Getting into college is an impressive achievement. It speaks not only to your smarts but also to your discipline and hard work.
If you want to earn your degree, though, you're going to need more of all of that. It turns out getting in is only half the battle. Miami Dade College doesn't just give diplomas away. Courses can be tough, and professors can be demanding.
You don't have to fight that battle all on your own, though. If you're struggling to meet Miami Dade's academic progression requirements, if you're mired in bureaucracy and not sure who to talk to to get some relief, Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can help. What can they do? They know the Miami Dade system backwards and forwards. They not only know who to talk to when you're in trouble but what to say. No matter what your situation, they can help you come up with a plan to salvage your academic future and work with you to put that plan into action.
You have to take the first step, though. You have to recognize you're struggling, and you have to reach out to Joseph D. Lento and his team and ask just what they can do for you.
Academic Progression at the University of Miami Dade College
Academic progress at Miami Dade is defined by the school's academic standing policy. This policy sets the minimum requirements for success and describes what penalties you'll face if you're not meeting those requirements.
In simple, concrete terms, that policy states that you must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in order to remain in “good” standing. Fall below that threshold, and things can get complicated fast.
- Academic Warning/ Probation/ Suspension Warning: Should your cumulative GPA fall below 2.0, you'll receive either an Academic Warning, Probation, or a Suspension Warning, depending on how many hours you've completed. As part of this designation, you'll be required to meet with an advisor before you register for classes. In addition, you may be asked to complete a learning styles assessment or to enroll in a Student Life Skills course.
- Academic Suspension: If you are on Warning, Probation, or Suspension Warning status and you've earned more than 46 hours, you can be suspended if your GPA remains below 2.0. You can also be suspended for earning below a 1.5 if you have fewer than 46 hours. Suspensions generally last for at least one semester, and you must go through an appeals process before you can return.
- Extended Academic Probation: Should you return to Miami Dade after a Suspension, you are placed on Extended Academic Probation. You may continue to enroll in courses, so long as your term GPA is above 2.0.
- Academic Dismissal: Finally, should your term GPA fall below 2.0 while you are on Extended Academic Probation, you are dismissed from the college entirely.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Appealing a suspension requires you to submit documentation that reflects a change in your circumstances to the Director of Achievement at your home campus. In addition, you must meet with an advisor and complete an Academic Improvement Plan.
You can also appeal a dismissal, in this case to the Dean of Students. You should know, however, that appeals are not granted automatically, and should yours be rejected, your suspension or dismissal becomes permanent.
There are other, less formal ways of dealing with academic sanctions as well, and sometimes these can be more effective than filling a formal appeal. For one thing, you can use these strategies for lower-level sanctions like warnings and probation. For another, they don't usually require you to file any paperwork.
- If your low grades are the result of extenuating circumstances—an illness, for instance, or a family emergency—you can appeal directly to the Dean of Students for more time to improve.
- If you should discover you have a learning disability, let the Office of Disability Services know. You may be entitled to retake some courses with accommodations.
- If you've been accused of academic misconduct, you can appeal your instructor's decisions to an Academic Hearing Committee.
- Some faculty are willing to assign extra credit or makeup work. If your grade is already borderline, this can sometimes be the quickest way to raise your GPA.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to negotiate grades. If your final exam score was especially high, for example, you might try arguing that you deserve that grade as your course grade.
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know all the many options open to you, and they can help you choose one that's ideally suited to your particular situation. That's not all they do, though. They can work with you to gather evidence, help you draft appeals, and even coach you in the art of negotiation if that's what you need.
Of course, if you should wind up suspended or dismissed, Joseph D. Lento and his team are also well-versed in the formal appeals process.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor for Miami Dade Students
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.
