College is never easy—for anyone. OK, so you got into UTA. Maybe you were even a star high school student. You're up against a new set of challenges now, though. You're not just a student; you're also trying to master the whole adulting thing. Sooner or later, that catches up to all of us. Maybe you go through a bad breakup and can't seem to make it to class for a semester. Maybe you wind up in a car accident and miss a big test because you're in the ER. Your grades slip a little, and suddenly you start wondering how you're going to make it to graduation.
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can help. How is a lawyer supposed to help you with academic issues? We'll get into that. For now, just know that they know the UTA system backward and forward. For instance, they know exactly who to talk to when you're in trouble and what to say. If you're struggling to meet academic progress standards at UTA, you owe it to yourself to find out just how Joseph D. Lento and his team can help.
Academic Progression at the University of Texas at Arlington
The very first thing you need to know as a student at UTA is how to stay in “good” standing. That's relatively straightforward: keep your cumulative GPA above 2.0, and you'll have no issues.
Should your GPA fall below that point, though, things get complicated fast.
- Academic Probation: This means your GPA is below 2.0 but above the GPA requirements set forth in the Table of Academic Standards (0-29 hours = above 1.6; 30-59 hours = above 1.8; more than 60 hours = above 2.0). While on probation, you may not register for more than 14 hours a term. In addition, you may not hold office in any UTA club or organization, represent UTA in any official capacity, or attend any university-sponsored trip. However, you may remain on probation until you return to good standing, provided your GPA doesn't fall below the Table of Standards number.
- Academic Warning: If your GPA should slip further and you fall below the Table of Standards minimum grade point, you are then placed on Academic Warning. You can remain on Academic Warning until you return to good standing as long as you earn at least a 2.5 term GPA each semester. This is known as Academic Continuance.
- Academic Dismissal: Finally, if your GPA does not improve while on Academic Warning, you are then subject to Academic Dismissal. Dismissal means a minimum of one semester away from UTA, and return to the university is not guaranteed.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The University of Texas at Arlington offers no formal procedures for challenging an academic standing decision. That is, should you be given Probation, Warning, or Dismissal, there are no appeals processes.
This doesn't mean there aren't ways to deal with academic sanctions. In fact, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can recommend a number of useful options.
- If extenuating circumstances have caused your deficiencies, you can try appealing to your school or college dean. They may be willing to grant you more time to improve.
- Classroom mistreatment of any kind can also be grounds for a grade revision. You should bring any problems you have to your instructor's department head or, failing that, to your dean.
- Many students with disabilities—including learning disabilities like ADD—are entitled to classroom accommodations. If you've been denied those accommodations, you should bring this to the attention of Disability Services. In addition, if you should discover you have an undiagnosed disability, you may have the right to drop low grades and repeat courses without penalty.
- If your instructor has lowered your grade because they believe you have cheated, you can appeal this decision to the Office of Student Conduct.
- Some faculty are open to the possibility of assigning makeup or extra credit work. If your grade is borderline, this may be the simplest way to raise your GPA.
- Other instructors are willing to negotiate grades. If you have a compelling argument, like clear progress over the course of the semester, you may be able to convince them to give you better scores.
- Finally, UTA offers its own Grade Forgiveness policy, which allows you to omit or replace up to two low grades. However, this policy is only available for 1000 level or 2000 level courses.
Whatever your situation, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can help you come up with the right solution. They can provide you with all the options, help you make the best choice, and even work with you to implement your plan. They're highly skilled at collecting evidence and developing arguments and can even coach you in the art of negotiation.
Finally, if you should wind up dismissed, they're also well-versed in UTA's readmissions process, including how to get a Letter of Support from your school or college representative and what should go into your Personal Statement.
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 Educational 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.
