You got into Rutgers. That's an impressive feat. It doesn't guarantee you'll graduate from Rutgers, though. For that, you have to continue to work hard, continue to study, and continue to prove yourself. Success at any college, but especially Rutgers, is about making steady progress over four years.
Of course, none of us is perfect. We all have those courses or those terms when we're just not at our best. Maybe we're distracted by something going on in our lives. Maybe we're just not feeling inspired. Whatever the reason, most of us, at some point, fail an exam or even a whole course.
Mistakes like these shouldn't cost you your chance at a degree. Joseph D. Lento wants to make sure it doesn't. Joseph D. Lento is a National Student Defense attorney-advisor who specializes in making sure universities treat their students fairly and give them every opportunity to succeed. Make no mistake: you have to do the work at Rutgers. If progress requirements are standing in your way, though, Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team may be able to help.
Academic Progression at Rutgers University
Like most schools, Rutgers University sets clear Academic Performance Standards designed to ensure every student is putting forth their best effort. Meet these, and you remain in “Good” academic standing. Fail to meet them, and you'll be placed on probation.
- Minimum cumulative 2.0-grade point average
- Minimum 1.75 term grade point averages
- Enrollment in a composition course every semester until your writing proficiency requirement is met
- Enrollment in a quantitative reasoning course every semester until your quantitative reasoning requirement is met
- At least a C in every course in no more than two attempts
- A minimum course completion percentage based on your class status: 70 percent for freshmen, 75 percent for sophomores, 80 percent for juniors, and 85 percent for seniors.
Rutgers expects all students on probation to enroll in an Academic Success course. Your bigger concern if you're on probation, though, is making sure you get off of it before the end of the term. Failure to do so risks Academic Suspension for at least one term. In addition, you can be suspended for
- Two consecutive terms with a grade point less than 2.0
- A failing grade in your Academic Success course
- Failing to enroll in the appropriate composition course for two semesters
- Failure to enroll in the appropriate quantitative reasoning course for two semesters
- Failure to earn at least a C in a course after three attempts
- Failure to meet course completion and cumulative GPA standards: 60 percent and 1.7 for freshmen; 70 percent and 1.9 for sophomores; 75 percent and 2.0 for juniors; 80 percent and 2.0 for seniors.
Finally, you can also be dismissed from Rutgers for at least a year for
- Term GPAs below 2.0 for three consecutive semesters and a cumulative GPA below 2.0
- Failing to complete at least 60 percent of courses while on probation
- Failure to meet course completion and cumulative GPA standards: 50 percent and 1.5 for freshmen; 60 percent and 1.8 for sophomores; 70 percent and 2.0 for juniors; 75 percent and 2.0 for seniors
Rutgers does offer a process for reinstatement if you've been dismissed. However, there is no guarantee of success, and many dismissals ultimately become permanent.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
As the Rutgers Academic Performance Standards policy points out, standing decisions are typically made “automatically.” In other words, no one takes into account your academic history or considers why you might be struggling to meet standing requirements. In addition, there are no formal means of challenging probation, suspension, or even dismissal decisions.
However, there are many informal ways to handle the threat of an academic sanction.
- If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as a family crisis or a personal illness, you can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college and ask for extra probation or other types of extensions.
- Any time you feel you have been mistreated by an instructor, you should take your concerns to that instructor's department head or, failing that, your dean. You may be entitled to a grade revision.
- Some faculty will negotiate if you have a compelling case for why you believe your grade should be higher. For example, you might ask a professor to consider your overall improvement over the course of the semester in making their final decisions.
- You may also be able to convince a professor to give you extra credit or makeup assignments, particularly if your grade is borderline. They may be willing to assign you an “Incomplete” rather than a D or F, which could help you avoid an academic sanction.
Joseph D. Lento has spent years working with college and university students. He knows the requirements for good academic standing; he also knows all the various options to make sure you're meeting those requirements. If you're facing dismissal, suspension, or even just probation, Joseph D. Lento can provide you with a list of possible solutions and help you to pursue them. And, if you should wind up dismissed, he can also help you to gather evidence and prepare a petition for readmission.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Students are sometimes surprised to learn that an attorney might be able to help them with an academic problem. The fact is, college success is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about taking exams and writing papers. 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 specializes in student conduct and academic progress issues, he knows how the various systems at Rutgers operate, and he's comfortable talking with faculty and administrators.
More important than anything else, though, Joseph D. Lento is on your side. He understands that no one is perfect, and he doesn't think that a few mistakes should keep you from earning your degree and going on to a successful career.
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.
