Students sometimes start college thinking it will be like high school. It's not. Generally speaking, courses are tougher and professors expect more of you than even the most demanding high school teachers. By far, the biggest difference, though, is that you're on your own now. There's no one to make sure you get up in the morning, no one to insist you do your homework before bed, and no one to do your laundry. The bottom line is, learning to adult adds a significant degree of difficulty to your college years.
You shouldn't be surprised, then, if you have a semester or two when everything just seems to go wrong. You don't make it to class as often as you should; you can't seem to find the time to study; your grades slip. It happens to the best students. The real trick is learning how to deal with it when it does.
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are here to help. They are committed to the idea that you deserve an education, and they're ready to do whatever it takes to make sure you get it. What can an attorney do to help you with academics? We'll get into that. For now, it's enough to know that Joseph D. Lento and his team are on your side. They know how Florida International University operates, and they're ready to put that knowledge to work for you.
Academic Progression at the University of Florida International
Like all other colleges and universities, FIU measures academic progress using a standing policy. Your goal is to stay in “good” standing. At FIU, that means maintaining a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Should your grades falter, you face a progressive series of consequences.
- Academic Warning: The first thing that happens when your GPA falls below that 2.0 mark is that you're issued an Academic Warning. For the most part, a warning isn't a huge problem. So long as you improve during your warning semester, you return to good standing.
- Academic Probation: Should your GPA remain low, however, you are then placed on Academic Probation. This is a more serious classification. Your school or college may even issue specific requirements you must complete before you are allowed to register for the next term. Here again, though, you can weather Probation and return to good standing once you've raised your cumulative GPA. In fact, you can remain on Probation as long as you need to, so long as you earn at least a 2.0 term GPA.
- Academic Dismissal: If your term GPA should fall below 2.0 while you're on Probation, though, you are then subject to complete dismissal from the university. You can gain readmission following dismissal. However, you must remain away from FIU for at least one academic year. In addition, you must complete a lengthy application process. And, perhaps most importantly, Academic Dismissal is noted on your transcript. That can cause you problems when it comes time to look for a job.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
While you can appeal a dismissal, Florida International University offers no formal means of challenging a dismissal—preventing it before it happens.
This doesn't mean there aren't ways of dealing with dismissal and lesser sanctions as well. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know FIU's system inside and out, including a number of informal strategies for improving your standing.
- If you're facing extenuating circumstances, such as a long-term illness, you can appeal directly to your school or college dean. Often you may be able to get more time to improve.
- If you're suffering mistreatment in the classroom, you can and should bring this to the attention of your instructor's department head. Mistreatment can be grounds for a grade revision.
- If you discover at some point that you have an undiagnosed learning disability, you can ask the school to set aside your low course grades and allow you to retake those courses without penalty.
- Some low grades are the result of academic misconduct allegations. If your instructor believes you've plagiarized part of a paper, for instance, they have the authority to lower your course grade. However, you have the right to challenge their decisions to the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Director.
- Faculty are sometimes willing to assign makeup or extra credit work, especially if your grade is already borderline. This can be a quick way to raise your GPA.
- Some faculty are also willing to negotiate grades if you have a strong argument. For instance, a high final exam score may indicate you mastered the course material enough to pass, even if your other grades don't reflect this.
You can trust Joseph D. Lento and his team to know all the options open to you. Not only can they help you develop a plan for moving forward, but they can work with you to put that plan into action, whether that means collecting evidence of your academic abilities, drafting paperwork for an appeal, or coaching you in negotiation tactics.
Of course, should you find yourself dismissed, Joseph D. Lento and his team can also work with you to submit a formal readmission appeal. They know what arguments are most effective with admission committees and can ensure you look your best on paper.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
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 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.
