You knew, coming into West Virginia University, that you'd need to go to class and study hard. Courses here are rigorous, and professors are demanding. But you were ready for that. After all, you had the grades and the test scores to get in. You know what hard discipline and perseverance are all about.
You might not have been prepared, though, for being on your own. For the first time in your life, you have to get yourself out of bed in the morning. You have to force yourself to study every night. You have to do your own laundry. In other words, the academic degree of difficulty has increased at the same time you're suddenly working without a net for the first time. That's scary.
You don't have to do it all alone, though. If you're struggling to meet academic progress requirements at West Virginia University, the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm may be able to help. They know the WVU system, and they know your rights. They know how to talk to you when you run into trouble and what to say. Most importantly, though, they're on your side. They believe in you, and they're prepared to do whatever it takes to help you reach your education goals.
Academic Progression at West Virginia University
College success requires steady progress, course after course, semester after semester, toward your degree. To help you make that steady progress, West Virginia University maintains an Academic Standing policy. This policy clarifies exactly what you need to do academically. It also sets up a series of progressive penalties should you fall behind.
- Good Standing: Good Standing means your overall grade point average is at 2.0 or above. You're doing fine.
- Academic Notice: The first time your GPA falls below 2.0, WVU places you on Academic Notice. As part of this status, you must enter into a contract with your school or college and complete all the conditions of that contract in order to return to Good standing.
- Academic Probation: Should your GPA fall below 2.0 for a second time (whether consecutively or not), you are then placed on Academic Probation. The conditions of probation are the same as those of Academic Notice. You must enter into a contract with your school or college and fulfill the obligations of that contract.
- Academic Suspension: Should your GPA fall below 2.0 for any three regular terms at WVU, you are then subject to suspension. A first Suspension lasts for one full year, a second Suspension for two years, and a third Suspension for three years. You can apply for readmission following a Suspension. However, your degree program has the choice of whether to readmit you or not. If it chooses to dismiss you permanently, you may then apply to another degree program, assuming you qualify. You may also take courses from another institution while you are away from WVU, but you must earn at least a 2.0 for this coursework in order to be readmitted to WVU.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
You always have the option at West Virginia University of simply serving your Academic Suspension. However, most students find it difficult to return to school once they've been away for a year or more. It can be hard getting back into the swing of academics, and while you are away, you may have to begin paying back student loans.
Beyond serving out your Suspension, WVU offers other options for responding to this sanction.
- You are allowed to register for the Summer or Winter terms following a Suspension. If you can raise your GPA above the 2.0 level, you can continue your studies at WVU. However, your suspension still counts as a prior Suspension.
- You can appeal the suspension if you can show that your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a family emergency.
- You can also appeal your suspension if you can show that you've made significant academic progress in recent terms and that, mathematically, you can improve your GPA to 2.0 by the end of the next term.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are experienced in filing readmission packets and appeals. They know exactly what university committees look for in terms of student progress and can make you look your very best on paper.
In addition, though, they know a number of less formal strategies that can help you avoid dismissal and lesser academic sanctions. For instance,
- You always have the option to ask your instructors for extra credit or makeup work. You may have to accept an Incomplete while you finish these assignments, but an I doesn't count against your GPA the way a D or F does.
- Some low grades are the result of academic misconduct allegations. If your instructor thinks you've cheated, they have the power to lower your grade on assignments or lower your entire course grade. However, you have the right to appeal your instructor's decisions and actions to the Provost.
- Learning disabilities are frequently grounds for course accommodations. If you should discover you have a disability, you can ask the school to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses with those accommodations in place.
Knowing how to respond to the threat of academic sanctions requires you to understand your situation and all the possible solutions that are open to you. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you do just that. In addition, though, they can help you to put your plan into action, whether that means filing an appeal with Disability Services or coaching you in how to negotiate for better grades.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
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 keeping up with your reading, visiting the writing center, and getting assignments in on time.
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 the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm 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 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
