Continuing education is a significant milestone that promises to open doors for many opportunities. If you are planning or are currently enrolled in one of these programs, you can expect many new changes as teaching methods, expectations, and the use of technology are changing.
Perhaps you want to pursue continuing education courses for professional advancement, or you're thinking of changing your career for personal or professional reasons. Or you may want to enhance your cultural and social awareness and simply learn a new skill. One university that offers these courses is the University of Mississippi's Division of Outreach and Continuing Education.
The Division of Outreach and Continuing Education promises to provide high-quality education and inspire growth by allowing learners to participate in academic, personal, and professional enhancement opportunities. By participating in these courses, you can enhance your skillset and become better at what you care about personally and professionally.
Although participating in a continuing education course is exciting, some changes may catch you by surprise, and you may commit violations without intending to. These are due to multiple reasons, like the increasing reliance on technology and new rules that did not exist when you attended college.
Whatever the issue is, there is hope. The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team is by your side when something goes awry during your continuing education experience, helping you through every step of the adjudication process.
Academics
The Division of Outreach and Continuing Education offers three types of programs: one for students, one for professionals, and one for the general community. Each has different subdivisions of learning depending on the field learners are interested in pursuing.
- CE Programs for UM Students: Consists of the ETS Testing Center, Internships, iStudy, the Jumpstart Summer Program Online Learning Courses, Summer School Intercessions, the Teach Mississippi Institute for Educators and Administrators, and the Wintersession intersession program.
- CE Programs for Professionals: Consist of the AP Summer Institute, the Criminal Justice Division, the ETS Testing Center, the MS School of Banking, the MS Writing Project, the NASA MS Space Grant Consortium, Business and Education Online Master's Programs, School Leadership programs for educators and administrators, professional development courses, Master's Programs, and the Teach Mississippi Institute for Educators and Administrators.
- General CE Programs for Community: Includes Educational Travel courses, commune-diversity classes, Complete to Complete (C2C) Courses, Conferences, ED2GO Classes, testing centers, Lifelong Learning Classes, Professional Development Classes, and Summer Youth Programs.
Although Continuing Education courses may differ from standard higher education programs, CE divisions must follow the rules of the host university. Besides grade average requirements, you must also demonstrate academic proficiency and keep up with your peers to remain enrolled in these programs. Failure to do so can lead to multiple issues, including placement on probation, failing a course, suspension, or permanent dismissal.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Every university has an SAP policy that enforces academic standards for students eligible for financial aid. If you qualify for federal student aid or other types of financial assistance at the University of Mississippi, you must ensure that your grades are up to par. According to the policy, all students must ensure that they meet the following three standards:
- Maintaining the Passing Rate: You must successfully complete at least 67% of the courses you attempt.
- Attempted Hour Requirement: The total number of hours you attempt should not reach or exceed 190. This number includes hours of study at other institutions.
- Meet the Minimum GPA Requirements: You must meet the minimum GPA requirements based on the number of hours you take at the university.
The policy specifies the GPA requirements for students depending on hours attempted. They are:
- 0-30 hours: Minimum of 1.60 GPA
- 31-60 hours: Minimum of 1.80 GPA
- 61 or More Hours: Minimum of 2.00 GPA
At the end of every Spring term, the University of Mississippi reviews all student performance records to determine who meets the criteria. Those who fail to meet the standards are placed on financial aid suspension for the summer term. Under this status, you won't qualify for federal student aid, and it may affect your eligibility to receive other types of aid from state or institutional sources.
If you cannot maintain satisfactory academic progress, you can submit an SAP appeal online to the Office of Financial Aid. Before submitting, include all circumstances you believe contribute to your lack of progress. Once received, a committee reviews the appeal and determines whether to approve or deny it.
If approved, you receive placement on financial aid probation for one semester. This probationary period is a time that allows you to improve your grades and keep your financial aid active. You must meet specific academic conditions to continue your eligibility for financial aid beyond the probationary semester.
You can regain eligibility if you don't need the academic standards and the appeal is denied. However, you must meet the course requirements and policy to do so.
The policy stays in effect even if you depart from the University of Mississippi for any reason. Only the Office of Financial Aid has the sole authority to determine your financial aid eligibility.
Remember that beyond the requirements of the courses and the university, your financial aid program may also have its set of unique conditions that you need to follow.
Academic Conduct and Discipline
The Student Handbook at UM contains information about the rules and expectations for students in all segments of the university. Per the Academic Conduct and Discipline Policy, these rules are in place to maintain the student body's interests and level the playing field for all learners. Proper academic conduct is high on the list of expectations. The university states that it conducts its affairs based on common honesty, prohibiting the following actions:
- Plagiarism: Plagiarism is when students attempt to pass on another person's work as their own. Students plagiarize by using published material verbatim without citing a source or paraphrasing another person's ideas without giving credit.
- Using Someone's Work: Using someone's work is when students hand in a paper purchased from an essay-writing mill, ask someone to complete assignments, or engage someone to take a class-related or standardized test.
- Knowingly Allowing Someone Else to Represent Your Work as Their Own: As a student, you may not complete the work of others and have them present it as their own. In this case, both parties are subject to disciplinary measures.
- Unfair Advantages: To maintain a level playing field, students must not possess or attempt to possess test materials before a professor administers them. Trying to access this information by using a computer or physically entering a professor's office and removing these documents may lead to prosecution. Other forms of gaining an unfair advantage include bribery, intimidation, and harassment.
- Document Alteration and False Information: Students may not falsely attest that they have completed work or classes that they did not. Presenting any false information, altering grades, and using online techniques to change grades leads to grave penalties.
- Disruptive Behavior: Students must refrain from engaging in disorderly or disruptive behavior, such as committing purposeful acts to disrupt the class and learning environment.
- Harm to Facilities: As a student, you must not engage in behavior that causes harm to facilities that support the academic environment. Examples include damaging books, lab equipment, computers, and other facilities.
- Miscellaneous Issues: This segment pertains to all other issues that may be construed as academic misconduct but are not explicitly mentioned in the policy. It is up to the committee to determine whether a miscellaneous action counts as a student handbook violation.
If a student commits a violation, their professor may recommend a sanction depending on the infarction. Initially, the student receives an invitation to attend an informal meeting to discuss the issue and for the professor to recommend a sanction. If the student disagrees with the sanction, the matter escalates to a formal hearing where a committee statements and reviews evidence presented by both parties and recommends a sanction.
Wherever you are in this process, having the Education Law Team from the Lento Law Firm helps you increase the chances of a favorable hearing outcome. Their experience and background can help calm you down and create a strategy to tackle the hearing positively.
The Cost of Violations
Committing a violation as a continuing education student comes with multiple issues, including receiving a sanction that can upend your plans. The Academic Discipline Committee has the authority to approve, deny, or amend sanctions, which range from:
- Receiving a grade reduction or failing grade on the assignment
- Receiving a reduced grade or an F for the class
- A mandatory retaking of a test or an assignment
- Submitting a new assignment, test, or term paper
- Placement on disciplinary probation
- Temporary dismissal from the program
- Expulsion from the program and university
Getting suspended or expelled from a continuing education program is a significant setback with short- and long-term repercussions on your personal and career trajectory. You will face a loss of tuition and financial aid, and your reputation may also take a hit. This is because universities often include a notation of the dismissal that others can see. Moreover, a dismissal may lead to challenges in reenrolling in another program or transferring to another university. With so much at stake, it's imperative that you speak to the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm for more information about approaching your case.
Sexual Harassment Policy
According to the Sexual Harassment Policy in the Student Handbook, the University of Mississippi upholds the federal Title IX principles to ensure that no gender-based discrimination happens within the university setting. The policy states that these safeguards are for students and staff members of all genders and that it strictly follows all mandates for reporting and intervening in Title IX issues. All grievances relating to Title IX receive a fair review in due process principles, with the accused seen as innocent until proven otherwise at the end of the procedure.
Nowadays, all students must be careful to respect the personal space of others and refrain from committing actions that may be construed as harassment or discrimination. Working with the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can reduce the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome, especially given that this issue is quite sensitive and may lead to significant reputation damage.
Hiring an Attorney
Going back to college to attend continuing education courses is a commendable act that takes time, effort, and money. But if it has been a while since you last attended college, the new changes these institutions apply may cause confusion and lead to unintentional violations.
Whether you experienced a lapse in judgment or made a genuine mistake, you deserve due process and a fair representation before a committee. Whatever you do, never approach the matter alone before speaking to the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team.
The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm has years of experience working with continuing education students nationwide who are facing issues with their college administrations. With their compassion and knowledge, they help guide you through the process with ease, pointing out issues that may improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
Every action you take once you receive word of a possible hearing or sanction against you matters and may affect the final outcome of your case. By speaking to an attorney from the Lento Law Firm Team, you can rest easier knowing that someone with knowledge and experience can help make the best of your case and reduce the likelihood of receiving sanctions that upend your plans, life, and future.
If you or someone you love faces issues with their continuing education courses at the University of Mississippi, don't wait until no options are left. Call the Lento Law Firm Team today at 888-535-3686 for more information about how to approach your case, or reach out to us online.
