Success at college doesn't happen overnight. It's something you have to work at year by year, semester by semester, course by course. That's especially true at Drexel, where courses are challenging and professors demanding. You have to earn your degree, and that requires staying focused from start to finish.
No one's perfect, though. We all struggle from time to time. Maybe calculus is your Achilles heel; maybe your brain refuses to process Shakespeare, or maybe you just have one of those semesters where nothing seems to go right. Life happens to the best of us.
The National Student Defense Team at LLF Law Firm doesn't believe a mistake or two should keep you from academic success. They know how hard you've worked to get to this point, and he's ready to fight to make sure that work hasn't been in vain. If you're struggling to meet Drexel's academic standing requirements, you don't have to struggle alone. The LLF Law Firm knows the system, and they know how to use it to your advantage.
Academic Progression at Drexel University
All colleges and universities have what's known as an “academic standing” policy. Basically, these policies ensure that you're putting forth your best effort as a student. At Drexel, standing is based on two factors: your term and cumulative grade point averages. As long as these two numbers remain above 2.0, you remain in “good” standing. Should either of them fall below 2.0, though, you're subject to academic sanctions, and often these can be serious.
- Probation: The first consequence if you're struggling academically is probation. Basically, probation lets you know that you're in danger of more serious consequences if you can't pull your grades up. In addition, while on probation, you are required to meet with your academic advisor and complete an Academic Agreement during the first week of classes. This agreement specifies what you must do to avoid dismissal from Drexel.
- Continued Probation: You can remain on “continued probation” for up to three semesters as long as you are meeting the terms of your Academic Agreement and making progress towards returning to good standing.
- Dismissal: However, if your GPAs continue to fall, you fail to meet good standing requirements in three semesters, or you aren't honoring your Academic Agreement, you are then subject to dismissal from Drexel.
Drexel offers a process for immediate reinstatement if you have been dismissed. Appeals are initially addressed to the appeal committee of your particular college and must be submitted during the first week of the next semester following dismissal. If the appeal committee upholds your dismissal, you may appeal further to your college dean. You should know, however, that reinstatement is never guaranteed. As part of the appeals process, you must be able to explain exactly what led to your dismissal and how you plan to correct the problem. If your appeal is unsuccessful, your dismissal then becomes permanent, with no option to return to the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Reinstatement at Drexel usually requires you to demonstrate that extenuating circumstances, like a serious illness or a family emergency—caused your academic deficiencies. Otherwise, there is no way to overturn such a decision. Meanwhile, probation decisions aren't subject to appeal at all.
However, there are ways of dealing with the threat of academic sanctions.
- On occasion, low grades are simply the result of grading errors or miscalculations. The solution can be just as simple: furnishing your instructor with your assignment grades from the semester.
- If you've suffered any type of mistreatment in the classroom, you always have the right to take your concerns to your instructor's department head or to the dean of your college.
- If your grade is the result of an academic misconduct accusation, you can appeal your instructor's decision to Student Conduct and Care. If you admit to the accusation, you can still appeal the severity of the sanction to your college dean.
- You will find that some faculty are open to negotiation if you are careful in how you approach them. There are a number of effective arguments for convincing an instructor to reconsider your work. For instance, if your final exam grade was higher than your other scores from the semester, they may be willing to accept this as proof that you mastered the course material.
- You can also try asking for extra credit or makeup assignments. This strategy can be particularly effective if you only need a few extra points to raise your grade.
Advisors don't typically tell you about these alternative approaches to raising your GPA. They may be too busy, they may never have considered these alternatives, or they may not be interested enough in salvaging your academic career.
If you work with the LLF Law Frim, Education Law Team, you're always the priority. They know how Drexel University operates. They know who to talk to, and they know what to say. Whether you're looking for tips on negotiating for a higher grade or you want to file a formal appeal for reinstatement, they can help you come up with a plan for success and work with you to implement it.
Premier Education Law Team - LLF Law Firm
Students sometimes ask: how can an attorney possibly help me deal with an academic problem? It's a fair question. After all, it's not like the Education Law Team can attend classes for you or take your exams.
The thing is, succeeding in college is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about dealing with bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about dealing with educational bureaucracy than the LLF Law Firm. They built the practice handling student conduct and academic progress issues.
More important than anything else, LLF Law firm and the Education Law Team are on your side. They understand that no one is perfect, and they're committed to the idea that a few mistakes shouldn't keep you from earning your degree and going on to a successful career. They'll fight to make sure you're treated fairly and that you get all the rights you deserve.
You've worked hard to get to this point. Don't let that hard work go to waste. To find out more about how you can fight dismissal, contact the LLF Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
