You probably won't come as news to you, but just in case you haven't figured it out already: Boston College expects you to do well as a student, and if you can't do that, you could find yourself looking for another school.
Fair enough, right? After all, you came to college to earn a degree, and you can't do that without studying hard and going to class.
The thing is, none of us is perfect. You're bright and capable, or you wouldn't have gotten into Boston College in the first place. We all go through periods, though, when nothing seems to go right. Maybe you had to drop that accounting class because your ex was taking it too. Maybe it took longer than you thought to recover from that bout of pneumonia you got last February.
Life happens. When it does, make sure you know how to get help. National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento understands academic progress issues and knows all the best strategies for dealing with them. Whatever problem you're facing, he and his Education Law Team can help you come up with a plan for salvaging your future and can help you put that plan into action.
Joseph D. Lento can't take your courses for you, but if you're struggling to meet standards, you owe it to yourself to find out what he can do for you.
Academic Progression at Boston College
Every college and school at Boston College implements its own academic standards. Most, though, resemble the policy at the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. Morrissey is the largest undergraduate education program at BC.
That policy is reasonably straightforward, though it's also quite strict. You remain in “good” standing as long as you maintain a minimum 1.67 cumulative grade point average. However, the moment your GPA falls below that number, you have withdrawn academically from the college. It's crucial you understand: there is no “warning” period.
You can appeal your withdrawal directly to the Associate Dean of your college. If your appeal is granted, you're then placed on “probation” for a semester. However, during this semester, you're required to meet a higher academic standard: successfully completing at least 12 hours of credit and earning a minimum 2.0 GPA while doing it. Otherwise, you are dismissed from the college altogether. You can also be dismissed after two probationary semesters, even if they aren't consecutive.
Finally, you should know: Boston College does not offer a process for readmission. Once you have been dismissed for academic reasons, you cannot return.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Perhaps because its standing policy is so strict, Boston College offers a number of ways to respond if you're facing dismissal. The first option, of course, is to appeal that decision to the Associate Dean of your school or college. Most appeals result in probation, and as long as you meet probation requirements and keep your GPA up, this can solve the problem.
There are other, less formal, options for responding to the threat of dismissal as well.
- You always have the right to appeal a grade to the Appeals Committee of the Educational Policy Committee if, for example, you believe the grading standard in the course was too severe.
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances like a long-term illness or a family emergency, you can appeal directly to the Associate Dean. Often you can be given additional probation time to meet standing standards.
- You also have the right to complain if an instructor has mistreated you in any way. Usually, you contact the instructor's department head or, failing that, the Associate Dean. This, too, can result in a higher grade for the course, and one higher grade can often make the difference when it comes to dismissal decisions.
- You can try negotiating with instructors for higher grades. Obviously, every situation is different, but most faculty will reconsider your work if you ask them to. You might argue, for instance, that your progress over the course of a semester is worth a higher grade or that your grade on the final demonstrates you mastered the course material, even if your other grades in the course were low.
- Occasionally, instructors are open to the possibility of assigning extra credit or makeup work. This is especially true in cases where your grade may be borderline already.
Whatever method you're using to try and prevent dismissal, it's always better to have help. An appeal to the Associate Dean will have a better chance of success if you have asked an experienced attorney-advisor like Joseph D. Lento to look over it for you. Often, they may be able to suggest evidence you could include demonstrating you deserve a second chance. Likewise, negotiating with an instructor can be a delicate process. Joseph D. Lento can help you decide on the best arguments and coach you on how to talk with faculty and administrators.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
You might be surprised to learn that an attorney can help with academic problems. Often, though, college success is as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about taking exams and writing papers. It always helps to know who to talk to and what to say.
No one knows more about dealing with bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about dealing with educational bureaucracy than Joseph D. Lento. He built his practice handling student conduct and academic progress issues, he knows how the various systems at Boston College work, and he knows how to use rules and procedures to your benefit.
More important than anything else, though, Joseph D. Lento is on your side. He understands that no one is perfect, and he doesn't think that a few mistakes should keep you from earning your degree and going on to a successful career.
You've worked hard to get to this point. Don't let that hard work go to waste. To find out more about how you can fight dismissal, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
