There's a lot to worry about when you're in college. You've got to figure out how to live with a roommate. You're trying to pick the right major. And you're still trying to master the complexities of laundry. Classes, though, have to be job one. A low GPA isn't something you can put off worrying about until you go looking for a job. There are immediate consequences at Cal State San Bernardino when your grades fall. You can even wind up dismissed.
If your transcript isn't quite as shiny and new as when you started college, the Lento Law Firm can help. How? College often has as much to do with figuring the system as it does with memorizing the Periodic Table. Nobody navigates systems like lawyers, and nobody knows education systems like the lawyers at the Lento Law Firm. Our Education Law Team is dedicated to making sure students get fair treatment and the best possible chance to earn their degrees. We also happen to know a few tips and tricks for keeping your grade point up.
So, if you're worried about your grades at CSUSB, don't wait. Call us today at 888-535-3686 and see what we can do to help. Or, take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Cal State San Bernardino
You may not have realized there are consequences for low grades in college. Plenty of students assume that college is just like high school. Sure, you might have to repeat a subject, but no one's going to punish you for struggling in chemistry. That's not strictly true.
Cal State San Bernardino maintains an academic standing policy. The purpose of this policy is to keep you updated on your academic progress. It sets standards for you to meet, and it includes some strict punishments for when you're not meeting those standards.
- Good Standing: This is where you want to be. It means you're making steady progress towards your degree. At Cal State San Bernardino, you need a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average to remain in good standing.
- Probation: If at any point your GPA should fall below that magic 2.0 number, CSUSB places you on academic probation. As part of probation, you may be asked to meet with an advisor and complete an Administrative Contract. Your primary goal, however, is to return to good standing. You can take as long as you need to do that, provided your GPA doesn't fall further.
- Disqualification: CSUSB maintains a further minimum GPA standard based on how many hours you've completed. If you fall below this number, you can be disqualified from taking courses at the university.
- Freshmen need a GPA above 1.5 to avoid DQ.
- Sophomores need a GPA above 1.7 to avoid DQ.
- Juniors need a GPA above 1.85 to avoid DQ.
- Seniors need a GPA above 1.95 to avoid DQ.
Disqualification means separation from the university. It is possible to gain readmission, but you must petition the university, and you'll likely have some administrative requirements to fulfill. Your return after disqualification is never guaranteed.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
CSUSB doesn't offer any formal means of appealing an academic standing decision, even dismissal. However, the university does provide some useful tools for keeping your GPA up.
- You can replace failed grades for up to 12 hours of coursework simply by retaking those courses.
- Even after 12 hours of forgiveness, you can still raise grades by retaking courses. Rather than forgiveness, though, your two grades in the course are averaged together.
- Under CSUSB's Academic Renewal program, you can petition the university to drop up to two terms of previous coursework.
The Lento Law Firm knows a number of additional strategies for avoiding academic probation and disqualification, strategies advisors and other administrators at CSUSB don't always know.
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a family emergency, you can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college for more time to improve.
- Low grades can be a sign of a more serious problem: a learning disability. Disability Services can help you get tested, and if you do have such a disability, you can ask the university to drop low grades from your transcript. Then, you can retake those courses with appropriate accommodations in place.
- You're entitled to fair treatment in the classroom. If an instructor mistreats you in any way, you should report that to the instructor's department head. You may actually deserve a higher grade.
- If an instructor believes you've cheated or committed plagiarism, they have the authority to lower your grade in the course up to an F. However, you have the right to appeal their decisions to their department head.
- Faculty are sometimes willing to negotiate grades, especially if you have a strong argument for why yours could be higher. If, for example, you did especially well on your final exam, you might try convincing your instructor that this is the true reflection of your ability.
- Another easy kind of grade negotiation is to ask for makeup or extra credit work. Again, not every instructor will be receptive, but if they are, an extra lab or a paper rewrite could be enough to help you avoid probation or disqualification.
Every situation is different, and no single solution can help everyone avoid an academic sanction. You can count on your Lento Law Firm attorney to sit down with you and go over your case carefully. They'll work with you to come up with a plan, and they'll help you implement that plan, whether that involves filing an appeal or brushing up on your negotiation skills.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your Cal State San Bernardino 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 automated online form.
