Listen to what your teachers and your parents tell you, and the formula for success in college seems pretty simple. You go to class. You study hard. If you run into a problem, you visit your professor during office hours. Or maybe you join a study group or find a tutor. Simple enough, right?
Well, not always. For instance, what do you do if you should wind up in the hospital during a semester and miss a lot of class? What do you do if you have to respond to a family emergency and you miss a big exam? What do you do if you just can't seem to get along with your professor? It turns out there are a number of problems that can pop up in college that can't just be solved by working harder.
Your teachers and parents aren't wrong: You do need to go to class if you want to do well in college. You do need to study. If you find those aren't enough to keep your grades up, though, you should consider contacting the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. How is an attorney supposed to help you with academics? That will become clear as you read further. For now, all you need to know is that the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are on your side; they know the Ohio University system inside and out, and they can help you use that system to solve whatever problems may arise.
Academic Progression at Ohio University
Hopefully, someone has explained it to you by now, but in case they haven't, Ohio University maintains a strict Academic Standing policy. That policy requires you to meet certain standards in order to keep moving forward at the university and defines the penalties you face if you can't meet them.
The qualification for Good standing is relatively straightforward. All you need to do is keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0. That's easier said than done sometimes, though.
If your GPA should fall below the magic 2.0 number, things can get pretty complicated.
The most immediate result of a low GPA is that you're placed on probation. As part of probation, you must take a two-hour Academic Success Workshop. This workshop defines probation and offers suggestions on how you might improve academically. Your main goal while on probation, though, is to return to Good standing. You do that by getting your GPA back above 2.0.
You can remain on probation as long as it takes to return to Good standing, provided you meet one of two criteria. Either you must earn a minimum 2.0 term GPA, or you must have raised your cumulative GPA to a minimum level defined by your class standing.
- Students with less than 30 hours can remain on probation as long as their cumulative GPA is above 1.6.
- Students with 30 to 60 hours need a 1.8 cumulative GPA to remain on probation.
- Students with 60 to 90 hours need a 1.9.
- Students with more than 90 hours need a 2.0.
If you should fail to meet the requirements of continued Probation, Ohio University then dismisses you entirely. A first dismissal lasts for a full academic year. You must apply for readmission, and your school or college may require you to complete some form of academic remediation before you can return.
Should you continue to struggle after returning from a first dismissal, you can be dismissed again. A second dismissal lasts for at least two years, and readmission is only granted under “extraordinary circumstances.”
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
It's nice that Ohio University offers a process for reinstatement after dismissal. Not every university does. The Student Defense Team attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are experienced with filing reinstatement petitions.
Even if you can gain readmission, though, a dismissal can be a serious setback to your education. It's not just an interruption in your progress. It can be difficult to get back into the college mindset once you've taken a break from college. Plus, any student loans you may have taken out will start coming due during that year.
You're always better off avoiding dismissal if you possibly can. How do you do that? Unfortunately, Ohio University doesn't offer any formal means of challenging an academic sanction. Probation and dismissal are based on your GPA, and that's not normally open for debate. Luckily, the Student Defense Team attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of alternative methods for avoiding the threat of an academic sanction. For example,
- If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can petition the dean of your school or college for more time to improve before they impose a sanction.
- If you've suffered any type of classroom mistreatment, you should report it to your instructor's department head. Often, such mistreatment entitles you to grade relief.
- If your instructor has lowered your grade because they believe you've committed some form of academic misconduct—cheating or plagiarism—you can appeal their decisions to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility.
- If you have a learning disability, you may be entitled to course accommodations such as extra time to complete assignments or a peer note-taker. If you don't receive these accommodations, you may be able to appeal your course grade.
- Some faculty are willing to assign extra credit and make up work, especially to students with borderline grades. An extra lab assignment or an essay rewrite could be enough to raise your GPA and avoid a sanction.
- Faculty are also sometimes open to the prospect of grade negotiation. If, for example, you've shown significant progress over the course of a semester, you might ask your instructor to pass you, even if your individual scores don't add up to a passing grade.
Filing an appeal with your dean means explaining your situation in clear terms, collecting evidence, and drafting a strong document. Negotiating with a professor for a higher grade can be a delicate process. In short, you don't want to try and stave off an academic sanction all on your own. You need help. That's what the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is here for. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can work with you to determine the best path forward, but they can also help you take the necessary steps along that path.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Do for You?
Students sometimes ask: How exactly is an attorney supposed to help me with academic issues? It's a fair question. It's not like you're on trial for shoplifting. You need help with your grades. That's normally a matter of studying harder or finding a tutor.
As the information on this page suggests, though, succeeding in college is often as much about dealing with bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about how to handle educational bureaucracy than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is 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 Team today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
