There are no shortcuts in college. You have to go to class. You have to study. It helps to finish papers early, so you're not writing the night before they're due. If your GPA is low, you might want to consider visiting your instructors during office hours or joining a study group.
However, knowing how to navigate the system at Appalachian State can make your academic life considerably easier.
If you're struggling because you're caught up in the bureaucracy—because a professor just doesn't seem to like you or you think you might have a learning disability but you don't know who to talk to about it—the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Education Law Team is focused on helping students succeed, whatever their situations. We know how the Appalachian State system works. We know who to talk to when you have a problem, and we know what to say.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686. Or take time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Appalachian State University
Let's start with the basics: just what qualifies as an academic progression issue at App State? According to the university's academic standing policy, you need to keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0 in order to remain in good standing. What happens if your GPA falls below that number?
- Academic Probation: The first consequence of a low GPA is academic probation. This is just what it sounds like. You're in trouble academically, but the university is giving you a chance to improve before it imposes serious sanctions.
- Continued Probation: You have two semesters to return to good standing. Once you've used up both of your probation semesters, a third semester below 2.0 means suspension.
- Academic Suspension: Suspension lasts for a minimum of one year. During that period, you are barred from taking any courses during the spring and fall semesters, though you may take courses during the summer. App State offers several paths to returning to the university following a suspension. You should know, though, that there are no second suspensions. Should you continue to struggle after your return, the university will dismiss you permanently.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
App State offers several ways to earn academic forgiveness and gain readmission.
- You can continue to take summer courses at App State even after you've been suspended, and if you can bring your GPA up during summer terms, you are automatically re-enrolled at the university.
- If you remain out of school for two years, you can return to App State with a fresh GPA while retaining the course credit you earned before your suspension.
- You can take 30 hours of credit at another institution, and, provided you earn a 2.0 for those hours, you can return to App State after just one year with a fresh GPA.
In addition to these options, App State also offers an immediate appeal process for students with extenuating circumstances. If you've suffered a serious illness, for instance, or had to deal with a family emergency, you can petition the school for an additional semester on probation. You must submit an appeal explaining your circumstances and outline a plan for improvement, together with documentation of your circumstances.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are experienced with both the readmission process at App State and the appeals process and can help you gather evidence and draft documents. We know what university committees look for and how to make you look your very best on paper.
It's always better to avoid reaching the point of suspension in the first place, though. Your Lento Law Firm attorney can offer some useful suggestions for doing this as well. For example,
- If you consistently struggle in your courses, you could have an undiagnosed learning disability. Your attorney can help you get tested and make sure the university provides you with course accommodations where you need them. In addition, you can petition App State to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses for replacement grades.
- You are entitled to fair treatment in the classroom. Any time you feel an instructor is mistreating you, you should report that immediately to your instructor's department head.
- Faculty are sometimes open to the process of grade negotiation. If you pass your final exam, for instance, you might try arguing that this warrants a passing grade in the course, even if your other scores don't add up to that.
- Perhaps the easiest type of grade negotiation is simply to ask an instructor for extra credit or makeup work. It could be that an extra paper is all you need to get your grade up and stay out of the academic sanction danger zone.
Your Lento Law Firm attorney can explain these and other potential strategies to you. No single approach will work in every situation, though. You need a solution that's tailored to your specific needs. So, you should expect your attorney to sit down with you and work out a plan. Then, they'll work with you to implement that plan, whether you need help drafting an appeal or you need to know how to get tested for a learning disability.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your Appalachian State 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.
