When most people hear the word "attorney," they think of defense attorneys like Perry Mason or Matlock, or maybe they think of prosecuting attorneys like those on Law and Order. Their image is one of someone in a courtroom making motions to a judge, cross-examining witnesses, or offering summations to a jury. If that's how you think of lawyers, the idea that one might be able to help you with academic progress issues at East Coast Polytechnic Institute And University (ECPI) might seem odd.
The reality is attorneys perform a wide range of functions and, as unlikely as it might seem, they can help you improve your GPA and avoid academic sanctions.
Here's how.
Attorneys are particularly adept at dealing with bureaucracy. Colleges and universities like ECPI are enormous bureaucratic systems, and understanding how to navigate them can make a huge difference to your grades. Do you know what counts as a legitimate excuse for missing an exam? Do you know who to talk to if you can't seem to get along with an instructor? And what do you do if you think you might have a learning disability?
The attorneys who make up the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team know the answers to these and any other questions you might have about the ECPI system. And when they don't know the answers, they know exactly how to get the answers.
If you're struggling to meet ECPI's academic progress standards, you owe it to yourself to find out exactly what the Lento Law Firm can do. Call 888-535-3686 today, or take a little time now and tell us what kind of problem you're facing.
Academic Progress Standards at ECPI
ECPI's academic standing policy can seem a little complex, especially if you're new to the university. Like most schools' policies, there's a GPA component. However, ECPI adds an incremental completion rate requirement and a maximum hours limitation. Here are the important points you need to know.
- Satisfactory Progress: To make satisfactory progress, you need to meet three specific criteria. First, you must keep your cumulative GPA above 2.0. Second, you must complete at least 67 percent of all the courses you attempt. "Completion," in this case, means finishing the course and earning a passing grade. Failures and withdrawals both count against this percentage. Finally, you must complete your degree within 150 percent of the published hours necessary for that degree.
- Freshmen Exceptions: During your first three semesters at ECPI, these criteria are lowered to give you time to adjust to life at college. You still face consequences, though, if your grades are low enough.
- Academic Appeals: If you fail to meet the first two criteria for academic progress, ECPI dismisses you from the university. However, you can appeal the dismissal to the Academic Review Board (ARB). Successful appeals mean an additional semester on probationary status. Note that dismissals for failure to complete your degree in a timely manner are not appealable since this is not a reversible condition.
- Academic Probation: Probation lasts for just one semester. Your goal is to meet the necessary criteria for satisfactory progress.
- Academic Dismissal: If your GPA remains below 2.0 after a probationary semester or your incremental completion percentage remains below 67, you then face dismissal from the university. Dismissals last for at least one full year. You must apply for reinstatement, and your return to ECPI is not guaranteed.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
ECPI's standing policy is unusually strict, both because it requires you to meet multiple criteria and because you must recover so quickly if you are struggling.
However, Lento Law Firm attorneys know a number of strategies, some formal, some informal, for keeping yourself out of danger. For instance,
- If you are dealing with extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a family emergency, you can appeal to the ARB for more time on probation. The Lento Law Firm attorney can help you gather evidence of these circumstances and work with you to draft the appeal itself.
- You should never suffer mistreatment in the classroom. Any time you feel an instructor is treating you unfairly, you should report this to the instructor's department head.
- If you find yourself struggling in multiple courses, it could be you suffer from an undiagnosed learning disability. Under the law, you have the right to testing, to certain classroom accommodations, and to ask the ECPI to let you retake courses for replacement grades.
- Cheating and plagiarism allegations can also lead to lower grades. If an instructor has accused you of misconduct, you have the right to appeal their decisions. Even if you accept responsibility for an offense, you may be able to appeal the severity of the sanction.
- You can sometimes negotiate directly with instructors for higher grades. If, for instance, your grade on the cumulative final exam was particularly high, you might ask your instructor to use this as your course grade.
- You can also simply ask for extra credit or makeup work. Some instructors will say no, but usually enough will say yes to keep your GPA healthy.
You can count on the Lento Law Firm to identify the solution that's going to work best in your specific situation and to work with you to implement that solution.
Of course, if you should find yourself dismissed, the Lento Law Firm attorneys are also experienced at filing reinstatement petitions. We know exactly what the ARB looks for in these appeals and can make sure you look your very best on paper.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your ECPI 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 Lento 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.
