It's no easy task getting into college. You have to do well in all your high school classes. You need good scores on the SAT. It helps to participate in extra-curricular activities. But you did all that. You worked hard, and you got into Montclair State.
If there was any justice in the world, you could relax a little now. You've proven your education matters to you. You should be able to take classes at your own pace without having to worry about exams and deadlines.
Unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way. Life only gets harder from here. College courses are tougher than high school courses. Professors are demanding. And you have to figure out how to keep your grades up while you're learning how to be an adult. It's no surprise that students' grades sometimes fall.
If you're struggling and worried about academic sanctions, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Education Law Team was established to help students succeed. We know who to call when you've got a problem, and we know what to say. Plus, we've been doing this long enough to have picked up some pretty useful tips and tricks for keeping your GPA up. So, at the very first sign of trouble, give us a call at 888-535-3686, or take a little time now and fill out one of our online questionnaires.
Academic Progression at Montclair State University
There are all sorts of ways to define "college success." Maybe for you, it's about getting a good job at the end of four years. Maybe you think of it more as developing your own independence and learning how to become an adult. Maybe you think of it in terms of how many people you can meet and what connections you can make.
There's actually a concrete way to define college success, though. It's called "Good Standing." Every college and university maintains an academic standing policy, with various levels of "standing" that are based on your GPA. Your goal should always be to stay in Good standing. At Montclair, that requires you to keep your cumulative GPA above 2.0.
What happens if you should fall below that number?
- Academic Warning: Actually, your GPA doesn't have to fall below 2.0 in order for your academic standing to slip. If your GPA is between 2.0 and 2.25, Montclair State issues you an Academic Warning. This is designed to let you know you're in danger of Probation. However, you remain in Good standing, even if you've received a Warning.
- Academic Probation: This is a more serious drop in your standing. It happens any time your GPA is below 2.0. As part of Probation, you must meet with an academic advisor and complete the university's Academic Progress Program. Of course, you must also work to return to Good standing. You can take as long as you need to do that, provided you keep your term GPA up. You can gain a second semester of Probation if your term GPA is above 2.0. You can gain a third semester if your term GPA is above 2.25.
- Academic Suspension: If both your term and cumulative GPAs are below 2.0, you're then suspended from the university for a minimum of one academic year.
- Academic Dismissal: Finally, should you return from Suspension and continue to struggle, you face permanent Dismissal.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Luckily, there are some ways to deal with negative academic standing decisions. If, for example, you've been Suspended or Dismissed, you can appeal for more time to improve. Most successful appeals have to do with extenuating circumstances. Maybe you suffered a bout of severe depression during the semester, or you were dealing with a family crisis. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are well-versed in the appeals process and can help you gather evidence and draft a compelling argument.
We know a number of less formal approaches to raising your GPA as well, though. For example,
- Montclair allows you to take Winter and Summer courses in the semesters following a Suspension. If you can raise your GPA with this coursework, you can gain immediate reinstatement.
- Any time an instructor treats you unfairly, you should report that mistreatment to their department head. You may be entitled to some sort of grade revision.
- If you should discover you have a previously undiagnosed learning disability, you can petition the university to set aside low grades and allow you to retake those courses. It's likely that once you have the proper accommodations in place, you can improve your grades in those courses.
- You don't have to have a learning disability to retake a course. Montclair allows you to replace low grades simply by earning higher ones, and this can quickly raise your GPA.
- A low grade can be the result of an academic misconduct allegation. If your instructor thinks you've cheated or committed plagiarism, they can lower your grades on assignments or even fail you in the class. However, you can challenge their decisions to the Academic Affairs office.
- Some faculty assign makeup and extra credit work to students with borderline grades. One extra lab assignment could be all you need to get your GPA up above the danger zone.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to negotiate grades along other lines. For instance, if your final exam score was especially high, you might ask an instructor to use it as your course grade.
Of course, no single solution is going to work in every case. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm will sit down with you and work out an individual plan to get you back on track. In addition, they'll help you put that plan into effect, whether that means drafting an official appeal or coaching you in the art of negotiating with faculty and administrators.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your Montclair 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 automated online form.
