There's a lot to be gained from going back to school. From a practical standpoint, you can improve your resume and establish a new career path; you can earn certification to move up at work; you can fulfill annual licensing requirements. Leaving all that aside, though, the North Carolina State University Continuing and Lifelong Education program (NCSCaLE) offers you the chance to grow as a person, expand what you know, and prove to yourself that you still have what it takes to master new skills and ideas.
Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, though. It doesn't matter whether you're taking a series of courses to earn a certificate or you signed up for a one-weekend seminar; you can expect the curriculum at NCSCaLE to be rigorous. The university holds all its students—even continuing education (CE) students to the highest academic and personal standards. As if that bar isn't high enough, you face challenges 18-year-old undergraduates don't. You have a job, a family, and bills to pay. You can't just focus on your school work: you have to find a way to succeed as a student while juggling all your other responsibilities.
Luckily, you're not alone on this journey. If you should run into problems—any type of problems—you can count on attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team to help. They've been working with students for years, and they know exactly what you're up against. They know how the NC State system works—who to talk to if you're in trouble and what to say. They also know the law and how to protect your fundamental rights as a student. Whether you're struggling to meet academic requirements, facing the loss of your financial aid, or dealing with a charge of sexual harassment, Joseph D. Lento and his team will stand by your side and fight for your educational future, no matter what.
Academics
If you're considering enrolling in a CE program, you probably want to begin by thinking about academics. The whole point of continuing your education is to engage in learning, and it's useful to know what that means in the context of CE.
First, you should know that NCSCaLE isn't just one institution. It's actually made up of six separate programs. All of them are under the NCSCaLE umbrella, and they're also under the even larger umbrella of North Carolina State University.
- Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) is specifically designed to help students gain new work skills.
- The Office of Professional Development (OPD) is dedicated to helping businesses and other organizations meet their training needs.
- The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a national network of CE programs aimed at helping adult learners explore topics that interest them.
- The Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services is set up to provide government agencies and non-profits with “research and technical assistance.”
- The Collaborative provides educational opportunities to local communities in the region.
- The Upper Plains Leadership Council is aimed at helping teachers and education administrators acquire new skills and knowledge.
As part of these several programs, you can attend single lectures, sign up for seminars, take individual courses, or complete several courses to attain certification. For example, NCSCaLE offers courses in subjects as diverse as Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer's, Regenerative Agriculture, and How to Play Mah Jongg. Or you can take a series of courses, such as Negotiation and Influencing Skills, Agile Project Management, and Leadership, Communication, and Effective Team Building, on your way to earning a certificate in Project Management.
Since you aren't earning a degree through NCSCaLE, you don't have to worry about your grade point average or meeting any specific academic standing requirements. However, you should expect instructors to hold you accountable whether you are attending a weekend seminar, signed up for a course, or working on a certificate. Obviously, your specific academic requirements will vary depending on your educational goals. Most programs, though, involve graded coursework. You'll likely be expected to attend all sessions or classes and participate in class discussions and activities. There may be assignments and even exams. If you don't fulfill these requirements, you won't earn credit.
Most NSCS faculty recognize that CE students have unique circumstances. You'll find that they're usually willing to accommodate your specific needs. There may be instances, though, where you come across instructors or administrators who refuse to give you extra time to turn in your papers or who have no sympathy when you need to miss a class because your kids are sick. What do you do in those cases? You contact Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team. Their first priority is to make sure you're treated fairly and that you are given every possible chance to succeed. Whether you need help negotiating with a professor or you need to file a grade appeal, they'll work with you to get the best possible resolution to your problem.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
CE students are eligible for certain types of financial aid. NCSCaLE students, for instance, can apply for a Sallie Mae Career Training Smart Option Loan. If you receive aid, though, you will be subject to North Carolina States SAP requirements.
An SAP, or Satisfactory Academic Progress, policy is designed to make sure students aren't taking unfair advantage of the financial aid system. The US government requires all schools to maintain such policies, though each school is allowed to set its own set of criteria.
At North Carolina State, there are three standards you must meet in order to retain your aid package.
- You must keep your cumulative GPA above 2.0.
- You must complete at least two-thirds of all the courses you attempt.
- You must complete your program within 150 percent of the published time frame for that program.
Of course, as a CE student, you aren't subject to the GPA standard. However, you are required to meet the second and third standards. Failure to meet them results in the loss of aid.
North Carolina State does offer an appeals process for students whose deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances—a serious illness, for instance, or a death in the family. However, that process can be complex, and three is no guarantee your appeal will be approved.
You should also be aware that there are strict time limits when it comes to financial aid. If you are worried your aid might be in jeopardy, it's important you contact Joseph D. Lento and his team as soon as possible. They can get the paperwork started and give you your best chance to hang on to your funding.
Academic Misconduct
While you may not have to worry about grades as a CE student, you are still subject to the school's Academic Integrity policy. Just like any undergraduate or graduate student, you're expected to complete all coursework honestly and specifically to avoid
- Plagiarism
- Cheating
- Destruction or Removal of Academic Materials
- Aiding and Abetting Another Person to Commit Misconduct
With cheating and plagiarism on the rise across the country, faculty can be especially trigger-happy these days about accusing students and assigning penalties.
North Carolina State gives its instructors authority to decide if you've committed a violation and to determine your sanction. Typically, first-time infractions receive in-class sanctions, such as
- A warning
- A makeup assignment
- An educational assignment on the nature of academic integrity
- A lower grade on the assignment up to a zero
- A lower grade in the course, up to an F
In addition, particularly egregious and second offenses can result in
- Probation
- Suspension
- Dismissal
However, you have the right to challenge your instructor's decisions to the Office of Student Conduct, and you may even be allowed to defend yourself at a formal hearing. Here again, though, judicial rules and procedures can be complicated and difficult to navigate. Winning your case can come down to knowing how to present evidence properly or what you can and can't ask witnesses. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are familiar with all of North Carolina State's processes, and they have experience representing hundreds of student clients. They can help you develop a defense strategy, work with you to gather evidence, and even accompany you to meetings and proceedings.
Academics: What Could Go Wrong?
You might not automatically think of attorneys when it comes to troubleshooting academic problems. And it's true: a lawyer can't attend classes for you, take your exams, or write your papers.
Hopefully, it's clear by this point, though, that having the right representation can be crucial in effectively defending yourself when you're a student. Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team have the background and experience to help you draft documents, develop your arguments, and present your case, no matter what problem you might be facing.
Educational success is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about showing up for office hours and finishing extra credit assignments. Lawyers are specifically trained in dealing with bureaucracy. And Joseph D. Lento and his team work specifically in the field of college and university bureaucracy. The Lento Law Firm is dedicated to getting students fair treatment, so when you run into a problem—even an academic problem—the odds are good that they know a solution.
Disciplinary Misconduct
Earning good grades certainly isn't the only problem students face. In fact, you can get into far more trouble for violating campus rules than you can for failing an exam. Like all colleges and universities, the North Carolina State has a Code of Conduct that governs student behavior, and that Code applies just as much to CE students as to any other students on campus. In it, you'll find prohibitions against everything from underage drinking to property damage to misuse of computer resources.
It's also worth remembering that NCSU can hold you accountable for violations of local, state, and federal laws, even if those violations occur off-campus. If you're issued a DUI or convicted of domestic abuse, you could find yourself dismissed from your CE program in addition to any legal penalties you may face.
In addition, North Carolina State holds all students, including CE students, accountable for any sexually-based offenses. Under Title IX, the US government holds all educational programs responsible for fully investigating all allegations of sexual misconduct. Under threat of the loss of their federal funding, colleges, and universities are zealous in pursuing the accused and harsh in issuing punishments. In fact, the minimum sanction in such cases is usually suspension, and dismissal is far more likely.
Finally, remember that your online behaviors are scrutinized just as closely as your real-world behaviors. Many CE courses are conducted online, but you're still subject to the same rules and policies as you would be if you were sitting in a brick-and-mortar classroom. Harassing a classmate during online discussions, for example, can still get you charged with a Title IX offense. In general, you want to abide by some common sense rules of online etiquette:
- Behave professionally
- Treat others with respect
- Avoid profanity and socially-offensive language
- Dress appropriately when others can see you
- Avoid inappropriate surroundings
Joseph D. Lento: Continuing Education Student Attorney-Advisor
If you've been out of school for a few years, you need to know that things have changed in education.
- Cheating is on the rise, so professors are more hyper-vigilant.
- Academic expectations grow higher every year.
- In today's political climate, no school can afford to be seen as soft on discipline, and every school conducts rigorous investigations and doles out stiff penalties.
It's worth recognizing, though, that you've changed too. Sure, you care about passing your courses and getting your degree, but that's not the highest priority in your life anymore. You've got a partner, a mortgage, and kids to worry about. Satisfying your boss's demands is probably far more important to you than pleasing your professor.
Most continuing education faculty understand the particular kinds of stresses you're under, and most are willing to work with you to make your educational experience rewarding. If you should run into issues, though, it's important you know that you have options.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have helped hundreds of students just like you deal with school-based issues. They know the law as it applies to education, and they are practiced in dealing with faculty and administrators. Whatever problem you might be 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.
