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What is the START program?

The Start program is a provisional admission program. The program serves as:

• An opportunity for students who do not meet standard admission requirements to attend UTEP. Please refer to the UTEP Office of Admissions & Recruitment website – ‘Pathways to Admission’ for information.
• A program designed to help students establish a strong foundation for academic success

How do I clear the START program?

You have up to two semesters to clear START.

To clear, you must: 

• Attend New Student Orientation.
• Complete a minimum of 9 semester hours of approved courses (from at least two academic areas) with an A, B, or C or a passing grade of S and an overall grade point average (GPA) of a 2.0. All approved courses can be applied to most intended degree plans.
• Complete UNIV 1301 (if applicable to desired major).

If you do not clear START, you will be placed in one of these categories:

START Extended

• Your GPA is between 1.5-1.99, or
• Your GPA is greater than or equal to a 2.0 but you have fewer than 9 hours of approved START courses or courses from only one area.

START Extended students continue to receive same support as in first semester. They must meet with their advisor before beginning the next semester to discuss their START status and sign a START Extended Contract.

START Ineligible

Students who have a GPA lower than 1.5 after the first semester or less than 2.0 after their START Extended semester become START ineligible.

These students will not be able to enroll at UTEP for two calendar years.  Upon return to UTEP, student is fully admitted as a General Studies major and is placed on probation if UTEP GPA is below 2.0. At this point, a student may be eligible for the Option 2 process.

These students may speak with their advisor about these two options, before the two calendar years:

1. Attend another college or university
A student can enroll at another college or university, receive Cs or better in 12 college level hours with an overall 2.0 GPA and complete the transfer process back to UTEP. Students will return to UTEP on academic probation if their UTEP GPA is less than a 2.0.

2. Reinstatement
Students that were impacted by extenuating circumstances during their semester may petition for reinstatement with the Academic Advising Center.