Enrolling in a Continuing Education (CE) program like the one at the University of Southern California is a big step, but it can bring big rewards. Yes, you'll find the curriculum challenging. Yes, you'll have to figure out how to balance all the demands of your daily life—getting the kids to soccer practice, finishing that big expense report that's due at work on Friday—with going to class, writing papers, and taking exams. Just one class, though, could be enough to move up at work or satisfy your state license renewal requirements. Earning a certificate could be your entry into an entirely new career.
Here's the good news: USC's CE program is designed to fit into your life. There are campus classes, if that's your thing, but you can also take online classes, and many of these are self-paced so you can finish assignments on your schedule. You'll also find that most faculty are eager to work with you. They understand you've got a lot on your plate and will usually make accommodations to help you succeed.
And when you do run into a problem, like an inflexible professor or an unfair policy? The Lento Law Firm is here to help. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are dedicated to making sure students are treated fairly and that they have every opportunity to earn their credentials. We know the law as it applies to education. We also know how the USC CE system works. We've helped hundreds of students do everything from appeal their grades to defend themselves from assault charges. And we're always just a phone call away at 888-535-3686. You can also reach out to us online.
Academics
You might remember this from your time as an undergraduate, but if it's been a minute or two...universities have high expectations of students. You have to perform in the classroom. Let's start, then, by taking a close look at just what that entails.
Educational Options
Yes, you'll have to worry about writing papers, taking tests, and generally impressing your professors. Before you can do any of that, though, you have to decide just what it is you want to study. Are you looking to improve your resume? Do you need credits to fulfill licensing requirements? Or are you just looking to learn more about a subject that's always interested you? The answers to these questions will ultimately shape all other aspects of your experience.
CE programs at USC are offered through the university's individual schools, and you'll want to consult each one's website to find out what they offer. There's a wide range of options, though. You can take courses, for example, from the Annenberg, the Marshall School of Business, or the Price School of Public Policy. You can always sign up for individual courses. These can vary in length from 90-minute webinars to full fifteen-week semester-long courses. In addition, you can take multiple classes as part of a certification program. For instance, the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology offers an Executive Certificate in Home Modification. Or maybe you're an educator, and you're interested in earning credentials in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the Rossier School of Education.
The point is to choose carefully. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help with this process. They know all the CE requirements at USC and can offer important advice on which programs will best help you reach your goals.
Educational Requirements
Again, the academic path you choose will have a direct impact on your experience as a CE student. That starts with the particular education requirements you'll be expected to meet.
For example, if you're simply taking a course to learn something new, grades may be the furthest thing from your mind. If you're fulfilling a job requirement, though, or trying to earn certification in a particular subject, it's important you pass your courses. You don't get credit when you fail or withdraw from a class.
Depending on your specific program, you may also be subject to USC's Academic Standing policy. This policy sets the minimum standards you must meet to make steady progress towards your credentials, and it includes a set of penalties for anyone who's not meeting those standards. For example, students taking undergraduate courses must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Anything below that number means probation, and should you continue to struggle while on probation, you can wind up dismissed from the program entirely.
Even if you're just taking a single webinar, though, you can expect courses to be rigorous and instructors demanding. In many cases, you'll be taking real classes that are part of the real USC curriculum, right alongside undergraduates and graduate students. Those other students don't have the particular set of challenges you do, and that can make a difference in how instructors treat you. If at any point you feel like you're being held to unreasonable expectations or being treated unfairly, remember that you can always contact the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. We're highly experienced at negotiating with faculty, but we can also be fierce if you need to defend yourself or your rights.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Financial Aid Policy
Some CE students also need to worry about meeting USC's SAP policy. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies are required by the federal government. Basically, they ensure no one can sign up to be a permanent student or enroll in classes they don't take in order to get free money.
To remain eligible for financial aid at USC, you must meet three criteria.
- As with the university's Standing policy, you must meet minimum GPA requirements. For undergraduates, that's a 2.0. For graduate students, it's a 3.0.
- You must successfully complete at least two-thirds of the courses you attempt. Success here means finishing the class and earning a passing grade.
- You must complete your coursework within 150 percent of the required course hours for your program.
Some CE students are responsible for meeting an additional set of academic requirements. If your studies are supported through financial aid, you'll likely be subject to Auburn's SAP policy. The federal government requires all colleges and universities to develop a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy to prevent anyone from abusing the aid system.
The USC policy includes three standards.
- As with the Standing policy, you must earn a minimum GPA. For undergraduates, that's a 2.0. For graduate students, it's a 3.0.
- You must pass at least 67 percent of all your coursework. Failures count against this percentage, so do course withdrawals and incompletes.
- You must complete your program within a maximum time frame. Each program has its own published maximum number of courses.
Of course, SAP has nothing to do with your status as a student at USC. That is, as long as you're meeting Academic Standing requirements, you can always continue at the university. SAP only relates to financial aid eligibility. However, most students find it difficult to complete their programs once they've lost their financial aid.
If you're worried about meeting the SAP criteria, you should know that all students are eligible for a one-time Warning semester, which can give you time to improve. In addition, the school offers an appeals process for students with extenuating circumstances. Successful applicants gain an additional probationary semester to pull their grades up.
Keep in mind, though, that financial aid issues can be time-sensitive. Once you lose aid, it can be difficult to get it back, and USC maintains firm deadlines for filing paperwork. As a result, you need to contact the Lento Law Firm the moment you think you might have a problem. We may be able to help, but it's vital that you act quickly.
Academic Misconduct
As you're taking courses, note that USC holds all students accountable for academic integrity. Cheating, plagiarism, and any other activity that might potentially give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework are expressly forbidden.
Instructors have the primary responsibility for identifying and punishing academic misconduct. They have the authority to assign any course sanction, up to and including course failure. That includes
- Oral or written warnings
- Makeup assignments or rewrites
- Extra assignments on the nature of academic integrity
- Lowered grades on assignments, up to a zero
- Lowered course grades, up to an F
However, USC also mandates faculty report instances of academic misconduct to the Office of Academic Integrity. This office has the power to issue additional sanctions for multiple offenses, including
- Probation
- Suspension
- Dismissal
Of course, you always have the option of accepting responsibility for a mistake and the penalty that goes with it. However, you also have the right to challenge accusations. The Office of Academic Integrity provides administrative reviews and, in the case of suspension or dismissal, review panels to handle disputes. As part of these processes, you may submit evidence and suggest witnesses.
Whether or not you have the opportunity to defend yourself at a hearing, it's always important to consult with an attorney any time you're facing a charge of academic misconduct. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you build your defense. We can work with you to find and organize evidence. And at every step of the process, we'll make sure USC respects all of your due process rights.
Disciplinary Misconduct
Academics is only half of the equation when it comes to succeeding in a CE program. USC will also hold you to very strict standards of personal conduct. Here again, violations can be punished with anything from a warning to outright dismissal from the university.
The rules are contained in the USC Student Handbook. It's a long list. The Handbook runs to some 128 pages and includes prohibitions against everything from smoking to theft. You don't need to know all of these rules, though. In fact, many won't apply to you as a CE student. For example, you're probably not likely to get involved in hazing, and underage drinking won't be an issue.
However, there are some rules you should pay special attention to.
- Violations of Local, State, or Federal Law: The Handbook makes clear that any violation of local, state, or federal laws is also a violation of school policy. A DUI or a domestic abuse conviction are grounds for university sanctions, even if those acts were committed off campus.
- Sexual Misconduct: Like all colleges and universities, USC is responsible for enforcing the federal government's Title IX policy. Sexual discrimination and harassment, including all forms of sexual misconduct, can get you into serious trouble. Students found responsible are usually dismissed from the university.
- Online Misconduct: Just because you take a course online does not mean you can ignore the school's code of student conduct. In fact, some rules, such as those about harassment, are easier to break in a course forum than they are in a brick-and-mortar classroom. In general, whenever you're online, you want to
- Act professionally
- Treat others with respect
- Avoid profanity and other types of socially offensive language
- Dress appropriately if others can see you
- Avoid video chat in inappropriate surroundings
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
You do have the right to defend yourself any time you're facing a misconduct charge. The school must conduct an investigation, for example, and give you the chance to make your entire case at a formal hearing. At the hearing, you're allowed to submit evidence and to call witnesses to testify. You can also raise questions for any witnesses testifying against you.
USC also allows you to select an advisor, someone to help you navigate the judicial process and to be on hand to offer advice when you need it. Importantly, this advisor can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm can not only work with you to prepare your case but can accompany you to all meetings and proceedings.
The Lento Law Firm: Continuing Education Attorneys
It's not easy going back to school. Things have changed. A lot. Online courses have become the norm. More students are cheating than ever before, so instructors have become a little quick to accuse. The media has cast a spotlight on colleges and universities, so they're more rigid when it comes to discipline.
More importantly, you've changed. Probably more than most schools. When you were a student before, classes were all you had to worry about. Now you have a spouse, kids, a mortgage, a job. Those things aren't going to just sit around while you debate philosophy with your fellow students at the local coffee shop. You've got to juggle.
Your school understands that, and the CE program is set up to help. You can never tell, though, when you're going to run into grumpy professors or an administrator who doesn't understand the stresses you're dealing with.
When you do, you can turn to the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. We've dealt with all kinds of CE problems, from issues with technology to sexual misconduct allegations. We know how your school works, and we know your rights under the law.
To find out more about how we can help, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
