College success isn't automatic. In order to earn your degree, you have to commit to working hard in every class, every semester. That's as true at North Carolina State as it is anywhere else in the country. NCSU is a good school, and it expects you to put forth maximum effort.
You got into the university, though, so you should be in pretty good shape, right? You never can tell. For one thing, college professors can sometimes be considerably more demanding than your high school teachers. For another, back in high school, you weren't trying to figure out the whole adulting thing while you were taking classes. You've suddenly got to be a good student while balancing a lot of other responsibilities in your life.
You don't have to do it alone, though. National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are here to help. If you're struggling to meet your school's progression requirements, you can count on them to know all the processes and procedures, who to talk to, and what to say. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team believe in you, and they're ready to do whatever it takes to make sure you find academic success.
Academic Progression at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State defines academic progress in its standing policy. “Good” standing, which means you can continue to enroll each semester, requires you to meet one simple standard: a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Fail to meet this standard, and NCSU places you on “Academic Warning” status. Generally speaking, a “warning” is just what it sounds like, a sign that you're struggling. You do have to meet with your academic advisor during the first four weeks of the semester. The more serious concern when you're on academic warning, though, is making sure you earn at least a 2.0 for the semester, every semester until your cumulative GPA is once again 2.0.
If you fail to reach that 2.0 mark for the semester, NCSU then suspends you. Note that you can also be suspended if your cumulative GPA should fall so far that it would take you more than 15 courses to make up the difference, even if you haven't been placed on an academic warning.
You can appeal a suspension immediately and, if your appeal is granted, continue under what's known as “Probation” status for another semester. This allows you to continue your studies without interruption. Should you continue to struggle academically, though, you can ultimately be dismissed from the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
There aren't many ways to challenge standing decisions at NCSU directly. For the most part, academic sanctions are based on your GPA, and that's not normally subject to review. The school does offer an appeals process in the case of dismissal, but what do you do if you're just looking to prevent warning status?
As it happens, there are some informal ways to avoid academic sanctions.
- If your deficiencies are due to some mitigating circumstance like an illness or a family emergency, you should explain your situation to your college dean. You may be entitled to more time on probation to bring up your GPA.
- Low grades are sometimes the result of a simple recording error or a miscalculation. If you can provide proof of your scores from the semester, a higher GPA may merely be a matter of asking your instructor to fill out a grade change form.
- Low grades can also be the result of an academic misconduct allegation. You have the right to challenge your instructor's findings or the level of sanction to the Office of Student Conduct.
- You are entitled to fair and equal treatment in the classroom. If you feel your instructor has mistreated you in any way, you can and should report them to their department head or, failing that, the dean of your college.
- You can try negotiating with faculty for higher grades. This can be as simple as asking them to take a fresh look at your work from the semester. Or, you can try making a more specific argument as to why you think your grade should be higher. If, for instance, your final exam grade was higher than the rest of your work, you might suggest that the exam score demonstrates you mastered the course material and deserve a better grade in the course.
- Some instructors are open to assigning extra credit or makeup work. It's certainly worth asking, particularly if you're only a few points from the next grade up.
Whatever your situation, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can explain all your options and help you come up with a plan to salvage your academic career. Of course, they have experience collecting evidence and filing appeals. They can be just as invaluable, though, in coaching you to negotiate and come up with effective arguments.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
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 they 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 Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm 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 Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
