Success in college is about making steady progress, one course, one semester, one year at a time. If you can't keep your grade point up at the University of Maryland, there are negative consequences. You can be put on academic probation or even dismissed from the school entirely.
No one is perfect, though, and four years is a long time. At some point during those four years, you're going to go through a bad breakup, experience a long-term illness, or deal with some other sort of crisis. When that happens, finishing papers and studying for exams may not be the most important thing on your mind.
If you've had a tough semester or two and you're facing a harsh academic sanction, you need to know: National Student Defense Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento is on your side. He knows how hard you work; he knows life happens; and he believes that a mistake or two shouldn't cost you your chance at a University of Maryland degree.
Joseph D. Lento can't take your courses for you, but he and his Education Law Team know how your school operates. They know all the tactics and procedures for fighting probation and dismissal, and they are ready to put what they know to work for you.
Academic Progression at the University of Maryland
Steady progress at UM means remaining in “good” academic standing, and that means maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Should your GPA fall below that level at any point, you are immediately placed on academic probation for the next semester.
Academic probation includes its own set of requirements. For example, if you're on probation you're required to meet with your academic advisor before you register for the next semester's courses. You also need the approval of an advisor before you can drop or add any courses.
The more significant aspect of probation is that if you don't improve over the course of this semester, you can be dismissed from the university.
- To return to “good” standing, your cumulative GPA must reach that 2.0 mark.
- If you've earned fewer than 60 credits, you can remain on probation as long as your most recent semester GPA is at least 2.0. Otherwise you face dismissal.
- If you've earned more than 60 credits, you can be dismissed even if your semester GPA is above 2.0.
If you've been dismissed, you can petition for reinstatement to the university, but only after being away for at least one semester and only after applying to the Faculty Petition Board. There is no guarantee the board will grant your petition, and even if you should return to the school, further academic deficiencies can result in permanent dismissal.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
There is no formal process at the University of Maryland for challenging decisions about probation. For the most part, these are based on objective criteria and not subject to debate.
The school does have a process for forestalling dismissal, though. If your academic struggles are due to extenuating circumstances such as an illness or a family emergency, you can apply to the Faculty Petition Board for a dismissal exception that will allow you to continue at the university for an additional probationary semester.
In addition, there are less formal ways of trying to avoid dismissal.
- Should you experience mistreatment by an instructor, you should always bring this to the attention of that instructor's department head or, failing this, the dean of your school or college. Such a situation can be grounds for a grade revision.
- Faculty have been known to make mistakes, particularly when it comes to figuring final grades, and you have the right to ask them to re-calculate any grade that seems suspicious. In fact, it's always a good idea to keep track of your scores yourself so you'll know immediately if there's a mistake.
- Some professors are open to negotiation when it comes to grades. You might simply ask them to reconsider your work from the semester. There are more specific arguments to make as well. If your final exam score was high, for example, you might be able to convince them that you mastered the course material enough to deserve a higher final grade.
- Other instructors are open to the possibility of extra credit or makeup assignments, especially if you have a borderline grade and are facing probation or dismissal. You might have to accept an Incomplete while you finish these assignments, but this can sometimes be enough to keep your grade point above that 2.0 mark.
No matter what method you're using to try and avoid dismissal, Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento can help. Any appeals you might file will have a better chance of success if he's had a chance to review your documents before you submit them. Negotiating with a professor is more likely to be effective if he's had a chance to coach you on how to present your case. He's also experienced in putting together readmission petitions. From helping you gather evidence to crafting strong arguments about why you deserve a second chance, Joseph D. Lento can be an invaluable resource in getting your academic career back on track.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
You might be surprised by the idea that an attorney can help with academic problems. Often, though, college success is as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about homework. It always helps to know who to talk to and what to say.
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 built his practice handling student conduct and academic progress issues.
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. 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.
