Senior in Business Administration Program Regains Good Academic Standing After Successful SAP Appeal
The registrar of a large public university in the Deep South notified a senior student in the university's business administration program that the student was on academic probation and facing dismissal for not meeting the university's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements. The notice alleged that the student's course withdrawals and incompletes, together with two semesters off, had left the student out of compliance with the university's SAP percentage of credits completed and maximum timeframe requirements. The notice surprised and concerned the student because the student had carefully calculated those requirements when deciding to take time off or drop courses. When the registrar refused to meet with the student to review the calculations, the student promptly retained the Lento Law Firm. The firm's student defense team researched the university's SAP standards and confirmed the student's calculations as reasonable interpretations of the university's SAP policy. The law firm then contacted the registrar's office, indicating that it represented the student and was invoking the student's SAP appeal rights. The law firm's communication indicated that the student would be proving extenuating circumstances justifying the school's waiver of its SAP standards but that the student was nonetheless in compliance with those standards. The law firm simultaneously copied the university's general counsel with whom the law firm had prior successful dealings. That contact resulted in a communication from the registrar's office accepting the student's calculation and rescinding the SAP probation. The student proceeded with classwork, completing the term and moving forward toward graduation without further interruption. The key to the student's success was the law firm's prior relationship with the university's general counsel and the firm's ability to gain that oversight review for an early voluntary resolution.
Pre-Med Major Gains Reinstatement After SAP Dismissal for Reduced Schedule and Time Off
A small private college in a Central Plains state notified a pre-med student that the reduced schedule for which she had registered and the semesters off she had taken had put her out of compliance with the college's SAP standards. The registrar's notice indicated that the student could no longer register for courses. The student received the notice just before the term break, giving her only three weeks to gain reinstatement. While the registrar notified the student of her right to appeal her effective SAP dismissal, the notice did not describe how she could take an appeal or what an appeal required. Because the student's grades were excellent and the student had excellent prospects and strong ambitions for medical school admission, the student promptly retained the Lento Law Firm to pursue her SAP appeal. The firm first investigated and documented the student's reasons for her reduced schedule and semesters off, which included both a death in the student's family relating to which the student had memorial and estate obligations that the student had completed and the student's severe illness, from which the student had recovered. The firm's research and evaluation confirmed strong grounds for an SAP appeal. The firm further articulated the readily achievable plan under which the student would bring her academic progress back into compliance, including calculations showing the registrar and SAP appeal panel that the student would very likely be back in compliance within one term. The firm submitted the SAP appeal and its documentation immediately in electronic and overnight print form, after which the firm received the registrar's prompt notice of the student's reinstatement. The student registered for courses without interruption and proceeded in her program as scheduled toward graduation. The key to success was the timeliness of the firm's SAP appeal, thoroughness of its documentation, and helpfulness and accuracy of its calculation.
Law Student Gains Reinstatement After SAP Dismissal for Course Withdrawals and Term Off
A large Central States law school at a public university notified a second-year law student over the summer that the student's course withdrawals and term off had put the student out of compliance with its satisfactory academic progress standards. The notice further informed the student that the student could not register for courses that coming fall term. The notice failed to state any SAP appeal rights or requirements. The student was in good health and had performed well in the courses he completed. The reason for his course withdrawals and term off had nothing to do with academics but instead everything to do with his wife's sudden serious mental illness. The student had committed to staying home while his wife gained a diagnosis and treatment and recovered. The student had tried to explain to the law school's officials, who had not accepted the explanation or suggested any route for relief. Under these circumstances, the student retained the Lento Law Firm to pursue whatever rights the student had for reinstatement. The firm first confirmed that the university and its law school, in fact had SAP appeal procedures and that the law school's failure to disclose those procedures warranted immediate reinstatement. While the firm was prepared to articulate, document, and submit a compelling SAP appeal, the firm's communication to the registrar, copied to the university's general counsel, triggered the student's immediate reinstatement as the firm requested. The student proceeded to register for and complete courses that fall on the way toward graduation. The key to success was the firm's research into SAP notice requirements and its prompt and clear communications to responsible university officials.
International Student Prevails in SAP Appeal After Dismissal for Poor Grades
A large Northeastern public university dismissed an international student from its undergraduate pre-law program, alleging that the student's low and failing grades failed to meet the university's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements. In the student's first year at the university, the student had failed two courses and received low grades in three other courses, leaving the student's cumulative grade-point average fairly significantly below the required 2.00 / 4.00 minimum. The student had done very well in his native country's schooling using his native language but had admittedly faced difficulty adapting to the university's program as an English second language (ESL) student. Because the student did not understand the university registrar's SAP notice or the appeal procedures that the notice summarized, the student promptly retained the Lento Law Firm's student defense team. The team reviewed the student's coursework, including exam scores in the failing courses, comparing exam answers to model answers. The firm's review convinced the student to appeal the failing grades as part of the strategy to support an SAP appeal. The firm's grade appeal and SAP appeal submissions included analysis suggesting how cultural issues had affected not only the student's performance on test items set in culturally unique contexts but also the instructor evaluation of student performance. The university's grade appeals office granted both appeals, recommending to the instructors' replacement passing grades high enough to eliminate the need for the pending SAP appeal. The instructors accepted those recommendations, acknowledging their need to draft better test items and use better evaluation measures. The key to the student's success was the firm's culturally aware analysis and presentation.
Graduate Student Changing Programs Avoids Academic Progress Dismissal
A large public university in a Central Midwest state notified a graduate student that the student's low grades failed to meet the university's satisfactory academic progress 3.00 / 4.00 cumulative grade-point average standard. The student knew that the student had performed below the student's academic capability but had done so solely because of the student's intent to withdraw from that graduate program in order to apply to and enroll in another similar graduate program closer to the student's home. The student had simply let his studies go, anticipating his withdrawal from the graduate program in favor of a better-fitting program. The student had no need to contest the university's SAP probation except that the student's new graduate school indicated that the probation could keep the student from gaining admission to the new school. The student didn't feel that the student had a basis for an SAP appeal because the only extenuating circumstance was the student's intention to withdraw and enter a different program. The student's informal communications with the university's registrar produced no relief. And so, the student retained the Lento Law Firm to pursue alternative special relief through other channels. The law firm had prior successful dealings with the university's ombuds office, and so made that outreach. Further communications, including documentation of the student's application to the other program and the program's response expressing concern over the university's SAP notice, led to the university's voluntary withdrawal of the SAP notice on condition of program withdrawal for admission to the other program. The student left the university with a clean academic record, able to enroll in the other graduate program closer to home. The student's success was due to the law firm's relationship with university oversight officials and the firm's ability to negotiate a win-win compromise resolution.
Undergraduate Student Avoids SAP Dismissal by Excusing Late Course Withdrawals
A small public community college in a South Central state notified a second-year student in a medical assistant program that her late course withdrawals the prior term had resulted in failing grades. The registrar's notice disclosed that those failing grades had pulled the student's cumulative grade-point average to well below the college's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards, from which the student could not recover. The SAP notice informed the student of the student's program dismissal. While the SAP notice also informed the student of SAP appeal rights, the student could not discern how to regain satisfactory academic progress through an appeal. The student had good cause for withdrawing, involving the serious injury of the student's minor child, but reinstatement alone would not enable the student to bring her grade-point average up to the SAP standard. The student retained the Lento Law Firm to evaluate options because the student had a great job opportunity if able to complete the college's program. The law firm researched the college's brief and ambiguous course-withdrawal policy. Drawing on experience with course-withdrawal policies at other colleges and universities, the law firm prepared an SAP appeal that included appeals of the failing grades associated with course withdrawal. The college granted those grade appeals, turning the failing grades into simple course withdrawals, restoring the student's grade-point average to well above the required minimum. The key to the student's success was the law firm's ability to discern an alternative appeal option and argue the fair interpretation of an ambiguous college policy.
Accounting Student Avoids SAP Dismissal After Appealing Incomplete Grades
A large Northwest public university notified an accounting program student of the student's dismissal under the university's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements for failing to complete the minimum percentage of courses attempted. The student had withdrawn from only one course but had left several other courses with incomplete grades. The student's mental and emotional disabilities contributed to the course incompletes. The university used those incomplete grades to dismiss the student based on the SAP standards. The registrar's dismissal notice did not include SAP appeal procedures. When the student retained the Lento Law Firm, the firm confirmed that the university, in fact had unpublished SAP appeal procedures. The firm further confirmed that SAP regulations arguably required that the university disclose SAP appeal procedures with each SAP notice. The firm further helped the student consult with mental health professionals to address the student's condition contributing to the course incompletes. The student's additional diagnosis, treatment, and medication helped the student address and remove the course incompletes while the law firm negotiated with the university to withdraw its SAP dismissal for failing to notify of procedures and reinstate the student whose course completions had addressed the SAP issue. At the urging of university general counsel, the registrar withdrew the SAP notice and revised future notices to include SAP appeal procedures. The key to the student's success was getting the firm's help with accessing mental health services, while the firm gained the student time through its procedural objection for treatment and addressing the course incompletes.
Medical School Student Gains Reinstatement After SAP Appeal for Extenuating Circumstances
The medical school at a Central Atlantic state university notified a third-year student of the student's dismissal for failing to meet the school's minimum grade-point average requirement. The registrar's notice indicated that the student had failed to timely regain good academic standing after receiving a warning of impending dismissal. The notice further described the medical school's SAP appeal procedure based on extenuating circumstances such as the death of a close family member. Believing that the student could not qualify, the student prepared to withdraw from medical school and pursue another degree and career. But on another student's recommendation, the student retained the Lento Law Firm's student defense team to explore any options. The team's investigation showed that the student had maintained adequate grades until suffering a mild head injury in a mountain biking accident. That term, the student's grades plummeted to the point that the student was out of SAP compliance. On the team's recommendation, the student obtained neuropsychological evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. The examiner's report confirmed a probable relationship between the head injury symptoms and poor grades. The report further documented the student's recovery and plan to remediate symptoms for better studies. The law firm's student defense team articulated these grounds in a timely and well-documented SAP appeal that the medical school granted. The student resumed third-year medical studies, passing his courses with grades strong enough to meet the SAP appeal conditions. The key to success was the firm's discernment and documentation of an extenuating circumstance leading to an achievable recovery plan.
Nursing Student Avoids SAP Dismissal for Incomplete Courses After Extenuating Circumstances Appeal
A prominent nursing program from a Southeastern public university notified a graduate nursing program student of her dismissal for too many course withdrawals and incompletes, violating the school's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements. The nursing student was a single mother of twin infant children whom she had delivered during her undergraduate nursing program. The student had succeeded in completing her undergraduate nursing degree and continuing with graduate studies until her mother fell ill and could no longer provide infant care for the student's children. Faced with caring both for her twin children and ill mother, the student withdrew from several courses and left other courses incomplete, unaware that she risked SAP dismissal. The SAP dismissal notice disclosed the nursing school's SAP appeal procedures. Lacking the time, energy, and insight to pursue the appeal, the nursing student instead retained the Lento Law Firm. The firm helped the student document her mother's illness and its severe impact on the student's ability to continue her studies. The firm further helped the student discern and implement appropriate alternative plans for infant care and dependent mother care. That documentation and those plans formed the basis for the law firm's SAP appeal, which the nursing school granted. The nursing student resumed her studies the following term without further serious difficulty. The key to success was the firm's timely initiative in discerning and documenting extenuating circumstances and a workable recovery plan.
