Making it to graduation at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) isn’t just about studying hard and attending classes. Those things are crucial, to be sure, but there are other factors to life on campus that can cause you to struggle.

You have to know who to call if you need to miss class for a funeral. You have to know what to do about a roommate whose night terrors are causing you to lose sleep. You have to know where to go if you think you might have a learning disability. In short, you have to know how to navigate the university system.

Students are sometimes surprised by the idea that an attorney might be able to help them with academic progress issues. After all, you’re trying to raise your grade in class, not avoid a DUI. Lawyers know bureaucracy, though, and no lawyers in the country handle educational bureaucracy better than the ones at the LLF National Law Firm. Our Education Law Team has been doing this for many years. We know exactly who to call in every situation and exactly what to say. We also know some useful strategies for using the system to keep your GPA up.

If you’re struggling to meet Eastern Kentucky’s academic standing policy, don’t wait to see how far your grades might fall. Dial 888-535-3686 today to find out how we can help, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.

Academic Progression at Eastern Kentucky University

There are honors to be had at EKU if your GPA is high enough. You can earn a spot on the Dean’s list for a high-term GPA. If you manage to pull a 4.0 for a semester, the university will present you with the President’s Award. The minimum goal, though, should always be to remain in “good” standing. Good standing means you’re making steady progress toward your degree, and as long as you remain in good standing, you don’t have to worry about academic sanctions.

Here’s a rough outline of the entire EKU standing policy.

  • Good Standing: EKU uses a sliding scale to determine whether you’re in good standing or not. If you have fewer than 31 hours, good standing is defined as a cumulative GPA of 1.5 or above. Between 31 and 50 hours, you need a GPA of 1.8 or better. And if you’ve completed more than 50 hours, you need a GPA of 2.0 or better.
  • Academic Probation: When you fall out of good standing, your first stop is academic probation. While on probation, you are limited to no more than 15 hours a semester, and if you’re a freshman, you may be asked to complete a series of “intervention” tasks–webinars on time management, for instance, or one-day seminars on organizational skills. Your most important job, though, is to return to good standing. You can take as long as you need to do that, provided you earn at least a 2.0 every term.
  • Academic Suspension: If you continue to struggle academically while on probation, you are then subject to suspension. First suspensions last for at least one semester. Readmission is essentially automatic. Second suspensions last for a full year, and third suspensions last for two years.
  • Academic Dismissal: Should you reach the point of a fourth suspension, EKU will dismiss you permanently.

While returning to EKU following dismissal is fairly straightforward in terms of completing the clerical process, most students who are suspended never manage to complete their degrees. It is difficult to come back to school once you’ve been away for any length of time. You always want to avoid reaching the point of suspension if you possibly can.

Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions

If you’ve been placed on probation or suspended and you can point to extenuating circumstances as the cause of your academic deficiencies, you can petition the registrar’s office for more time to improve. Your Education Law Team attorney is familiar with this process and can help you with the paperwork. You should keep in mind, though, that EKU actually refers to these as “catastrophic circumstances,” suggesting you need a pretty compelling reason, and you’ll also need documented evidence to back up your claim.

In addition, there are some other ways to avoid academic sanctions that, while they aren’t necessarily the normal routes to a higher GPA, can be effective if you’re struggling.

  • Consistently low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. Your LLF National Law Firm attorney can help you get tested. If it turns out you have such a disability, you can retake courses with appropriate course accommodations.
  • Even if you don’t have a disability, you can retake courses for replacement credit. This can be a quick way to raise your GPA.
  • Low grades are sometimes the result of academic misconduct allegations. If your instructor believes you’ve cheated or committed some form of plagiarism, they can lower your grade on assignments or lower your course grade. You can appeal their decisions, though, to an Academic Integrity Committee.
  • You always have the right to fair treatment from instructors. If you feel an instructor is mistreating you or has some kind of bias against you, you should report this to the instructor’s department head as soon as possible. You may be entitled to some type of grade adjustment.
  • Some instructors are willing to assign extra credit and makeup work to students with borderline grades. In most cases, however, you have actually to ask for such opportunities.
  • Faculty are sometimes open to negotiating grades as well if you have a compelling argument. If, for instance, you’ve shown real progress during the semester, you might argue that improvement should be taken into account.

Coming up with an approach to salvaging your grades is only half the battle. You’ll also need help putting your plan into action. Your attorney can work with you whether you need to file a formal appeal, negotiate with a professor, or just figure out which office to call about a problem.

Of course, if you should find yourself suspended, your attorney can also help you put your readmission packet together. We know what committees expect in terms of evidence and how to make you look your very best on paper.

What Can the LLF National Law Firm Do For You?

Your Eastern Kentucky 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 LLF National 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.

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