Fresh Start requirements will be guaranteed reinstatement to their former program and all grades and credits will be retained.
5. Who can I contact for more information about Fresh Start?
The first step is to meet with your Department/School program advisor to discuss the Fresh Start option and how it applies to students in your program.
6. Who is eligible to participate in the new Fresh Start program?
The program is only for RTW students beginning with those who became RTW at the end of Winter 2011. Please see the participation criteria established by each program.
7. When does the program begin?
Students who are interested should meet with their program advisor as soon as possible. Fresh Start participants can enroll in courses which begin in September. Special Extended Academic Probationary contracts for all participants will be entered online prior to the start of classes.
8. Who determines which students may participate in the program?
Advisors in the student’s program department will confirm participants.
9. What form do students need to complete in order to participate in the Fresh Start program?
Students should complete the Program Reinstatement form to indicate their desire to participate in the Fresh Start Program. This must be specifically indicated on the form.
10. Where do students find the form to apply for Fresh Start program?
The form to request participation in Fresh Start is available on the Current Students Forms page.
11. Is the form different if a student wishes to transfer programs, not just be reinstated to their original program?
The form to request participation in the Fresh Start program is the same. However, once the student is in the EAP2 segment of the program they will need to formalize their transfer by submitting a Ryerson Application and Supplemental form by February 1, 2012 for Grades Plus programs, or March 1, 2012 for Grades Only programs. On their Supplemental form, students should clearly reference that they are part of the Fresh Start program. The Ryerson Application fee is $80.
12. What is the deadline to apply for the Fresh Start program if a student wishes to seek reinstatement?
Students who wish to participate should contact their program advisor no later than August 2, 2011.
13. What is the deadline for students to apply for the Fresh Start Program if they wish to transfer programs?
RTW students wishing to transfer to a new program must first meet with an Admissions Advisor to determine if they meet the base admission requirements for the program. Students will be seen on a drop-in basis throughout June in POD 144, Admissions Client Services. August 2, 2011 is the deadline for students who are confirmed as eligible to apply to transfer to apply for Fresh Start consideration with the new program. February 1, 2012 is the deadline to apply for a Grades-Plus program on the Ryerson Application form for fall 2012 admission (ie. for students who are enrolled in the EAP2 in Winter 2012). March 1, 2012 is the deadline to apply for a Grades-Only program on the Ryerson Application form for fall 2012 admission (again, for students who are enrolled in the EAP2 in Winter 2012).
14. To whom is the application form submitted?
To the Program Advisor for their original program (ie. for reinstates) or to the advisor for the program to which the student wishes to transfer.
15. If I approve the student’s application, where do I send the form for processing?
Student Records (POD 70) – attention Operations Support Unit
16. What do I do if I do not approve a student’s request to participate in Fresh Start?
Please submit the student’s application to Student Records (POD 70) for appropriate record updating.
17. Can a student appeal a decision to not allow them to participate in Fresh Start?
No.
18. How will students know that they have been accepted for the Fresh Start program?
They will be advised by their Program Advisor who will ensure the student is enrolled in all courses and that an online Probationary Contract has been entered onto SAS for the student.
19. Can a student appeal their RTW standing and still participate in the Fresh Start program?
They can appeal their standing and at the same time apply to participate in Fresh Start.
20. Can a student request a “faint hope” chance and participate in the Fresh Start program?
RTW students can approach their program advisor regarding permission for the “faint hope” option. Students denied permission for faint hope are eligible to apply for Fresh Start.
21. If a student is given a PRB6 override (faint hope) chance, can they participate in Fresh Start if they do not do well?
Further discussion is needed before we can answer this question.
22. Can a student defer their entry into the Fresh Start program, e.g., the student has made an employment commitment and wishes to delay the start of the Fresh Start program for one term, is this permissible?
Yes.
23. Can a student who was RTW before May 2011 apply for Fresh Start?
No.
24. Can a student participate in the Fresh Start program more than once?
No.
25. Can a student begin the program, finish the first semester, take a term off and then return for their second (EAP2) semester?
To be determined (but probably yes).
26. If a student is unable to complete either an EAP1 or EAP2 semester for reasons beyond their control what happens?
They are eligible to apply for reinstatement when their 12 months RTW period has been served.
27. Can a student appeal the grade(s) they receive during Fresh Start?
Yes. Grades are always appealable based on established grounds.
28. Can a student appeal their standing after EAP1?
No.
29. A student cannot afford to participate in Fresh Start. Are there any financial aid programs available to the student?
No.
30. What happens to a student’s OSAP eligibility for OSAP while participating in the Fresh Start program?
When student’s become RTW they must advise OSAP immediately. Fresh Start students taking four courses in EAP2 may be eligible for OSAP consideration.
31. A student has complained that they must begin to repay their OSAP, but we expect the student to return to near full studies (4 courses, EAP2) next semester. Can anything be done?
It is unlikely.
32. A student has a hold on their account and can’t be enrolled for EAP1 (or EAP2). Can anything be done?
No. To participate in Fresh Start the student must resolve any unpaid balance or other obligation to the satisfaction of the University.
33. A student fails the Fresh Start Strategies course, but passes all of their program courses. What happens to the student chances for reinstatement?
This will vary by program but the Fresh Start Strategies course will be a skills oriented course that will be hard to fail except through lack of participation and/or effort.
34. A student has sat out for 12 months and has now applied for reinstatement. Do I have to reinstate them? Why didn’t they participate in the Fresh Start program?
Departments continue to be responsible for reinstatement decisions. In future, there will be RTW students requesting reinstatement with and without Fresh Start. Fresh Start is not a mandatory program. Departments will wish to define reinstatement criteria for those not pursuing Fresh Start.
35. A student has applied to transfer out of their original program to a completely different program. Do I have to accept them for Fresh Start and enroll them in courses?
No. If your program is not accepting RTW transfers for Fresh Start or if the student does not meet the criteria that you have defined for the Fresh Start transfer option then you can deny permission. Once a prospective transfer is approved by you to participate in Fresh Start we will need to confirm arrangements for course enrollment.
36. If a student applies to transfer programs and is taking non-program related courses, how will their GPA be affected?
To be determined. More to follow.
37. Will such students continue to appear on my reports?
We will be designing things so that these students appear in the end of semester on all promotion reports. We will develop examples and post these shortly.
38. Who will review these students progress?
Program Advisors
39. How will standings be calculated for such students?
This will be based on the online EAP1 and EAP2 probationary contracts.
40. Will these students impact on my program’s retention values?
To be determined.
41. Can a student drop a course while in the Fresh Start program?
Yes, but it will mean the student will not qualify for automatic reinstatement.
42. Can a student “restart” the Fresh Start program?
Students can only participate once after their first RTW standing.
43. If a student drops their program courses, but continues in the Fresh Start Strategies course, what happens?
The student does not qualify for automatic reinstatement.
44. If a student completes their first semester (EAP1) with a term GPA of 1.97, can they apply for the faint hope override?
No.
45. If a student comes close to achieving the requirements for the first semester of Fresh Start, say they have a term GPA of 1.95 or higher, can I allow them to continue in the program?
No.
46. How will students that do not meet their EAP1 contracts be coded?
Students who do not meet the requirements of their online contract will appear as RTW.
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