We know what your first question is: how is a law firm supposed to help me with academic progression? It's a fair question. It's not as though you've been accused of shoplifting. You're worried about your grades. And it's true that the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can't take your exams for you or write your papers.
Here's the thing, though: college success is often as much about mastering the bureaucracy as it is about mastering quadratic equations. It turns out that no one knows more about dealing with bureaucracy than lawyers, and no one is better at dealing with educational bureaucracy than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. Our Education Law Team exists to help protect student rights and to make sure all students have the very best chance of earning their degrees and going on to successful careers.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Fordham University
The first thing you need to know is that academic progress is defined by a university's academic standing policy. Such policies set standards you must meet to remain in "good" standing, and they describe penalties you may face when you fall out of good standing. At Fordham, each individual college maintains its own policy. Most of them, though, resemble the policy of one of the larger undergraduate colleges, the Gabelli School of Business. Here's what that policy has to say.
- Good Standing: To remain in good standing, you need to keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0. Should it fall below this point, you're issued a sanction. The severity of the sanction depends on just how far your GPA falls and how many courses you've taken.
- Academic Probation: If your GPA has only slipped a bit, Fordham places you on academic probation. If you have seven semesters to graduation, you're placed on probation when your GPA is between 1.4 and 1.999. Every semester thereafter, the minimum GPA increases by .1 so that by the time you have two semesters until graduation, the minimum is 1.9. There are no special requirements while on probation other than to return to good standing. However, you can remain on probation for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
- Academic Suspension: Should your GPA fall even lower, you can be placed on suspension. Suspensions typically last for two full semesters. You must apply for readmission, and the university expects you to demonstrate your academic ability by earning strong grades at another four-year college or university during your suspension. As with probation, suspension is usually based on a sliding scale. First-semester students receive suspension for a GPA between 1.35 and 1.399. That bottom number rises by .1 each semester. Note that you can also be suspended for earning three failures in any one semester or for three consecutive semesters of probation.
- Academic dismissal: Finally, you can also be dismissed should your GPA fall far enough. For first-semester students, the danger zone is anything below 1.35, and that number rises by .1 each semester. Ordinarily, dismissal is final and permanent.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Fordham offers an appeals process for students who have reached the point of dismissal. Such appeals are based on extenuating circumstances, such as a long-term illness or a family emergency. You must file a written statement with the dean of your college, and you must include documentation of your circumstances.
If you've been dismissed or suspended from Fordham, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can work with you to file appeal paperwork. We know what the dean's office expects in terms of evidence, and we're experienced at drafting these documents. You want to act quickly, of course, since if you miss deadlines, you may not have another chance to file.
It's no easy task winning an appeal, though. You're always better off avoiding suspension and dismissal in the first place if you possibly can. As it turns out, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can also help you keep your grades up so that you avoid these harsh sanctions altogether.
- You are always entitled to fair, unbiased treatment in the classroom. If you feel that an instructor is mistreating you in any way, you should report this immediately to your instructor's department head. You may be entitled to some form of grade improvement.
- You're also entitled to file a grade grievance simply because you think you deserve a better grade. Your Lento Law Firm attorney can help you draft the paperwork and make sure you are treated fairly during the process.
- If you consistently struggle to keep your grades up, you may have a learning disability. Your Lento Law Firm attorney can work with you to get tested. If it turns out you do have ADD, ADHD, or some other condition, we can also talk with Fordham about dropping low grades from your GPA. Then, you can retake those courses for replacement credit.
- Your Lento Law Firm attorney can also help with academic misconduct allegations. If an instructor believes you've cheated or committed some type of plagiarism, they can lower your grade on the assignment or lower your grade in the course. You have the right to challenge your instructor's decisions to the Academic Integrity Committee, though, and your Lento Law Firm attorney can help.
- Some faculty are willing to assign makeup and extra credit work, especially to students with borderline grades. One additional lab assignment could be all you need to raise your grade and, thus, your GPA.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to negotiate grades for other reasons. If, for instance, you've shown real improvement over the course of the semester, you might argue that this improvement should carry some weight in your final grade.
Earlier, we asked what we can do for you. We genuinely want you to answer that question for yourself. Every student's situation is different. The issues that are holding you back are specific to you. You can count on your Lento Law Firm attorney, though, to know all the possibilities, to work with you to come up with a plan and to stand beside you while you put that plan into action. We're committed to your success, and we'll do what it takes to make sure you're treated fairly.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your Fordham University 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.
