Peter Jones, Temple University’s senior vice provost, says about 100 students a year do so poorly academically that they face dismissal. But he doesn’t believe that should keep them from completing their degree: "There are all sorts of issues that preclude a student from reaching their potential when they first come to university." So, Jones says, Temple allows them to come back after five years, as any transfer student would, with their grade point average reset to zero — so they can keep the credits they earned but still start with a clean slate. And Temple is not alone. With returning adults making up an estimated 20 percent of college enrollment, many colleges and universities have adopted similar policies.