Going back to school is a big decision. Certainly, the experience can be rewarding, but there's a lot to think about before you get started.
For one thing, it's probably been a minute or two since you were in college. Professors don't teach the way they used to. Classrooms don't look the way they used to. No one throws the frisbee around the quad anymore: They're all wearing VR goggles and throwing some virtual frisbees around a virtual quad. Well, maybe not just yet, but things have definitely changed, and that can be daunting.
You've changed too. This time around, you have a completely new set of priorities. “Finding yourself” and looking “cool” while you do it has been replaced by making sure your mortgage is paid on time and cleaning up after your five-year-old.
Bottom line: you need to know what you're in for, and you need all that information in a handy condensed version you can digest during the five minutes or so you have to yourself in the afternoons before the kids get home from school.
You're in luck. Below, you'll find all the answers you need to all your most important questions about continuing education (CE), plus—even more important—details about how to find help when you need it.
Academics
The Cal State Los Angeles Continuing Education program is administered by the school's College of Global and Professional Education (PaGE). Students can earn degrees and certificates in five different “sectors”:
- Arts, Communication, Entertainment
- Business, Finance, Law
- Biotech and Healthcare
- Education, Non-profit, Human Services
- Engineering, Manufacturing, Technology
In addition, anyone can sign up for individual courses through PaGE's Open University program. There's no requirement that you be admitted to the university to take these courses.
It's important to recognize, though, that, generally speaking, continuing education courses are treated the same as any other courses at the university. They have the same requirements, the same standards, and the same expectations.
Degree and Certificate Requirements
Cal State Los Angeles, PaGE offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as certificates. Every program maintains its own set of requirements and standards. For example, a B.S. in Hospitality, Wellness, and Leisure Studies requires 60 credit hours, with classes in subjects like adult nutrition, human resource management, and event planning. A certificate in Home-based Visitations, on the other hand, requires 45 hours with learning modules like Working with Children and Families.
In general, though, requirements tend to differ depending on whether you're seeking an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree, or a certificate.
- Undergraduate degrees: Generally, require between 50 and 70 hours of coursework. You must maintain a 2.0 GPA each semester and cumulatively in order to remain in good academic standing. Students who fall below this mark are placed on academic probation. You can also be dismissed from the program should your GPA fall further. Freshman, for instance, can be dismissed for a GPA below 1.5. Seniors can be dismissed for a GPA below 1.95.
- Graduate degrees: Usually require between 30 and 45 hours of coursework. Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to remain in good standing. In addition, you are only credited for courses in which you receive a C or better.
- Certificates: Typically require 12 to 18 hours of coursework. The GPA requirement here is 2.0 for undergraduate certificates and 2.5 for graduate certificates.
As at most universities, grades at Cal State LA are A, B, C, D, and F. You should also be aware that the school uses a plus/ minus system and minus grades are not worth as much as full grades. For instance, while an A counts as 4 points when averaging your GPA, an A minus counts as just 3.75.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
If you receive financial aid to pursue your continuing education degree or certificate, you also need to worry about the Cal State Los Angeles PaGE Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, Policy.
SAP is a government program set up to ensure that students make sufficient progress toward obtaining their degrees and don't abuse the financial aid system. Basically, your school's financial aid office reviews your academic record at the end of each semester and makes decisions about whether or not you should remain eligible for aid.
PaGE programs require students to meet three standards to remain eligible.
- Standard 1: You must meet the GPA requirements specific to your individual program.
- Standard 2: You must earn credit (pass) in at least 75 percent of the courses you take. Keep in mind that withdrawals count against this percentage.
- Standard 3: The total number of courses you attempt must not exceed 150 percent of the total number required for your particular degree program.
The PaGE program places every student receiving financial aid into one of three categories at the end of each semester.
- Satisfactory status: If you're meeting all three standards, you remain eligible to receive aid.
- Warning status: Should you fail to meet standards one or two, you are issued a warning. While you remain eligible for aid during the next semester, your progress is re-evaluated at the end of that semester to determine whether you are now meeting standards. If you fail to meet those standards for a second semester, you become ineligible for aid. In addition, should you fail to meet standard three, you automatically become ineligible for aid.
- Probation status: If you are ruled ineligible to receive aid you can apply for probationary status. This means you will continue to receive aid, provided you satisfy conditions set up by the financial aid office. Like warnings, though, probation only lasts for a single term. Should you fail to meet standards after this point, you become ineligible for aid until such time as you are meeting standards again.
It's not always easy to hold on to your financial aid under SAP programs, and it can be even more difficult to get aid back once you've lost it. The right attorney-advisor can help you gather evidence and draft documents to make sure your financial support is safe.
Attendance Policies
Cal State Los Angeles PaGE allows instructors to set their own absence policies:
“Students are responsible for adhering to the attendance policy set by the instructor."
Obviously, every instructor is different, but certainly there are many faculty on campus who set a limit on the number of absences you can have and will drop you from the course should you exceed that number.
The school does offer a list of valid reasons for an “excused absence.” These include
- Illness or injury
- Death, injury, or serious illness of a close relation
- Religious reasons
- Jury duty
- University sanctioned activities
Instructors sometimes want to debate students, though, over whether or not a given absence qualifies as excused. If your professor is holding you to a standard that's simply too high, an attorney-advisor may be able to help you negotiate for a fair resolution.
Issues of Academic Honesty
Schools take academic integrity extremely seriously these days. Cheating is on the rise, and faculty have grown increasingly paranoid about what goes on in their classrooms. They're more likely to accuse students of dishonesty and more likely to assign severe sanctions. A single offense could get you dismissed from a course with an F; multiple offenses could get you dismissed from the program. Plus, even a warning can wind up on your transcript. A transcript notation for cheating or plagiarism could undo everything you've accomplished to this point.
Cal State Los Angeles PaGE's policy on academic dishonesty specifically forbids four types of misconduct:
- Cheating: The use of any unauthorized source to complete your coursework.
- Plagiarism: The attempt to pass another person's words or ideas off as you own.
- Misrepresentation: Knowingly providing false information
- Collusion: Helping someone else to commit academic misconduct.
Should an instructor decide you are guilty of an infraction, they can punish you with anything from an alternative assignment to an F in the course. However, there are protections in place if you're accused. For example, your instructor must discuss their decisions with their department chair, and they must meet with you to give you an opportunity to explain your side of the situation. In addition, you have the right to lodge a formal appeal of your instructor's decisions with the University Academic Appeals Board, and if this board feels it is necessary, the right to defend yourself at a full hearing.
Keep in mind, though, that the process isn't simple. Schools don't like to admit they've made mistakes, and they'll do everything they can to put up roadblocks. Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team can help you navigate these complexities, though, and make sure you're given due process.
Disciplinary Misconduct
As a student, you're part of a community, one that extends well beyond the classroom. As a result, you'll be expected to uphold community standards of behavior.
Cal State LA PaGE maintains a set of 20 separate “unacceptable student behaviors.” These include everything from dishonesty, to disorderly conduct, theft, and misuse of computer facilities. In addition, you should know that the school has especially strict policies against underage drinking, drug possession, firearm possession, and hazing.
In addition, keep in mind that university rules apply to online activities too. Cal State LA PaGE expects you to
- Treat others in your courses with respect
- Refrain from discriminating against others
- Dress appropriately, even in online courses
- Log in to online courses from appropriate locations
- Exercise decorum in all situations
As with academic misconduct, schools have become increasingly harsh in punishing disciplinary misconduct violations. Even minor infractions can sometimes get you suspended or expelled.
There's a lot at stake: never simply accept a “responsible” (guilty) finding or a penalty that doesn't fit the offense. Contact the Law Offices of Joseph D. Lento today, and find out how we can get you the justice you deserve. We've helped hundreds of students defend themselves from all types of disciplinary misconduct charges, from noise violations to drug possession. Whatever problem you're facing, we have the expertise to handle it.
Issues of Sexual Misconduct
Of course, no charge is more serious than a charge of sexual misconduct. Such allegations aren't just subject to school policy. They're regulated by Title IX, a federal law that prohibits all forms of sexual discrimination and misconduct. In addition, no school wants to run afoul of victims' rights groups or show up as a feature story on CNN. As a result, you can expect the Cal State LA PaGE program to be vigilant when it comes to conducting investigations and downright draconian in punishing offenders.
In addition, Title IX rules and procedures can be extremely complicated. There are guidelines that dictate how long investigations can last, who is allowed to speak at hearings, and even what kinds of questions you're allowed to ask witnesses. The law does afford you some important rights as well, but you have to know how to use them to your advantage.
Joseph D. Lento isn't just a student conduct attorney: He's a Title IX attorney. He's studied the law, and he's experienced with the procedures. If you're facing a charge of sexual misconduct, you can't afford to try and handle it yourself. You need help from a professional. You need Joseph D. Lento.
Conclusion
As an undergrad, you probably had a pretty strong safety net in place. If nothing else, your parents were standing by to protect you if you got into any serious trouble. You don't have that anymore. You're on your own, facing this challenge all by yourself. In fact, a lot of people probably depend on you to provide the safety net now. That doesn't mean you have to handle every crisis alone. When it comes to continuing education, the attorneys at the Joseph D. Lento Law Firm are here to help.
Whatever problem you're facing, from issues with technology to accusations of sexual misconduct, don't wait to see what will happen. If you're in trouble, contact the Lento Law Firm today, at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
