Consult your adviser about your options. Your adviser will have a good idea whether or not it’s worth it to retake the class or if you should move on. If you’re returning to school after years away or if you’re a transfer student, you may be able to have part of the transcript wiped clean or choose the grades you want to keep. If you feel that the failed class was given unfairly, you should consult the department head for the professor who gave you the grade or the dean of students.
Take any classes or meet other requirements necessary to have the grade cleared. Remember that there might be specific exceptions to any policy. For example, Flagler College allows students to repeat failed courses and only the grade from the passed course will be used in the grade point average, but students may not complete the course at another school and transfer it to Flagler.
Fill out any appropriate forms for having a failed class dropped. Usually, a college will have a standard form and specific information will be needed. When filling out the form, try to convey how you have learned from the experience, but don't make excuses. Syracuse University allows students to apply for academic renewal, which means their GPA is reset to 0.0, a clean slate. The form requires the student's name, ID number, social security number, adviser's name and explanation of the request.
Write a formal request letter to have the original class removed to the office of records, the registrar's office, or another appropriate office. Your request should include your name, contact information, the original grade and the new grade. Again, any written explanation should avoid excuses and point out to improvements or how much you've learned from the experience. Address it to the office’s director, and deliver it yourself.