If you've been at Rowan University for any length of time at all, you know the school doesn't just give diplomas away. You have to earn your degree through hard work and discipline. You have to deal with strict instructors and rigorous assignments.
There's something else you have to deal with as well: bureaucracy. You wouldn't think knowing how to work the system would be so important to your grade point average, but it's every bit as important as getting to class every day and starting your papers before the deadline. Absence policies matter, for instance. Understanding how to respond appropriately to a charge of plagiarism can sometimes make a huge difference to your academic progress. Knowing what to do if you just can't seem to get along with a professor can be knowledge as vital as knowing the Periodic Table.
No one is better at navigating bureaucracy than attorneys. Bureaucracy is practically its own year at law school. And no one is better at handling educational bureaucracy than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. Our Education Law Team was created to help students get the fair treatment they deserve. Whether you need to know how to file a formal grade appeal or you just need to know who to contact when you've suffered a death in the family, we're on your side. We know the Rowan University system, and we can show you how to use it effectively.
If you're struggling with academic progress issues, don't wait. Call the Lento Law Firm and find out what we can do for you. Call 888-535-3686, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Rowan University
At this point, you might be asking yourself, what do I have to worry about, really? A bad grade here, a bad grade there: it's just a grade point average. Maybe NASA won't hire me, but with a degree from Rowan, someone out there will.
Here's the thing: there are actually consequences to a low GPA. Not later, but now. In fact, you can even be dismissed from Rowan if you can't keep your grades up. Rowan maintains what's called an "academic standing" policy. That policy requires you to keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0. That's known as "good" standing. If at any point your GPA should fall below that number, you face a series of escalating consequences.
- Academic Notice: The first thing that happens when your GPA falls below 2.0 is that Rowan puts you on academic notice. As part of academic notice, you must meet with an advisor and develop an academic success plan. In addition, you must sign up for a one-hour course on academic remediation. Your main goal, though, should be to return to good standing.
- Academic Notice 2: If you haven't returned to good standing after one semester on academic notice, you are then placed on a second semester of academic notice. The requirements while on academic notice 2 are the same as for academic notice 1. Additionally, though, you are expected to keep your term GPA above 2.0 until you return to good standing. As long as you do so, you can continue on academic notice 2.
- Academic Suspension: If, however, your term GPA should drop below 2.0 while you are already on academic notice 2, Rowan University then suspends you for a period of one full academic year.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
You can return to Rowan University after serving a suspension. You must go through the normal re-enrollment process.
You can also apply for early reinstatement after one semester away. You must be able to demonstrate, though, that you are sufficiently prepared to return. Generally, this involves writing explanations of what led to your academic problems and how you plan to correct them. It also helps to have documentation of your academic potential, such as high grades from any courses you may have taken at another institution during your suspension.
Finally, Rowan offers a suspension appeals process for students with special circumstances. If, for example, your academic deficiencies are related to a long-term illness or a family emergency, you can ask for an additional semester under Academic Notice 2 in place of suspension.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you through any of these processes. We know what university committees look for in terms of evidence, and we know how to make you look your best on paper.
You're always better off if you can avoid an academic sanction in the first place, though. We know some useful strategies for doing that as well.
- If you consistently struggle to make high grades, it could be you suffer from a learning disability. We can make sure you get tested and work with Rowan to get appropriate course accommodations in place. You may be entitled, for instance, to extra time to complete assignments or to use technology during exams. We can also help you petition the university to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses without penalty.
- Low grades can be the result of academic misconduct allegations. Your instructors have the power to lower your grades if they believe you've received those grades dishonestly. However, you can challenge your instructors' decisions by filing an appeal with Rowan's Academic Integrity Board.
- You always have the right to fair treatment in the classroom. If you feel an instructor is mistreating you in any way, you should bring that to the attention of your instructor's department head. This can be a path to some type of grade appeal.
- Some instructors are willing to consider extra credit and make-up assignments, especially if your grade is already borderline. However, you may need to ask them directly for these opportunities.
- Faculty are also sometimes open to other types of grade “negotiation.” If, for instance, you scored high on your final exam, you might try asking your instructor to use that score as your course grade.
The Lento Law Firm is committed to your success. Whatever your situation, we'll sit down and talk with you about it. We'll work out a plan tailored to your needs and help you implement it.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your Rowan University diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It's your avenue to a successful career. If it's under threat, you can't afford to try and handle the problem by yourself. University processes and procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and often, you will find the system is stacked against you. You need the very best help you can get, someone who is in your corner and ready to fight on your behalf.
The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team has helped hundreds of students just like you respond to academic issues and make it to graduation. What can we do for you? To find out, call us today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
