We don't have to tell you how good a school Rice University is. You know how much hard work and discipline it took to get in.
You probably also know by this point that graduating won't be any walk in the park either. There are some pretty challenging courses at Rice taught by some pretty demanding professors. You wouldn't be the first student who struggled to keep up or the first who faced dismissal.
National Student Defense attorney-advisor believes in your future, though, and wants to make sure you reach it.
You might be surprised by the idea that a lawyer can help with academics. The fact is that most university decisions are less about classroom performance than about navigating complicated rules and procedures. Who handles complicated rules and procedures better than lawyers? And Joseph D. Lento isn't just any lawyer. He built his career helping students deal with the often-maddening bureaucracy of higher education. If you're facing dismissal, or even if you've already been dismissed, you owe it to yourself to find out what he can do for you.
Academic Progression Requirements at Rice University
Steady progress at Rice is all about staying in “good academic standing.”
That phrase signifies that you are doing what you need to as a student and ensures your continued success.
To remain in good academic standing, though, you must meet two important standards. First, you must earn at least a 1.67-grade point average each semester. In addition, you must maintain a 1.67 cumulative grade point average.
Failure to meet either of these standards usually means academic probation. Under academic probation, you are not allowed to hold any elected or appointed office, and you are not allowed to enroll in more than 17 hours of coursework. More importantly, should you fail to meet standards for two consecutive probationary semesters, you can be suspended from the university. You can also be suspended, even without having been given probation, should your semester GPA fall below 1.0.
A first suspension is normally for one semester. A second can last for two semesters. In either case, returning to school is no easy task. It requires submitting a letter of petition, two letters of support from persons for whom you worked as a student or employee, and a complete academic plan for how you will improve at Rice. Should the Committee on Examinations and Standing approve your return, you remain on probation until you have successfully met good standing requirements.
Finally, it is always possible that the Committee on Examinations and Standing can reject your petition, in which case you are permanently dismissed from the university.
Decision Processes
As already suggested, all decisions regarding academic standing are in the hands of Rice's Committee on Examination and Standing. Most of these decisions are a matter of routine and not generally subject to review or appeal. Probation, suspension, and dismissal are usually based purely on numbers. Either your cumulative and semester GPAs are high enough, or they aren't.
However, there are some indications that the Committee can be flexible. Probation, for example, can be extended from one semester to two. In addition, probation and suspension can be waived if a student earns better than a 2.0 in the prior semester.
There are other ways to forestall an academic sanction as well. Sometimes, raising your GPA is as simple as talking with a professor. They may, in the right circumstances, be willing to reevaluate your work from the semester or offer you extra credit to bring up your grade.
Attorney-advisor, Joseph D. Lento, can explain all the options open to you and which ones will work best in your particular situation. In addition, he's a skilled negotiator and can coach you on how to talk to faculty and administrators. If you should find yourself suspended, he can help you put your petition for reinstatement together, and if you are dismissed, he can even help you appeal your situation. Joseph D. Lento knows the Rice system, and he's ready to put that knowledge to work for you.
SAP Standards
If you receive federal financial aid at Rice University, there's another set of academic standards you should know about. The federal government requires all colleges and universities to maintain an SAP, or Standard Academic Progress, policy. Such policies guarantee that students are making satisfactory progress toward degrees and that they aren't abusing the financial aid system.
Rice has three criteria for determining SAP.
- First, students must maintain a 1.67 cumulative GPA.
- Second, students must complete at least 67 percent of all the courses they attempt. Obviously, failures count against this percentage. So do withdrawals.
- Finally, students must complete degrees within 150 percent of the published length of their degree programs.
Note that while you may still be eligible to continue as a student if you fail to meet these criteria, you become ineligible for aid. For example, should your cumulative GPA fall below 1.67, you are placed on academic probation, which means you can continue attending classes and trying to improve your record. You would not, however, receive aid during this period.
The good news is that aid is reinstated once you are again meeting SAP requirements.
Further, you can appeal the loss of aid if you have extenuating circumstances that hindered your academic progress. Successful appeals result in one additional probationary semester of funds.
Joseph D. Lento is as adept at dealing with financial aid issues as he is at dealing with academic standing issues. If you're worried about losing your financial aid, or if you've already lost it, contact Joseph D. Lento to find out how he might be able to help.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Students often feel they have to handle all their own problems once they enroll in college, and if they find themselves in trouble—especially academic trouble—it's up to them to find a way out of it. Of course, they don't have any background in fighting university decisions, and so they often wind up simply accepting probation, suspension, dismissal, or the loss of financial aid.
You know better. You know there are many ways to deal with academic issues and that there's someone out there ready to help you.
Joseph D. Lento has represented hundreds of students just like you in academic progress cases. He knows the processes, and he can offer suggestions for how to use them to your advantage. If you or your child is facing dismissal, or even if you have already been dismissed, you owe it to yourself to learn about what options might be available to you. To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm Team today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
