College isn't like high school, is it? You may have enrolled at the University of Toledo, thinking with your good grades and your SAT scores, you could breeze right through. You're finding out now that it's not so easy.
It's not just that college courses are tougher or professors are more stringent, though that's certainly true. You had certain advantages in high school. You had someone to get you up on time every morning, someone to make sure you studied every afternoon, someone to do your laundry for you. It's not easy to balance college classes with learning how to become an adult.
If you're GPA has fallen a little bit since you arrived at the University of Toledo, you're not alone. Plenty of students struggle. Lots of them wind up facing serious academic sanctions, and some even find themselves dismissed altogether, heading out into the workforce with student loans and no diploma.
The Lento Law Firm is here to help. Our Education Law Team is dedicated to the proposition that all students deserve a quality education and that a few low grades shouldn't stand in your way of graduating and going on to a successful career. We know the University of Toledo system, and we can help you navigate it successfully. The moment your grades start to slip, give us a call and see what we can do for you. You can reach us at 888-535-3686 or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at the University of Toledo
Students aren't always aware: the University of Toledo has high academic standards, not just to get in, but to remain a student. It's not like high school, where you can't really be dismissed. There are consequences for low grades at UT. Here's what the school's academic standing policy has to say.
- Good Standing: As the name implies, "good" standing means you're meeting standards and making steady progress toward your degree. To remain in good standing at UT, you need to keep your cumulative GPA above 2.0.
- Academic Warning: If at any point your GPA should fall below that 2.0 number, UT then places you on Academic Warning status. Again, this means what it sounds like: you're being warned that if you do not improve, you can be suspended from the university. The good news is that you cannot be suspended until you've been placed on warning status, and you can remain on warning status as long as you need to in order to return to good standing, provided you earn at least a 2.0 for each term.
- Academic Suspension: If, however, you should earn less than a 2.0 while on warning status, you then face academic suspension for your next term. A first suspension lasts for one term. You can petition for readmission after this term, but your return is not guaranteed, and should you return, you are once again placed on academic warning status. Second suspensions last for a full year, and third suspensions last for at least three years.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Schools and colleges at the University of Toledo are allowed to establish appeals processes for cases of suspension. Typically, in order to appeal a suspension, you must be able to prove that your academic deficiencies were the product of extenuating circumstances, such as a serious bout of depression or a long-term illness.
What do you do if you can't point to such circumstances? For that matter, what do you do if you're simply trying to avoid an academic warning?
Luckily, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of useful strategies for keeping your GPA out of the danger zone. For example,
- Consistently low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. You always have the option of visiting with Disability Services and getting tested. If you do have a disability, you may be entitled to course accommodations like a peer notetaker, extra time to complete assignments, or access to technology during exams. You can also petition the university to drop low grades from your transcript and allow you to retake those courses without penalty.
- You should never suffer mistreatment in the classroom. If you believe an instructor is treating you unfairly, you should report that immediately to the instructor's department head. You may be entitled to some form of grade relief or, at minimum, to appeal your course grade.
- UT instructors have a great deal of latitude when it comes to punishing you for suspected plagiarism and cheating. They can lower your grades on assignments; they can lower your grade in the course, up to and including outright failure. You don't have to accept these sanctions, though. You can challenge your instructors' decisions to UT's Student Grievance Committee.
- Some faculty are willing to negotiate for grades. You could, for instance, try convincing your instructor that the “A” you earned on your final is a true reflection of what you've learned and should replace the “C” you actually got for your course grade.
- One of the fastest, easiest kinds of grade negotiation is to ask for extra credit or makeup work. Again, not every professor is open to this idea, but if they are, a single assignment could be enough to raise your grade and, thus, your GPA.
No single solution will work for every student. If you're struggling to keep your grades up, you need to sit down with an attorney from the Lento Law Firm and go over the specifics of your case. They'll recommend a plan, and they'll work with you to put that plan into action.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your University of Toledo diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It's your avenue to a successful career. If it's under threat, you can't afford to try and handle the problem by yourself. University processes and procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and often, you will find the system is stacked against you. You need the very best help you can get, someone who is in your corner and ready to fight on your behalf.
The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team has helped hundreds of students just like you respond to academic issues and make it to graduation. What can we do for you? To find out, call us today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
