It's no easy task getting into a school like UCLA. It takes a lot of hard work: earning good grades, studying for the SATs, and investing time and energy in extra-curriculars. If there was any justice, you'd be able to relax now. No grades, no expectations, just time to learn about your field and prepare for your career.
That's not the way it works, though. Now that you're a student at UCLA, things get tougher than ever. You're expected to prove yourself again and again, class after class, semester after semester, year after year.
Of course, we all make mistakes. It's not unusual for students to run into problems on their way to their degrees, to face probation and even dismissal sometimes. National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento wants to make sure that a mistake doesn't cost you your degree. With years of experience representing hundreds of students, he can help you handle whatever problem you're facing, whether you're looking to negotiate higher grades or you need to fight dismissal.
Academic Progression Requirements at UCLA
To continue to progress at UCLA, you must maintain good academic standing. That's all about grade point. Any time your cumulative GPA falls between 1.5 and 2.0, you are automatically placed on Academic Probation for the next semester.
Once you're placed on probation, you have two semesters to bring your GPA back up. Once you do, you're back in good standing.
However, should you fail to achieve a 2.0 after two probationary semesters, should you fail to achieve a term GPA of 2.0 during any probationary semester, or should your cumulative GPA fall below 1.5 at any point, you are “Subject to Dismissal” (STD).
You can regain admission at UCLA if you are dismissed. However, doing so requires completing a program of courses at another UC school or community college, a program specifically developed for you by a UCLA advisor.
Decision Processes
STD status, as the name implies, doesn't necessarily mean you'll be dismissed only that you are “subject” to possible dismissal. UCLA's dismissal policy notes, “many factors contribute to poor academic performance, and some circumstances may warrant an exception.”
Does your case “warrant an exception”? That often depends on how good an argument you can make about your particular academic situation. In other words, an experienced attorney-advisor like Joseph D. Lento could be a valuable asset in trying to stay in school.
Joseph D. Lento can help in other ways as well. Often staving off dismissal means convincing an instructor to give you a break. Sometimes faculty simply miscalculate grades, and it may be that getting them to recalculate will raise your GPA. In other cases, you may need to talk an instructor into reconsidering your coursework and raising your grades. Or, an instructor might be willing to give you an Incomplete so you can finish outstanding assignments or extra work.
Joseph D. Lento knows all your options and can help you decide which one is right for you. He's a skillful negotiator and can coach you in developing arguments and talking to faculty. And, should the worst happen and you find yourself dismissed, Joseph D. Lento can help you gather evidence and put your readmission application package together.
SAP Standards
If you receive financial aid, there's another way poor academics can hurt you at UCLA. Federal law requires that all colleges and universities maintain a Standard Academic Progress (SAP) policy. Basically, these are rules that prevent anyone from abusing the financial aid system or becoming a permanent student.
Every school sets its own SAP policy. UCLA reviews progress once a year after the Winter quarter. Financial aid eligibility is based on three standards.
- First, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Students must also complete at least 67 percent of all the courses that they attempt. Keep in mind that Fs and WDs count against this percentage.
- Finally, students must complete degrees within 150 percent of the credits required to obtain the degree. At UCLA, that means all undergraduate degrees must be completed within 270 hours. After that point, students become ineligible for aid.
Of course, you can continue as a student at UCLA even if you don't meet SAP standards. You simply lose your financial aid. However, many students find it difficult to complete a degree once they've lost their aid.
There is no warning semester at UCLA for SAP reviews. That is, you lose aid as soon as your academic work falters. The good news is you can regain eligibility simply by meeting standards again.
In addition, should you lose aid, you have the option of appealing the decision based on any extenuating circumstances that might have caused your academic difficulties. Should you win this appeal, you enter a one-term probationary period during which you can continue to receive aid as you work to improve your grades.
As with issues of standing, financial aid issues can be tricky to handle on your own. With years of experience dealing with university faculty and administrators, Joseph D. Lento can help you successfully navigate these issues.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Students sometimes feel they are on their own at college, that if they find themselves in trouble—especially academic trouble—there's no help out there for them. That's just not true. The right attorney-advisor knows lots of ways to get your academic career back on track when it falters.
If you should find yourself facing probation, dismissal, or the loss of your financial aid at UCLA, you want to take action as quickly as possible. Making a mistake doesn't have to ruin what you've accomplished up to this point. Joseph D. Lento has represented hundreds of students just like you in academic progress cases. He knows the procedures, and he can offer suggestions for how to use them to your advantage. If you or your child is facing dismissal, or even if you have already been dismissed, you owe it to yourself to learn about what options might be available to you. To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
