You've got the academic game down. After all, you got into Illinois State, right? That didn't happen by accident. You had to do well in your high school classes, spend hours prepping for the SAT, memorize vocabulary, and do a million practice math problems.
How good are you at the adulting part of college, though?
College is a completely new environment. There's no one around to wake you up in the morning anymore. There's no one around to make sure you go to bed on time, no one around to nag you to study. There's no one around to do your laundry. Sure, your grades were stellar in high school, but learning to live independently can be a bit of a distraction, and distractions can sometimes put a dent in your GPA. What do you do if it happens to you?
You call the Lento Law Firm. Surprised? You shouldn't be. At least half of college is learning how to navigate the system and how to deal with bureaucracy and red tape. Who do you call when you need to go home for a family emergency? What's the protocol if a professor doesn't seem to like you? How do you file a grade appeal if you need to?
Lawyers know bureaucracy, and the Lento Law Firm knows educational bureaucracy. If you're struggling to keep your grades up or dealing with an academic sanction, we can help. We know the tips and tricks your advisor won't tell you about, and we're always on your side. So, at the first sign of trouble, call our Education Law Team at 888-535-3686, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Illinois State University
What does college success really mean? That's not one of those late-night philosophical questions you pose to your roommate: "Does an A mean the same thing to you that it means to me, Bruh?" There's actually a concrete answer to this question. You'll find it in ISU's academic standing policy. Didn't know there was one? Now you do. And according to that policy, “success” is keeping your cumulative grade point average above 2.0. It's called Good standing. Simple, right? Well, the concept is simple. Execution is sometimes more difficult than you might think. What happens if you slip below this mark?
- Academic Probation: The first thing that happens is that Illinois State places you on Academic Probation. As part of Probation, you must participate in ISU's Project Success Program. Your main job, though, is to raise your GPA because if it's still below 2.0 at the end of the semester, you face Academic Dismissal.
- Academic Dismissal: In fact, once you've been placed on Probation, you can be dismissed any time your GPA is below 2.0. You don't get a second semester of Probation. Dismissal means what it sounds like: expulsion, separation from the university, ineligibility for registration, hitting the bricks.
You can apply for immediate reinstatement following Dismissal, but you must be able to show that some extenuating circumstances led to your academic deficiencies. Otherwise, you have to wait at least a full semester—Fall or Spring—before you can reapply. Keep in mind, as well, that the university does not guarantee your return. It's up to the ISU University Reinstatement Committee to decide if it thinks you're ready.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
If you need to go through the reinstatement process, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help. We've worked with hundreds of students to file these kinds of appeals. We know what type of evidence impresses committees, and we know how to make you look and sound your best on paper.
You're always better off if you can avoid Dismissal in the first place, though. How do you do that? Well, there are a few strategies.
- Any time you feel you're being mistreated in the classroom, you should report that to your instructor's department head. You may be entitled to some form of grade relief.
- In fact, you can file a grade appeal at any time, even if your instructor hasn't done anything overtly unfair. If you feel you deserve a better grade in the course than the one you're getting, you have the right to try and prove it.
- Consistently low grades could be a sign that you have a learning disability. Students with disabilities have important rights, like the right to course accommodations when necessary. Disability Services can help you get tested and work out accommodations if you need them. In addition, you can petition ISU to drop low grades from your GPA and let you retake those courses for replacement credit.
- Another common cause of low grades is academic misconduct. Your instructors have broad authority to accuse you of cheating and plagiarism and to assign whatever penalties they think you deserve. Usually, it's some form of grade reduction. You can challenge these decisions, though, by appealing to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Responsibilities.
- You can try negotiating with your instructors if you have a compelling argument to make. For instance, you could argue that your improvement over a semester warrants a passing grade, even if your scores don't add up to one.
- One easy type of grade negotiation is asking for extra credit or makeup assignments. Bonus lab work or a paper rewrite could be all you need to raise your grade and your GPA.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm have worked with hundreds of students over the years, and we know exactly how the system works. There's almost always a solution to an academic progress issue. You just have to know who to contact and what to say. We do.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your Illinois State diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It's your avenue to a successful career. If it's under threat, you can't afford to try and handle the problem by yourself. University processes and procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and often, you will find the system is stacked against you. You need the very best help you can get, someone who is in your corner and ready to fight on your behalf.
The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team has helped hundreds of students just like you respond to academic issues and make it to graduation. What can we do for you? To find out, call us today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
