No matter who you are, it's tough starting college. The transition from high school student to college student is one of the biggest you'll face in your life. Yes, classes are tougher, and professors are more demanding than anything you faced in high school. But there's another difference that's even more important: you're trying to learn how to be an adult now. You have to get yourself out of bed in the morning. You have to remind yourself to study every night. Worst of all, you have to do your own laundry.
It's no surprise, then, that lots of students struggle the first two or three—or four or five or six—semesters. The question isn't how to avoid struggling. That's going to happen. The question is, how do you deal with it when it does?
If you haven't been going to class...do that. Same thing with studying. You might want to consider visiting your professors during office hours or joining a study group. Not every university problem can be solved with hard work, though. Sometimes, it's about knowing how to navigate the system.
That's what we're here for. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team knows the law, but, more importantly, we know how the University of New Mexico works. Need to know who to talk to if a family emergency comes up? We have the answer. Need to know what to say if you've been falsely accused of plagiarism? We have the answer. If you're struggling to meet UNM's strict academic standing policy, it's always worth giving us a call. Dial 888-535-3686, or use our automated online form.
Academic Progression at the University of New Mexico
Let's start with the basics: just what is an academic standing policy? Basically, it's a set of standards you must meet in order to make steady progress toward your degree. And, as an added incentive, these policies usually include a set of punishments you'll face if your progress should stall.
At the University of New Mexico, every school and college sets its own policy. Most, though, resemble that of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college at the university.
- Good Standing: Good standing is obviously where you want to be. It's defined as a cumulative grade point average above 2.0.
- Probation: The world doesn't end if your GPA falls below 2.0. NMU does put you on academic probation, though. There are no special requirements, no additional courses to take, and no webinars to complete. Your priority is to return to Good standing. Even better, you can take as long as you need to do that...if your term GPA remains above 2.5.
- Suspension: Should your term GPA be below 2.5 while you're on probation, you are then Suspended from the university. A first suspension lasts for at least one semester, and should you return, you're placed on probation again. A second suspension lasts for at least a year. A third suspension lasts for at least five years. In addition, you must successfully complete coursework at another institution before petitioning for reinstatement to UNM.
- Dismissal: The College of Arts and Sciences also contains a general provision stating that failure to make “satisfactory progress” towards your degree is grounds for total dismissal from the college, though you can apply to other schools and colleges at the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The university does not provide any formal means of appealing an academic sanction, though most colleges, like the College of Arts and Sciences, offer an appeals process if they decide to dismiss you outright. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is always ready to help you complete this process. Our attorneys know exactly what kinds of evidence these appeals committees look for, and we know how to make you look your very best on paper.
For the rest, the firm's attorneys know a number of strategies that, though informal, can help prevent an academic sanction. For instance,
- If you can point to extenuating circumstances as the cause of your deficiencies—a long-term illness, for example—you can petition your college dean for more time to improve.
- If you feel you've been mistreated by an instructor, you should report that immediately to the instructor's department head. You may deserve better grades.
- If you should discover you have a previously undiagnosed disability, you can ask the university to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake those courses with accommodations in place.
- If your low grades are the result of a cheating or plagiarism allegation, you can challenge your instructor's allegations—and possibly the severity of the sanction they've applied.
- You can always try asking instructors for extra credit or makeup assignments. You may need to take an Incomplete while you finish this work, but Incompletes do not count against your GPA the way Ds and Fs do.
- Some faculty are willing to participate in grade negotiation. If, for instance, your final exam grade was especially high, you might try asking your instructor to use it as your course grade.
At the Lento Law Firm, we're focused on getting you through your particular academic crisis. We understand that every situation is different. We'll take the time to sit down with you and develop a plan that addresses your particular needs. Then, we'll work with you to put that plan into action, whether that means drafting appeals documents on your behalf, supporting you while you collect evidence, or coaching you on how to negotiate with university faculty.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
You know what the statistics say about people who enter the workforce without a college degree. Your NMU diploma is important, and if it's under threat, you can't afford to try and handle the problem by yourself. At the first sign of trouble, contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. Whether you need to know where to direct your appeals or you need to file a formal grade grievance, we'll work to get you back on track. We'll make sure you're treated fairly and that you have every possible chance to earn your degree.
Before you reach the point of probation or dismissal, call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
