When it comes to STEM education, few schools in the world can compete with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earn a degree from MIT, and you've demonstrated you know your stuff. It goes without saying that career success is virtually guaranteed.
Of course, they don't just give those diplomas away. Course subjects are tough, professors are demanding, and if you can't keep up, you'll find yourself dismissed from school.
If you're struggling to meet academic standards at MIT, National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento may be able to help. You might be surprised that an attorney could have solutions to your academic issues. The fact is, though, that academic decisions often involve complex processes, procedures, and negotiations, all things that lawyers do well. And Joseph D. Lento isn't just any lawyer: he built his career handling student issues. He's helped hundreds of students get their academic careers back on track. What can he do for you?
Academic Progression Requirements at MIT
MIT takes an active approach to student progress. Every student's performance is reviewed at the end of every term to make sure they are meeting expectations and moving forward toward their degree.
In other words, evaluations are made on a case-by-case basis, and the school doesn't use a one-size-fits-all method of deciding whether a student should continue at the school or not. Further, different departments at the school set different goals for their students.
That said, the Course Bulletin does offer some general guidance on what constitutes satisfactory progress at MIT.
- MIT expects students to complete an SB degree in 4 years, which can be accomplished by passing 48 unit hours for eight terms. However, minimum expectations are usually set at 36 unit hours per term.
- In addition, MIT expects students to achieve a 3.0 term rating (on a 5.0 scale).
In addition, the school sets certain academic goals for each year. For example, you are expected to complete most of your core science courses in your first year; you should keep up with your communication requirements each year; and your humanities, arts, and social sciences (HASS) requirements must be completed in the first three years.
Students who fail to meet standards can be subject to Warnings. Warning status typically means you must complete extra requirements in order to return to normal status. You may, for example, be asked to complete more unit hours during a Warning term in order to catch up.
Failure to meet standards during a Warning semester can result in Required Academic Leave, at least a year away from MIT, in order to address academic deficiencies. Often, this means attending courses at another institution, working through an approved employer, or completing volunteer activities.
Decision Processes
At MIT, decisions about your academic standing are in the hands of the school's Committee on Academic Performance (CAP). The CAP is made up of faculty members who meet at the end of every term to review student progress and make recommendations to the Vice Chancellor's office.
You are entitled to request the CAP meet for a Deferred Action Meeting if you believe you have special circumstances that have affected your academic progress. You may not meet with the CAP yourself, but you may ask your advisor to represent you and submit a written statement regarding your situation. Joseph D. Lento has experience with such documents and can offer important advice on how to put them together.
Sometimes, though, it's easier to address an academic issue directly with a faculty member. In some cases, you may be able to convince an instructor that your work deserves higher marks. Alternatively, you may be able to argue that you deserve an Incomplete in order to finish bonus assignments or makeup work. Here, too, Joseph D. Lento can be a valuable asset, coaching you in negotiation tactics, for instance, and helping you prepare evidence to back up your claims.
SAP Standards
You may be subject to additional academic requirements at MIT if you receive financial aid. This is because the federal government requires all colleges and universities to develop and maintain what's known as a Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP policy. The point of an SAP policy is to make sure that no one can game the system and become a permanent student, at least not on government funds.
MIT has three SAP requirements:
- First, you must achieve a term GPA of 3.0 on a 5.0 scale every semester you are enrolled.
- In addition, you pass at least 36 units of credit each term.
- Finally, the financial aid office includes a general statement that you must be making progress toward completing general MIT requirements and the requirements of your major program.
The CAP makes SAP decisions as part of its student progress reviews at the end of each term. Students who don't meet SAP requirements are issued a warning for the next term. Students who fail to meet requirements during the warning term are placed on financial aid probation. Students who fail to meet requirements while on probation are subject to losing their funding.
As with issues of academic standing, financial aid issues can often be tricky to handle on your own. They involve making arguments about any extenuating circumstances you may have and compiling documentary evidence to support your claims. Joseph D. Lento has years of experience dealing with university faculty and administrators. He can help you to successfully navigate any issues that may come up for you as a student, including financial aid issues.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Students sometimes feel they are on their own once they enroll in college, and if they find themselves in trouble—especially academic trouble—there's just no help out there for them. That's not true. The right attorney-advisor knows plenty of ways to get your academic career back on track should it falter.
If you should find yourself facing probation, dismissal, or the loss of your financial aid at MIT, you want to take action as quickly as possible. Making a mistake doesn't have to ruin what you've accomplished up to this point, but failure to act can. Joseph D. Lento has represented hundreds of students just like you in academic progress cases. He knows the procedures, 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 today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
