Your first job as a college student is to learn. You shouldn't be surprised, then, to find that Syracuse University expects you to study hard and go to class. To make sure you do that, the school has a strict academic standing policy. Struggle academically, and you could find yourself on probation, suspended, or even dismissed entirely.
Of course, no one is perfect. You're a student at Syracuse because you were smart and capable enough to get in. Even the best students, though, sometimes falter. We can't all understand Shakespeare well enough to pass English lit the first time. We don't all get calculus. There are times when life just intervenes despite our best efforts.
If you're struggling to meet academic progress requirements at SU, National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team are here to help. What can an attorney do to help you with academics? You might be surprised. Below, we'll outline the Syracuse standing policy. We'll also offer a few suggestions on just what Joseph D. Lento and the Student Defense Team might be able to do for you. College is hard, but you don't have to go through it alone.
Academic Progression at Syracuse University
Your goal as a student at Syracuse is always the same, class to class, semester to semester: remain in “good” academic standing. What does that mean in concrete terms?
- You must keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0.
- You must earn at least a 2.0 GPA each semester.
- You must complete at least 12 hours each semester. “Complete” means earning a passing grade for the course.
- Finally, you may also be required to meet additional requirements by your school or college. For example, students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science are required to maintain a 2.667 in their core courses.
Failure to meet any one of these standards ordinarily results in “academic probation.” Syracuse regards probation as a “trial” semester. That is, you are being given a “second chance” to demonstrate you can succeed academically. If you do not meet standards while on probation, you are then a candidate for “suspension.” In addition, you can be suspended, even if you're not already on probation, should your GPA fall below 1.5 or your number of semester credits fall below 6.
Suspension typically lasts for at least one full academic year. You can then apply for readmission. Readmission is not guaranteed, however, and you must demonstrate to your school or college screening committee that you can overcome whatever problems originally led to your deficiencies.
Of course, should you continue to struggle, ultimately, you can face permanent dismissal from the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Syracuse offers no formal means of challenging a probation decision. However, you can appeal a suspension decision to your school or college. Appeals are normally only granted in cases of extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a family crisis, and committees expect you to provide documentation of these circumstances. Successful appeals result in an additional semester of probation.
There are other, less formal ways to handle probation and dismissal decisions as well, though. For example,
- A low grade can sometimes be the result of a simple miscalculation. Faculty can and do make mistakes from time to time, and a single typo on a spreadsheet can be the difference between a C and an F. It's always a good idea to keep records of your work and calculate your grade yourself to make sure things are as they should be.
- You always have the right to protest any mistreatment by an instructor. Report any and all such behaviors to your instructor's department head or the dean of your college. In many cases, you may be entitled to a higher grade.
- If you've received a low grade as the result of an academic misconduct charge, you have the right to appeal both the charge and the sanction to your school's academic integrity panel.
- You can always visit with your instructor directly and ask that they reconsider your work from the semester. If you did well on your final exam, for instance, you might be able to argue that you mastered the course material enough to deserve a higher grade.
- Likewise, some instructors are open to assigning extra credit or makeup assignments, especially if your grade is already borderline.
Your advisor at Syracuse may not tell you all the options open to you when you're facing dismissal. After all, you're just one of hundreds of students, and they have no way of knowing you're worth the extra time and effort. If you're a client with Joseph D. Lento, on the other hand, you're the priority. Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team won't just tell you your options; they'll help you to pursue them. They know how to collect evidence to put you in the best light; they know how to write persuasive appeals; they can coach you on how to negotiate with faculty and administrators. They are on your side and committed to your success.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
How can an attorney help you with academics? 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 and the Student Defense Team. He built his practice handling student conduct and academic progress issues.
More important than anything else, though, Joseph D. Lento and his team are 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. He'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.
