George Washington University has a stellar reputation as an institution of higher learning. You probably won't be surprised to learn, then, that it has high standards when it comes to academics. You already experienced that when you applied to get in. It's just as true when it comes to making it through four years and graduating with your degree.
Here's the thing: we all make mistakes, even bright students at George Washington University. Maybe astronomy makes your head spin. Maybe you're just not a fan of Shakespeare. You find yourself struggling, and the next thing you know, you're worried about making it to the next semester, let alone making it to the end of four years.
Joseph D. Lento wants to make sure you do. Joseph D. Lento is a National Student Conduct attorney-advisor. You might ask yourself, how is an attorney supposed to help you make it through school? The fact is, many problems in college are as much about bureaucracy as they are about academics. No one handles bureaucracy better than lawyers, and no one handles university bureaucracy better than Joseph. D. Lento.
Academic Progression Requirements at George Washington University
Academic progression at GWU is based entirely on grade point average. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to remain in “good standing.” Anything below that number, and you are immediately placed on probationary status.
While on probationary status, you must fulfill probation requirements as set by your school or college in order to return to good standing. For example, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences requires students on probation to complete an Academic Success Program, consisting of extra assignments that ask you to reflect on your past, present, and future academic work.
Should you fail to complete these probation requirements or should you fail to raise your term and cumulative GPAs to 2.0, you are subject to suspension from the university. You can also be suspended for earning less than a 1.0 in any semester, for completing two successive semesters with term and cumulative GPAs below 2.0, or for accumulating any three semesters at GWU with less than a 2.0 term and cumulative GPA.
Suspension typically lasts for just one semester. In order to be readmitted to GWU, however, you must earn at least 12 credits from another college or university, and you must demonstrate “a likelihood of future academic success at the university.” Of course, should you continue to struggle, you are ultimately subject to permanent dismissal.
Fighting Dismissal
George Washington University offers no formal procedures for challenging dismissal due to academic deficiencies. That's because such dismissals aren't generally subject to debate but are instead a matter of numbers. If your GPA is too low, probation or dismissal is essentially automatic.
That does not mean, however, that there are no ways to deal with the threat of dismissal.
- If, for example, you have extenuating circumstances—a family situation or a medical emergency—that have prevented you from meeting academic standards, you can appeal to the dean of your college for additional time on probation.
- If you've been subject to unfair treatment in a given class, you can appeal to the head of the department that houses that class or to the school's dean and argue that you deserve a higher grade.
- Sometimes a course grade may simply be the result of a mathematical error. You always have the right to ask a professor to recalculate your scores.
- Instructors can sometimes be convinced to reconsider the quality of your work or to consider your progress over the course of a semester and revise your grade.
- Some instructors are open to the possibility of extra credit or makeup work. In such cases, they may be willing to assign you an Incomplete while you finish assignments.
Your advisor at GWU may not take the time to explain all these options to you. Joseph D. Lento will. In addition, he can help you decide which is most likely to work in your particular situation and help you to pursue it. He can, for example, coach you on how to negotiate with professors or help you gather evidence to help support your case.
SAP Requirements
If you receive any sort of federal financial aid at George Washington University, you need to know about another set of academic requirements, known as SAP or Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. In simple terms, these are standards put in place to assure the federal government that students are actually making progress toward their degrees and not simply taking advantage of the aid system.
As with academic standing requirements, GWU's SAP policy requires students to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. In addition, however, you must complete at least 75 percent of the credit hours you attempt, and you must complete your degree within 150 percent of the published length of your degree program.
The Office of Financial Assistance evaluates your progress at the end of each semester, and failure to meet any one of these three standards means you are placed under financial aid warning. Failure to meet standards while under warning means the immediate loss of any federal funding.
You can also appeal the loss of aid if you believe mitigating circumstances caused you to struggle academically. A successful appeal means one additional semester of probation.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Many students assume that once they get to college, they're supposed to handle all their own problems by themselves. After all, you're supposed to be “adulting” now, right? They may not know how to go about fighting a dismissal decision, and so when they get that letter telling them they've been dropped from the university, they just accept it.
You know better. You know there are many ways to salvage your academic career, even if you've made some mistakes. More importantly, you know you don't have to handle this situation all on your own. There's help available to you.
Joseph D. Lento knows how the University system operates. He knows the processes and procedures, and he knows how to use them to your best advantage. Whether you're trying to satisfy probation requirements, facing dismissal, or working to be readmitted, Joseph D. Lento is on your side and ready to do what it takes to keep your future bright.
To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
