Northeastern University has a reputation for rigorous scholarship and academic excellence. In keeping with that reputation, you can expect that the school will hold you to the highest standards in all your coursework. To that end, Northeastern maintains a strict policy on academic standing. Fail to meet the requirements of this policy, and you can find yourself on probation or worse.
Of course, most of us struggle at some point or other while we're in college. Four years is a long time. There will be that one class you can't go to because your ex is in it. There will be a course or two that are just far too early in the morning. Or maybe Shakespeare is all Greek to you.
If you're struggling to meet progress requirements at Northeastern, you should know that there's help available out there. National Student Defense Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento is dedicated to making sure you're treated fairly and that you have every opportunity to graduate successfully. Whether you're dealing with mistreatment in the classroom, an unfair accusation of academic dishonesty, or an advisor who has miscalculated your GPA, Joseph D. Lento knows how Northeastern works, and he can use that knowledge to your advantage.
Academic Progression at Northeastern University
Let's start with an overview of how Northeastern University defines “academic progress.”
In simple terms, you remain in “good” standing as long as you keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0 and complete at least 12 hours each semester. Note that failed classes or classes from which you've withdrawn are not “completed” hours. Your school or college may have additional requirements for good standing, and your advisor can also raise concerns about low grades in any course, especially those required by your major.
If you fail to earn enough credits or a high enough grade point, you are then placed on probation. You should be aware that while on probation, you are ineligible to serve in a leadership position for any student organization. Probation can also affect your eligibility to participate in sports.
The more serious issue when it comes to probation, though, is what happens if your grades fail to improve. If you cannot meet good standing requirements after two semesters on probation, you are then dismissed from the university. In fact, you can be dismissed even without probation should your GPA fall below 1.0 or your completed course hours fall below 4.
You can apply for readmission after dismissal, but only after at least a semester away from the university. Approval is based on your ability to demonstrate that you can improve academically if you are readmitted.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Northeastern has an appeals process for academic standing decisions. Appeals should be directed to your school or college's Academic Standing Committee and should offer clear evidence for why you should be granted an additional semester of probation. Typically, this means documentation of a family emergency or long-term illness that affected your coursework.
In addition, there are other, less formal ways of handling an impending academic sanction.
- Your GPA could be the result of a professor's typo or miscalculation. It's always a good idea to keep all your work and records of your grades so that you have evidence if you need to challenge a grade.
- Professors don't always treat every student fairly. If you feel you've been mistreated, you have the right to protest to the professor's department head or, failing that, the dean of your college.
- If you've been unfairly accused of academic misconduct and given a grade sanction as a result, you can challenge the instructor's finding, the sanction, or both.
- Some faculty are open to negotiation when it comes to grades. You may find, for instance, that you can convince a professor your final exam grade was high enough to warrant a higher grade in the course, even if your other scores don't support it. In other instances, you might try simply asking an instructor to go back and take another look at your work. Sometimes such negotiations can yield higher grades as well.
- Instructors also sometimes assign extra credit or makeup work, particularly in cases where a student's grade is borderline. Frequently, this means accepting an Incomplete (I) while you finish this work, but an I may be enough to keep you from probation or dismissal.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know all the options that are available to you. They can help you put together a plan for your particular situation and can help you execute that plan. They are experienced at filing appeals and know exactly what the appeals committee is looking for. They can coach you on how to talk with a professor. And, if worse comes to worst and you are dismissed, they know how to collect evidence and craft a persuasive readmission petition.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
Students often ask: how can an attorney possibly help me deal with an academic problem? After all, it's not like they can take classes for you.
The fact is, succeeding at 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. He built his practice handling student conduct and academic progress issues.
More important than anything else, Joseph D. Lento and his 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 Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
