There's nothing quite like college, is there? Saturday football games, parties, playing Frisbee out on the quad. Of course, you don't want to forget to go to class every once in a while. And studying can help, too.
It's not always easy to balance the demands of being a student. You want to grow and develop socially, but you can't just ignore the fact that you're primary job is actually to learn. Put simply, college is the first real test of your ability to adult—to make crucial decisions about your future all by yourself—and not everyone handles it well.
If you're struggling academically, it's worth knowing: there's help out there. There's the writing center tutors, and peer study sessions, of course, but there's also attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. Not sure how a lawyer is supposed to help you with coursework? Read on. For now, though, just keep in mind that you're not in this thing alone. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know what you're going through, and they know all the best strategies for handling your academic woes.
Academic Progression at the University of San Francisco
Let's start simple: just what is it you have to worry about at USF from an academic standpoint?
The academic standing policy defines exactly what it takes to be successful at USF. Basically, there are three separate requirements.
- Keep your semester grade point average above 2.0.
- Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
- Once you're an upper-division student, maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in your major.
What happens if you don't meet these requirements?
The most immediate impact of a low GPA is academic probation. While on academic probation, you can register for no more than 16 hours in a given term. In addition, your school or college dean can place additional restrictions on you. For instance, you could be asked to complete a seminar on how to better manage your time.
The bigger concern with probation, though, is finding a way off of it. If your cumulative GPA is too low, you have two semesters to improve. If you haven't raised it by that point, or if your term GPA or major GPA while on probation should fall below 2.0, you face full disqualification—the complete termination of your relationship with USF.
The university does offer a petition process for gaining readmission once you have been disqualified. That process involves submitting a formal application that includes a thorough explanation of why the school should consider allowing you to return. However, should you be allowed to enroll again, you'll be placed on probation, and any further deficiencies mean permanent dismissal.
And you should know the standing policy clearly states,
“Ordinarily, students disqualified for unsatisfactory scholarship will not be readmitted to the University.”
Put simply, you're far better off addressing academic issues early and avoiding dismissal.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
It's all but impossible to return to the University of San Francisco if you've been dismissed. It's equally difficult to defend yourself from any other sort of academic sanction, at least in any formal sense. USF offers no process for challenging either probation or dismissal.
That doesn't mean you don't have options. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know a number of ways to deal with the problem of low grades.
- Extenuating circumstances, such as a family emergency, offer genuine grounds for extra time to improve your GPA. You should alert your college or school dean to your situation as early as possible.
- Likewise, you should make your dean aware of any mistreatment you may have suffered in the classroom. You may be entitled to some grade relief.
- Students with disabilities are often entitled to classroom modifications. If you've been denied a modification you deserve, you may have a case for a higher grade in the course.
- Low grades are sometimes the result of academic misconduct sanctions. If your instructor has punished you too severely or punished you for misconduct you didn't commit, you have the right to challenge their decisions to the Academic Integrity Committee.
- Some USF faculty are open to the prospect of grade negotiation. You might try asking them to look over all your coursework from the semester, or you might offer up a more specific argument about a particular assignment.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to assign makeup or extra credit work. You might try asking, especially if you only need a few points to raise your grade to the next level.
If you find yourself dismissed from USF, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can work with you to file a readmission petition. They are highly experienced with appeals and know what committees tend to look for in applications.
You're far better off, though, responding to an academic issue early, and there's really no reason to wait until your academic career hangs in the balance. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know plenty of ways to deal with academic deficiencies before the problem gets to an extreme level.
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 Education Law 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.
