You got into the University of Louisville—that's an accomplishment in and of itself. It took hard work, perseverance, and a healthy dose of smarts. Your job's not over, though. If you want to graduate from the University of Louisville, you're going to have to work even harder over the next four years. Courses at UL can be tough and professors demanding.
Can you take your game up a notch? Of course, you can. The thing is, sometimes brains and hard work aren't enough. Life has a funny way of intervening, and you can never tell when you're going to wind up with mono, find yourself in a hospital recovering from a car wreck, or just lose your momentum for a semester.
If you're having any type of progression issues, you should know there's help available. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are on your side and prepared to do whatever it takes to get you to the college finish line. They're familiar with UL's system; they know who to talk to when you find yourself in trouble and what to say, and they're ready to put that knowledge to work for you.
Academic Progression at the University of Louisville
Academic progress at the University of Louisville is defined by the school's Academic Standing policy. There are basically two requirements necessary to remain in “good standing”:
- Keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0
- Keep your program grade point average above your program's set minimum
Should either of your GPAs fall, you face a series of progressive consequences.
- Academic Warning: The first sanction level when you fall out of good standing is “Academic Warning.” You should receive official notification from your program, and you are strongly encouraged to seek advising help before you register for your next semester.
- Academic Probation: If you cannot raise your GPAs to acceptable levels after a semester on Academic Warning, you are then placed on “Academic Probation.” This status is more serious. Among the restrictions while on probation, you cannot hold office in a campus organization, and you cannot participate in a co-op, internship, or clinical assignment.
- Academic Suspension: Should you continue to struggle while on probation, you are then placed on “Academic Suspension.” Suspensions last for at least one semester, and you must petition your program for readmission. Not every petition is successful. And, should you return from suspension, you are once again on Academic Probation.
- Academic Dismissal: Finally, should you receive a third suspension, you are automatically and permanently dismissed from your program.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The University of Louisville does provide a number of opportunities to save yourself from dismissal. In all, you must remain below minimum grade point levels for two full semesters before you are suspended, and you can be suspended twice before you are dismissed.
However, the school offers no formal means of challenging an academic sanction. There is no appeals process to complain if you are placed on Academic Warning, Probation, or Suspension.
Luckily, Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know some useful strategies for protecting yourself from these sanctions.
- Any time you feel you're being mistreated in the classroom, you should bring that to the attention of your department head. You may be entitled to some form of grade relief.
- Should you discover you have a learning disability, you can ask the school to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake courses with accommodations in place.
- Some low grades are the result of academic misconduct allegations. You have the right to contest your instructor's decision and any assigned sanctions to your program's Academic Grievance Committee.
- You can try asking your instructors to reconsider your grades, especially if you have a specific argument about why you deserve higher scores.
- You can also try asking for makeup or extra credit work. You may have to take an Incomplete while you finish these assignments, but an I doesn't count against your GPA.
- If your deficiencies are the result of any kind of extenuating circumstances, you can ask your school or college dean for more time to improve your grades.
No matter what your situation, Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team can help you put together a plan and put that plan into action. Whether you need to gather evidence of your scholastic abilities, draft a formal appeal, or come up with persuasive arguments, they have the background and experience to guide you through the process, start to finish.
And, should the worst happen and you wind up suspended, they are also well-versed in filing readmission petitions. They know what looks good on an application and how to make you an appealing candidate.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
Students ask all the time: How is an attorney supposed to help me make it through college? It's a fair question. After all, it's not like you're on trial for shoplifting. You need help with your grades. That's normally a matter of studying harder or finding a tutor.
The thing is, 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 his 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.
