Dartmouth is one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Graduate from here, and your future is secure. In keeping with that prestigious reputation, though, standards are high, and graduation is certainly not a sure thing. Fail to measure up, and you can find yourself on academic probation or dismissed from the school entirely.
Here's the thing: we've all had those classes—or those semesters—where it seems like nothing goes right. Maybe calculus turns out to be more than you bargained for; maybe astronomy just doesn't make any sense; maybe Shakespeare just sounds like finely-tuned white noise. It happens. A couple of bad classes—even a bad semester—shouldn't stand in the way of your academic success, though.
National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento wants to make sure it doesn't. Don't get the wrong idea: he can't take your classes for you. He knows how processes and procedures work at Dartmouth, though, and he knows how to use them to your advantage. Studying is on you, but if you're mired in bureaucracy and struggling to progress, Joseph D. Lento has your back.
Academic Progression Requirements at the Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College's academic regulations are set by the school's Committee on Standards, and those regulations are both strict and complicated. There are four standing levels: satisfactory, risk, warning, and probation. In addition, there are two more serious consequences you can face for poor academic performance: suspension and permanent separation.
When it comes to standing, Dartmouth doesn't talk in terms of GPA but in terms of specific course grades. Of course, minor deficiencies come with minor consequences, but should you continue to struggle, your situation can get serious very quickly.
Basically, standing and sanctions are determined by a combination of factors.
If you are in satisfactory standing, for example, and you make one D, you're simply placed in risk status. No big deal. Two Ds, though, or a single F and your status is warning, one notch down from risk. Three Ds or a D and an F, and you're on probation. Anything worse results in suspension.
If, however, you've had probation or a suspension in the past, the stakes become higher. If you've been on probation before and then make three Ds in a semester, you're not put on probation again. You're suspended. Likewise, if you've been suspended before and make three Ds, you face permanent separation from Dartmouth.
Fighting Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal Decisions
Ordinarily, standing decisions aren't subject to review. In fact, the published regulations note that the Office of Community Standards and Accountability is authorized by the COS to take action “automatically” based on a student's grades and grade history.
However, there is a formal means of appealing suspension and separation decisions if you have extenuating circumstances that have caused you to struggle. This process involves submitting an explanation of these circumstances, along with any documentary evidence to support your explanation, to the COS. It's important to file this paperwork early. All requests must be made within 48 hours of receiving notification that you've been suspended or dismissed.
In addition, there are other, less direct routes to handling a negative standing decision.
- If you feel you've been mistreated by an instructor, you should always report that treatment to the department head or the Undergraduate Dean. You may be entitled to grade relief in such cases.
- Professors make mistakes just like the rest of us. Sometimes, a higher grade in a course is simply a matter of asking an instructor to re-calculate your scores. Again, if you suspect your final grade might be lower than it should be, it's important to make such requests promptly before a low grade affects your standing.
- Some instructors are willing to reconsider your scores from a semester. For example, arguments that your work improved from the beginning of the term to the end can sometimes be compelling enough to convince a professor to revise your grade.
- Some faculty are willing to offer extra-credit work or makeup assignments. This, too, can sometimes be enough to raise a D to a C- and keep you from being suspended or dismissed.
Dartmouth won't usually tell you about these less formal options. Joseph D. Lento will. He knows how college bureaucracy works, how to navigate the system, and where best to apply pressure when it's called for. Whether you need coaching on how to negotiate with faculty and administrators or you need help drafting an appeal to the COS, Joseph D. Lento is ready to put his knowledge and experience to work for you.
SAP Requirements
If you receive any type of federal financial aid at Dartmouth, you'll also be subject to another set of academic standards. The government requires every college and university to maintain a Satisfactory Academic Progression or SAP policy. Such policies help ensure no one can abuse the aid system by signing up for classes they don't actually attend.
Dartmouth's SAP policy is stricter than most. For example, the federal government only requires you to complete your degree within 150 percent of any published degree requirements. Dartmouth's own policy states that, except in extreme circumstances, you become ineligible for aid after twelve terms or four years. In addition, you must successfully complete at least 67 percent of your courses to remain eligible for aid. Consecutive terms on probation can also interfere with your financial aid.
Once you've lost eligibility, you cannot regain it, and Dartmouth offers no process for appealing such decisions. As with standing issues, though, there are informal ways to deal with SAP sanctions. For example, Dartmouth does offer a limited number of “alternative” aid packages to students who have lost their federal funding. Joseph D. Lento knows all the options open to you and can help you decide which will work best in your particular situation.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Many students assume that once they get to college, they're expected to handle all their problems on their own. After all, you're supposed to be “adulting” now, right? They may not know how to go about fighting a dismissal decision, though, and so when they get that letter telling them they've been dismissed, they just accept it.
You know better. You know there are many ways to salvage your academic career, even if you've made some mistakes. More importantly, you know you don't have to handle this situation all on your own. There's help available to you.
Joseph D. Lento knows how the Dartmouth College system operates. He knows the processes and procedures, and he knows how to use them to your best advantage. Whether you're trying to satisfy probation requirements, facing dismissal, or working to meet SAP standards, Joseph D. Lento is on your side and ready to do what it takes to keep your future bright.
To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
