You came to Binghamton to be a student, so it shouldn't be a surprise when the school decides to hold you to that. The university expects you to attend class regularly, study hard, write papers, and take exams. And, just to make sure you stick to your end of the bargain, Binghamton regularly evaluates your progress, measuring it against an “academic standing” policy.
Of course, we're all in favor of accountability standards. No one wants to graduate from a school that doesn't take academics seriously. However, we also recognize that life isn't always smooth sailing. Most of us have those classes where we struggle—or semesters or years. You shouldn't be denied a college degree just because you and a professor didn't see eye-to-eye or because you had to go home and deal with a family emergency.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team want to make sure your school treats you fairly and that you're given absolutely every opportunity to succeed, even when life intervenes. If you're struggling to meet your school's progress requirements, you may not think an attorney can help. Read on, though, and you'll discover that they may be just what you need to get yourself back on track.
Academic Progression at Binghamton University SUNY
A “standing policy” is basically a set of criteria you must meet in order to demonstrate you're making satisfactory progress toward your degree. Think of it as an early-warning system. If you're struggling academically, the standing policy is designed to let you know before things get out of hand.
Every school and college at Binghamton sets its own academic standing policy. Most, however, follow the example of the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences. Students there are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Fall below that number at any point, the school will let you know.
- Academic Probation: Academic probation means your cumulative GPA has fallen below 2.0. You can remain on probation until you raise your GPA as long as you keep your term GPA above 2.0.
- Academic Suspension: If you can't raise your cumulative GPA above 2.0 and your term GPA falls below 2.0, you are then blocked from registering for at least one academic year.
- Academic Dismissal: Finally, if, on returning from suspension, your cumulative and term GPAs should fall below 2.0 for a third time, you are then dismissed entirely from the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
For the most part, academic standing decisions at Binghamton aren't subject to appeal. That's primarily because they are based on objective criteria—your term and cumulative GPAs—criteria that aren't ordinarily debatable. In fact, as Harpur's policy notes,
“Suspension and Dismissal are usually only reversed because of grade changes, resolved Incompletes, and late withdrawal petitions that increase a students term GPA to 2.0 or higher.”
In simple terms, you can only be saved by a technicality.
That doesn't mean, though, that there aren't things you can do to forestall a negative academic sanction.
- Low grades can be caused by extenuating circumstances—a family emergency, for example, or a long-term illness. In such instances, you can apply directly to your school or college dean for extra time to make up for your deficiencies.
- Even tenured professors make mistakes, especially when it comes to typing the right grading formulas into Excel. It's always a good idea to keep track of your grades throughout a semester so that if there's ever a discrepancy, you can bring it to your instructor's attention.
- Some low grades are the result of academic misconduct allegations. If you've been accused of cheating or plagiarism, and your instructor has lowered your grade on an assignment or lowered your grade in the course, you can appeal those decisions to the academic committee of the college where the accusation was made.
- If you feel you've been mistreated in any way by an instructor, you should always let that instructor's department head or the dean of your college know immediately. You may be entitled to some form of grade relief.
- Faculty can sometimes be open to grade negotiation, especially if you have a compelling argument to make. For instance, maybe your progress over the course of a semester deserves some extra consideration. Or perhaps you were forced to miss a big exam, and that one zero brought your course grade down.
- A few faculty still offer extra credit and makeup opportunities. Doing this work might mean you have to accept an Incomplete in the class, but an I could be the difference in meeting GPA requirements.
Finally, you should also know that if you are suspended, Binghamton does offer a process for returning early after just one semester. This involves completing at least 12 hours at another institution and earning no less than a B in those courses. However, one semester away from Binghamton is far less disruptive to your overall progress than a full year.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know all the options available to you. They've worked with hundreds of students to come up with plans for avoiding probation, suspension, and dismissal. They can help you decide which options are best in your particular situation and help you to implement the right strategies.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
Students sometimes ask: how exactly is an attorney-advisor 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.
As the information on this page suggests, though, succeeding in 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 his Education Law Team. That Team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm 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.
