Colleges and universities don’t like to admit this, but there are a lot of things that can affect your GPA other than how hard you study. If you don’t know how to properly document an absence excuse, it could cost you points in a course. If a professor doesn’t like you, it can be hard to get the grade you deserve. If you have a learning disability and don’t realize it, you may have trouble passing any of your classes.

There’s no getting around it—if you know how to navigate the CUNY School of Professional Studies’ bureaucracy, you’re going to have an easier time meeting the school’s academic progress standards.

You might be surprised by the notion that a law firm can help you with your GPA. No one knows more about how to handle bureaucracy than attorneys, though. The LLF National Law Firm’s Education Law Team focuses specifically on helping students deal with educational bureaucracy. We know who to call when you have a problem, what to say, and how to say it. We also know a number of tips and tricks for using the system to improve your grades.

We’ll get into all of that below. For now, know that any time you’re struggling with your grades, you owe it to yourself to find out how we can help. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out more, or take a little time now and tell us what kind of problem you’re facing.

Academic Progress Standards at CUNY School of Professional Studies

Before we get into ways to improve your GPA, we should probably establish what constitutes a “good” GPA. In a general sense, you always want to aim as high as you can. After all, good grades impress prospective employers. However, there are also concrete standards you’re expected to meet. You can find a complete list of these in CUNY School of Professional Studies’ Grading Policies. Here are the highlights.

  • Good Standing: Your goal should be to remain in good standing as much as you possibly can during your time at CUNY SPS. Good standing means you’re making satisfactory progress toward your degree. In addition, it guarantees you face no academic sanctions. The university defines good standing as a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.
  • Academic Probation: Any time your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, CUNY SPS places you on academic probation. As part of probation, you are limited to two courses per semester. Obviously, your primary goal is to return to good standing. That happens as soon as you get your GPA back up.
  • Continued Academic Probation: If you have not raised your GPA above 2.0 after a semester on probation, CUNY SPS allows you to continue for an additional semester on probation. Again, your course hours are limited.
  • Academic Dismissal: Three consecutive semesters with a GPA below 2.0 means academic dismissal—outright separation from the university.

You can gain readmission to the university through a petition process. Your petition must include a full explanation of what led to your dismissal and a plan for how you intend to improve if you’re allowed to return. Note, however, that your return is not guaranteed, and should you continue to struggle after returning, you can also be permanently dismissed.

Dealing With Academic Sanctions

The LLF National Law Firm has helped many students file readmission petitions. We know what readmission committees look for in these documents and what kinds of evidence make the strongest impression on committee members. If this is the position you find yourself in, you can count on us to use every resource at our disposal to get you back into school.

If you contact us early enough, though, before your GPA falls too low, we can often suggest ways to avoid dismissal in the first place. We know a number of ways to use the CUNY School of Professional Studies system to your benefit. For instance,

  • Extenuating circumstances can often earn you an additional semester on continued probation. If, for example, you’ve been dealing with a serious bout of depression or a long-term illness, you should visit with the dean of your specific college and let them know about your situation.
  • Low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. Plenty of students have such disabilities and don’t realize it. Disability Services can get you tested and work with instructors to make sure you have the proper course accommodations. In addition, you can ask the university to set aside low grades and allow you to retake courses without penalty.
  • Even if you don’t have a disability, CUNY SPS policy allows you to retake failed courses. The grade you earn when retaking a course replaces the original grade when figuring your GPA.
  • You should always fight allegations of cheating, plagiarism, and other types of academic misconduct. These can cost you valuable points in a course or even lead to outright course failure. The burden is on your instructor to prove you committed an offense. And even if you did make a mistake, you want to make sure your penalty is fair.
  • Some faculty are willing to negotiate grades. If, for instance, you scored especially well on a final exam, you could try asking your instructor to use that as your course grade.
  • Faculty are also sometimes willing to assign makeup and extra credit work. This can be a quick, easy way to pull up your GPA.
  • You always deserve fair treatment in the classroom. Any time you feel an instructor is mistreating, you should report that immediately to your instructor’s department head.

Every student’s situation is unique, and no solution is going to work for everyone. LLF National Law Firm attorneys don’t just offer a list of options. We target solutions to your circumstances. We help you come up with a plan that’s right for you, and we work with you to implement that plan, whether that means coaching you in negotiation tactics or filing a formal appeal.

What Can the LLF National Law Firm Do For You?

Your CUNY School of Professional Studies diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It’s your avenue to a successful career. If it’s under threat for any reason, 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 LLF National Law Firm’s Education Law Team has helped hundreds of students, just like you, respond to academic progress 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.

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