If you're struggling to keep your GPA up at Cal State East Bay, the Lento Law Firm can help. What do attorneys know about academics? You might be surprised.
There are no shortcuts in college. You can't succeed without going to class. You can't make the Dean's List without studying. There are ways to make your experience smoother and easier, though. The thing is, universities are institutions—large, complicated institutions. And like any other institution, the trick to thriving is to master the basics of navigating the system. You need to know who to call when you have a problem, and you need to know what to say.
No one knows how to deal with institutional bureaucracy better than lawyers. It's practically a whole year of law school. And no one handles educational bureaucracy better than the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team. We're specifically focused on helping students. We know what the law has to say about education, and we've worked on cases at every college and university in the country. Along the way, we've learned all the tips and tricks for keeping you on track academically.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Cal State East Bay
Let's take a step back for a minute. What, exactly, does academic success mean? OK, you need to earn good grades, but in a concrete sense, what must you do to avoid getting bogged down on your way to your degree?
Like every college and university, Cal State East Bay maintains something called an “academic standing policy.” This policy sets very specific standards you must meet in order to stay on track. It also includes sanctions for students who aren't meeting those standards.
- Good Standing: This is where you start as a freshman and where you want to try to stay. It means you're making steady progress. Cal State East Bay defines good standing as a cumulative grade point of 2.0 or better.
- Academic Alert: A 2.0 GPA sounds like a pretty straightforward goal, right? We all have those semesters every once in a while, though. What happens if your grade point should slip below that number? Cal State East Bay issues you an academic alert. As part of that alert, you are referred to an academic advisor. You should also be aware that the alert is noted on your transcript. More important than anything else, though, you want to return to good standing. That will prevent further transcript notations and the possibility of more serious sanctions.
- Continued Alert: You can remain on alert for a second semester if it takes you some time to get your grades back up. However, in order to gain this additional semester, you must keep your term GPA above 2.0.
- Academic Disqualification: Should your term GPA fall below 2.0 while you're on alert status, you are then disqualified from continuing as a student at Cal State East Bay. This means total separation from the university.
You can apply for readmission to Cal State East Bay. In most cases, though, you cannot apply until you've been away for at least one year. In addition, you must be able to demonstrate that you have improved academically by earning good grades at another institution, pulling your cumulative GPA back up, and completing any remediation work assigned by your department or college.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The Lento Law Firm can certainly help you file a readmission appeal if that's the situation you find yourself in. We know what Cal State East Bay looks for in appeals packages. We can help you draft a compelling document that puts forward a strong case for your return to the university.
It's not easy returning after a year or more away, though. If you can possibly avoid the trauma of dismissal in the first place, you're always better off.
How can you do that? The Lento Law Firm attorneys can offer some useful suggestions. For example,
- If you've been dealing with extenuating circumstances, such as a bout of depression, a long-term illness, or a family emergency, you can try appealing directly to the dean of your school or college. Your situation may entitle you to additional time to improve.
- If you've received a low grade as the result of an academic misconduct allegation, you should know that you have the right to appeal your instructor's decisions. The Lento Law Firm attorney can help you file a Grade Appeal and Academic Grievance petition.
- You always deserve fair treatment from instructors. If you feel an instructor is mistreating you in any way, you should report that to your instructor's department head. You may be entitled to some form of grade adjustment or, at a minimum, a grade appeal.
- It never hurts to ask instructors for extra credit and makeup work. If your grade is already borderline, this can be a quick way to raise a grade and, thus, your GPA.
- Sometimes, you can negotiate with faculty for higher grades. A high final exam score, for instance, might be evidence that you deserve a higher grade in the course.
- If you struggle consistently in most of your courses, you might consider getting tested for a learning disability. If you have ADD, ADHD, or dyslexia, for instance, you may need course accommodations like extra time to complete assignments. You can also ask Cal State East Bay to drop low grades from your transcript. Then, you can retake those courses for replacement credit.
We cannot tell you exactly which strategy will work best in your particular situation. We can tell you that these and other approaches have helped salvage many of our clients' college careers. We also promise to sit down with you and review your academic history before suggesting a plan. And we'll work with you to implement that plan. We want to make sure you graduate from CSUEB and go on to a successful future.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your Cal State East Bay 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.
