How do you succeed in college? You work hard: you go to class; you study; you make time to visit professors during office hours; you join study groups; you start papers before the due date. Oh, and one more thing: make sure you know how to contact Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team if you need them.
How's an attorney supposed to help you with academics? You may not realize this, but late-night cram sessions and hours logged in the library aren't always enough to keep your grades up. What happens, for example, when you run into a teaching assistant who just doesn't seem to like you? What do you do when you wreck your car and need to convince a stubborn instructor to let you take a makeup exam?
That's when you call Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his team. They're attorneys, and they know the law as it applies to education. They aren't just attorneys, though. They know how universities operate, and they're familiar with all the rules and procedures at Cal State, Northridge. They know who to talk to when you run into problems and what to say. Most importantly, though, they're on your side. They believe in you, and they're ready to do what it takes to ensure you get the education you deserve.
Academic Progression at Cal State, Northridge
At Cal State, Northridge, academic progress is defined by the school's academic standing policy. That policy sets benchmarks to keep you on track from one semester to the next. The most important of those benchmarks is your grade point average. To remain in “Good” standing, you need to earn a minimum 2.0 GPA every semester and maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
The standing policy doesn't just set benchmarks, though. It sets up a series of penalties you face any time you aren't meeting those benchmarks.
- Academic Notice: Should either of your GPAs fall below 2.0, you are placed on Academic Notice. This is essentially a probationary status designed to let you know you need to focus harder on your studies. In addition, while on Notice, you are only eligible to take up to 13 hours, and you must consult an advisor before you can register for classes. You can regain Good standing by simply raising your GPAs, and you can remain on Notice until you do that, so long as your grades do not continue to fall.
- Academic Disqualification: If, while on Academic Notice, either of your GPAs should fall below a pre-defined level based on your class standing, you are then Disqualified from taking courses at Cal State, Northridge. For freshmen, that number is 1.5; for sophomores, it is 1.7; for juniors, it is 1.85; and for seniors, it is 1.95.
It is possible to return to the university after a disqualification. However, that requires a formal application for readmission under an Academic Performance Agreement. As part of this agreement, you must demonstrate your ability to improve as a student. Typically, this involves enrolling in courses at another institution or through the Tseng College Open University program. Only after you've built a record of successful coursework are you eligible to submit a readmission petition.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
A readmission petition can be a valuable pathway to return to Cal State, Northridge, but it takes time and energy to rebuild your academic record and to fill out and submit applications. In other words, this option should be used only as a last resort.
How do you prevent Academic Notice and Disqualification in the first place? Cal State, Northridge doesn't offer any formal process for challenging these sanctions. However, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know a number of informal strategies for avoiding them.
- If your academic struggles are the result of extenuating circumstances, you may be able to convince your school or college dean to give you more time to improve before you're issued a sanction.
- Classroom mistreatment can be grounds for a grade appeal. If you feel an instructor has treated you unfairly, it's important you let that instructor's department head know so they can intervene.
- Faculty have the authority to lower grades when they suspect cheating. However, they sometimes get things wrong. You can appeal their findings, their sanctions, or both to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
- If you discover you have a disability, you may be able to ask the school to set aside some of your lower grades and allow you to retake those courses with accommodations in place.
- You can always ask your instructor for extra credit or makeup assignments. Some faculty are receptive to such requests; others are not. This can be an easy way to raise your GPA, though, especially in classes where your grades are borderline.
- You may also find some instructors are open to grade negotiation. A compelling argument—like a final exam grade that is higher than your other grades in the course—might be grounds for a revision.
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team can help you if you've been disqualified. They know what readmission committees look for and how to make you look your best in an appeal.
Don't wait until you've been disqualified to call for help, though. Joseph D. Lento and his team know how the Cal State, Northridge system works, including how to keep your GPA up if, despite your best efforts, it's slipped a little.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
Students ask all the time: How is an attorney supposed to help me make it through college? It's a fair question. After all, it's not like you're on trial for shoplifting. You need help with your grades. That's normally a matter of studying harder or finding a tutor.
The thing is, though, succeeding in college is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about dealing with bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about dealing with educational bureaucracy than Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Educational Law team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
Joseph D. Lento and his team are on your side. They understand that no one is perfect, and they're committed to the idea that a few mistakes shouldn't keep you from earning your degree and going on to a successful career. They'll fight to make sure you're treated fairly and that you get all the rights you deserve.
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.
