It's no easy thing getting into college. The fact that you managed to make it into CUNY Brooklyn says something about both your intelligence and your work ethic. If you haven't figured it out by now, though, you soon will: smarts and hard work aren't always enough to help you make it through college.
Universities—including CUNY Brooklyn—are bureaucracies, and any time you're dealing with a bureaucracy, you can't predict what might happen. What do you do when you get two semesters' worth of financial aid at one time by mistake, and then the university tells you the next semester that you're out of money? Who do you talk to if you need to miss a few classes because your brother is "going through some stuff?" How do you handle a professor who just doesn't seem to like you?
All the brain power in the world can't help you with these kinds of problems, and working “harder” to solve them can become little more than beating your head against a wall.
You need help. What you need is someone who's adept at dealing with bureaucracy, someone who understands how university systems work, and someone who knows all about the CUNY Brooklyn administration. Turns out, those someones exist. The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team was built to help students navigate the more frustrating aspects of college life. That way, you can concentrate on what matters: actually learning things.
If you're struggling to meet academic progress requirements at CUNY Brooklyn, we can help. Find out how by calling 888-535-3686. Or take time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at CUNY Brooklyn
As a college student, you've got a lot of worries. You have to make sure you stay on the right side of your dorm manager. You're constantly scrounging for extra pocket money. And you're still trying to sort out how to do laundry correctly. Your biggest concern, though, has to be your GPA.
CUNY Brooklyn actually has something called an “academic standing policy.” That policy sets minimum GPA standards, and you face serious consequences if you do not meet those standards. You can even find yourself dismissed if your grades fall far enough.
Here are the basics of what that policy has to say.
- Good Standing: The goal is always to remain in good standing. That means you're making steady progress towards your degree. You don't have to worry about sanctions. Life is “good.” Good standing means keeping both your cumulative and term grade point averages above 2.0.
- Academic Probation: CUNY Brooklyn places you on probation any time your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. You can also be placed on probation if your term GPA is below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, even if your cumulative GPA remains above 2.0. There are no specific requirements when you're on probation. Your goal, since you've fallen out of good standing, is to return to good standing
- Continued Probation: You don't have to return to good standing right away. If you were placed on probation for a low cumulative GPA, you have three semesters to improve, so long as you earn at least a 2.3 each of those semesters. If you're on probation because of consecutive low-term GPAs, you can remain on probation until your cumulative GPA drops below 2.0.
- Academic Dismissal: If you continue to struggle after being placed on academic probation, though, you can eventually be dismissed. Dismissal lasts for at least one semester. You must apply for readmission, and your return is not guaranteed.
Finally, should you return to CUNY Brooklyn, you should know that a second dismissal means permanent separation from the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
CUNY Brooklyn doesn't mention any formal appeals process for students fighting academic sanctions. That doesn't mean you must simply accept such sanctions. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of informal strategies for managing academic standing. For example,
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a family emergency, you can petition the dean of your college for more time to improve.
- You deserve a fair shot at an education. A learning disability may be grounds for course accommodations. Some students need and deserve special treatment—extra time to complete assignments, a peer note taker, or access to special technology. Such treatment levels the playing field. If you should discover you have a disability after you've already completed some semesters at CUNY Brooklyn, you can ask the university to set aside your low grades. Then, you can retake those courses without penalty once you have proper accommodations in place.
- Your instructors have enormous authority over your classroom behavior. Any time they think you might have committed plagiarism or cheated on an exam, they have the power to issue course sanctions—lower grades on assignments, lower course grades, and even outright course failures. You have the power to appeal your instructors' decisions, though, to the university's Academic Integrity Committee (AIC).
- You don't have to be subject to an academic misconduct allegation to appeal your course grade. You deserve fair treatment in the classroom, and any time you think you're not getting that, you can file a formal grade appeal.
- It may sound basic, but you also always have the right to ask for extra credit or makeup assignments. Not all instructors are receptive to such requests, and that keeps some students from asking. It could be, though, that a single paper rewrite or an extra lab assignment is enough to get your course grade higher and allow you to avoid probation or dismissal.
Whatever your particular situation, you can count on the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm to help you come up with a workable solution and to work with you to put that solution into action. Should the worst happen, though, and you find yourself dismissed—or if you've already been dismissed at this point—the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are also well-versed in the readmissions process. They can help you gather evidence of your abilities and work with you to draft a strong appeal.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your CUNY Brooklyn 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.
