Do you ever think life isn't as fair as it should be? For instance, you worked hard to get into college. Really hard. You studied; you prepped for the SATs; you joined the math club. If there was any justice in the world, now that you're in college, you should be able to relax a little. After all, you've proven your education matters to you. You should be able to take classes at your own pace without having to worry about things like tests, grades, and grade point averages.
Welcome to the real world. Your reward for all the hard work you put in to get to college? Harder work to get through it.
You're not entirely on your own, though. When you run into trouble with academic progress issues, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is here to help. How can they help you with academics? We'll get to that. For now, though, you need to know that the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team believes in your education, and they're ready to do whatever it takes to help you succeed.
Academic Progression at the University of Utah
Want to know how a school defines academic success? Check out its academic standing policy. Here's what the University of Utah has to say.
- Good Standing: Keep your cumulative grade point above 2.0, and you'll have no problems.
- Low List: If you should earn a semester GPA below 2.0 while in Good standing, you are added to the Low List. It just lets you know you might be struggling.
- Academic Warning: Should your cumulative GPA fall below the 2.0 mark, you're then placed on Academic Warning status. As part of this status, the university places a hold on your registration, and you must complete an academic success workshop in order to remove it.
- Second Academic Warning: Should you receive a Second Academic Warning, you must meet with an Academic Advising Center advisor in order to register.
- Academic Probation: This occurs when you are on Academic Warning and don't earn a 2.0 semester GPA. In this case, you must meet with an advisor and the head of your academic department.
- Academic Suspension: A term GPA below 2.0 while on probation will earn you an Academic Suspension. A Suspension lasts for a minimum of three semesters, and you must appeal to the Academic Advising Center in order to return to the university.
- Dismissal: Finally, if you should continue to struggle after returning from a Suspension, you can be permanently Dismissed.
Dealing With Academic Dismissal
The University of Utah doesn't offer any mechanism for challenging an academic sanction. Warnings, Suspensions, and Dismissals are the result of low GPAs, and the university doesn't consider these academic measures up for debate.
The thing is, low grades aren't just caused by skipping class or failing to study. There are lots of reasons you might be struggling to meet the standing requirements, and many of these may be out of your control. Luckily, the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team knows options that can help you deal with whatever type of sanction you might be facing. For example
- Your low grades could be a sign that you have an undiagnosed learning disability. Disability Services offers testing, and if it turns out you need accommodations, you may be able to retake courses with no penalty.
- If your low grades are the result of mitigating circumstances—such as a family emergency—you can appeal to your school or college dean for more time to improve.
- Some faculty are open to the possibility of grade negotiation if you handle the situation carefully. At a minimum, you need a good argument, strong evidence, and solid communication skills.
- Low grades are sometimes the result of academic misconduct accusations. If your instructor believes you've plagiarized your work or cheated on an exam, they have the authority to lower your assignment grade or even fail you in the course. You can appeal your instructor's decisions, though, to the Dean of Students.
- If you have a compelling argument, you may be able to negotiate with your instructor for a higher grade. If, for example, your final exam score was particularly high, you might argue that it should be used as your course grade.
- Some instructors are willing to assign makeup and extra credit work, especially to students with borderline grades. This can be an easy way to make sure your GPA doesn't fall below the 2.0 level.
It's not always easy to know what to do if you're struggling to meet academic standing requirements. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help you make the right choice. They can also help you put your plan into action, though. They're experienced at assembling evidence, they know how to talk to faculty and administrators, and they've helped hundreds of students file appeals.
Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team
Students sometimes ask: how exactly is the Student Defense Team 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 attorney advisors, and no one knows more about how to handle educational bureaucracy than the Lento Law Firm Educational Law team. 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 today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
