What does it take to succeed in college? Well, as a starting point, it takes good grades. You have to go to class, and you have to study. If you run into trouble, you may need to visit your instructors during office hours, find a tutor, or join a study group.
What happens when all of that isn't enough, though? Despite what your parents and your high school teachers may have told you, not every academic problem can be solved through hard work. Maybe your calculus professor just goes too fast. Maybe their standards are too high. Maybe they just don't seem to like you. Or maybe you've got a different problem entirely. What happens, for instance, when you wind up in a class with your ex, and you just can't seem to face them day after day?
Getting to class and studying: those things are on you. If that's not enough to keep your GPA up, though, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team may be able to help. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley system inside and out. They can tell you who to talk to when you have a problem, and they can tell you what to say. Even better, they know lots of tips and tricks for raising your GPA when studying harder just isn't enough. If you're struggling to meet academic progress requirements, it's worth your time to contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team and see what they may be able to do for you.
Academic Progression at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The very first thing you need to know as a college student is how your school defines academic progress. Usually, you can find that information in the Academic Standing Policy. Here's what the UTFGV policy has to say.
- Good Standing: As long as your cumulative grade point average remains above 2.0, you're in Good standing. You're making steady progress, and you don't have to worry about sanctions.
- Probation: Should your cumulative GPA fall below 2.0, you're then placed on probation. UTFGV places no requirements or restrictions on students on probation. Your only goal should be to return to Good standing. However, if you cannot do that, you are subject to more serious sanctions.
- Suspension: You can remain on probation until you return to Good standing, provided you earn at least a 2.0 term GPA. Should your term GPA fall below that number, you are then suspended from the university for one full semester.
The UTFGV policy makes no mention of dismissal, suggesting that you can always return to the university following a dismissal. However, a suspension can be a serious disruption to your studies. It's not just that a suspension will delay your graduation. Students who take a break often find it difficult to return. It's not easy recapturing academic momentum once you've lost it. Additionally, your student loans may come due while you wait to return. In other words, even though Suspension from UTFGV isn't permanent, you want to avoid it if you possibly can.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
What do you do if you're facing an academic sanction like Probation or Suspension? That will likely depend on your situation. There are a number of potential options, though.
First, UTFGV offers an appeals process if your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances. If, for instance, you were dealing with a family emergency or you suffered a long-term illness during the semester, you can petition for more time to improve before the university imposes a sanction.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know other, less formal strategies for protecting yourself as well.
- Any type of classroom mistreatment is grounds for a grade appeal. If you feel an instructor has treated you unfairly, you should bring the situation to the attention of your instructor's department head as soon as possible.
- If you consistently struggle to earn good grades, it's possible you may be suffering from an undiagnosed learning disability. Disability Services can help you determine the exact problem and work with your instructors to implement course accommodations. You may also be able to drop low grades from your GPA and retake those courses without penalty.
- Another common source of low grades is academic misconduct. If your instructor believes you've plagiarized a paper or cheated on an exam, they have the power to lower your course grade. However, you have the right to challenge your instructor's decisions through the university's Conduct and Discipline procedures.
- Some faculty are open to grade negotiation. One simple approach is to ask for extra credit or makeup work. You can also try more sophisticated arguments, though. For instance, if your final exam score was especially high, you might try asking your instructor to substitute it for your course grade.
There are many ways to deal with low grades and a low GPA, but they're not all effective in every situation. You must carefully consider the nature of your academic deficiencies and what's going to work best in your specific case. The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you do that. They have years of experience and know exactly how to respond to whatever situation you're facing. In addition, though, they can help you design and implement a strategy, whether that means drafting an appeal or coaching you in the art of faculty negotiation.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Do for You?
Let's go back to that question you were asking in the introduction: How exactly is an attorney supposed to help me with academic issues? It's a fair question. 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.
As the information on this page suggests, though, succeeding in college is often as much about dealing with bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about how to handle educational bureaucracy than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is 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 Team today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
