You worked hard to get into LSU. If there was any justice in the world, you could relax now, take classes at your own pace, and never have to worry about grades. Unfortunately, things don't work that way. Classes only get harder from here on out, and teachers are more demanding. Plus, you're on your own now. No one's around to get you out of bed in the morning or to ground you if you don't study. You're facing a higher degree of difficulty, and you're working without a net for the first time.
You wouldn't be the first student to struggle to make good grades. It happens to almost everyone. Your goal should be to make sure that when you do struggle, it doesn't cost you your chance at a degree.
That's where the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team comes in. We're not going to call you every morning to wake you up. And we don't have any authority to ground you. What we can do, though, is help guide you through the LSU system and work with you to navigate the bureaucracy. We've helped hundreds of students salvage their college careers. We know all the strategies for success, and we're ready to put what we know to work for you.
Academic Progression at LSU
Colleges and universities define academic progress in their Academic Standing policies. These policies define the minimum standards you need in order to move forward at a steady pace. LSU's policy has two basic components. To remain in “Good” standing, you must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. If your grades should fall below that number, you're then subject to sanctions based on Quality Points (QP). In simple terms, Quality Points correspond to just how far your grades have dropped and how much work it will require to return to Good standing.
- Academic Warning: Issued any time your QP are between 1 and 9.9.
- Academic Probation: Issued when your QP are greater than 10.
Finally, should you fail to earn a 2.0 term GPA while on probation, you are then subject to Scholastic Drop. This means separation from the university for a period of at least one fall or spring semester. A second drop requires you to apply for readmission, and your return is not guaranteed.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
LSU doesn't offer any formal processes for challenging an academic sanction. Basically, the grades you earn are the grades you earn, and should your GPA fall, sanctions are automatic.
That doesn't mean you have no options if you're struggling to meet Standing requirements. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of useful ways to respond to the threat of academic sanctions.
- If you've experienced extenuating circumstances, such as a long-term illness or a death in the family, you may be eligible for more time to improve. You can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college.
- LSU allows you to retake up to three courses for “replacement” credit. Changing one failing grade to an A or B can make a huge difference to your GPA.
- If you consistently struggle to pass your courses, you should consider visiting Disability Services. It could be you have an undiagnosed learning disability. This could entitle you to course accommodations such as a note-taker or extra time to complete assignments. In addition, you can petition the school to drop your lowest grades and allow you to retake those courses with accommodations in place.
- Some low grades are the result of academic misconduct allegations. Your instructors have the power to accuse you, decide whether or not you're guilty, and assign sanctions. Penalties can include lowered grades on assignments or lowered course grades. Your instructor can even decide to fail you entirely. However, you can have the right to appeal these decisions to a University Hearing Panel.
- It is always worth asking an instructor for extra credit or makeup assignments, especially if your grade is already borderline. An essay rewrite, or an extra lab assignment might be enough to bring your GPA up.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to negotiate grades. If you approach an instructor after the semester is over, they may see something in your work that they missed before.
- You should never suffer unfair treatment in the classroom. If you've been mistreated, you can report it to your instructor's department head or, failing that, the dean of your school or college. You may be entitled to a grade appeal.
Every situation is different, and one of the challenges of dealing with an academic progress issue is knowing which strategy is most likely to help. The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm will work with you to understand the problem, come up with a solution, and put that solution into action.
And, if the worst should happen and you should be dropped from LSU, the Lento Law Firm's attorneys are highly experienced at filing readmission petitions. They know exactly what committees look for in these petitions and how to make you look your best on paper.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Students sometimes ask: how exactly is an attorney supposed to help me with academic issues? It's a fair question. 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.
As the information on this page suggests, though, succeeding in college is often as much about dealing with bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about how to handle educational bureaucracy than the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The Lento Law Firm is 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 888-535-3686, or use our automated online form.
