College isn't like high school. Yes, both involve taking classes, but that's pretty much where the similarities end. University classes are typically much tougher, and professors can make even the strictest high school teachers seem like sweethearts. One more thing: you don't do a lot of adulting in high school. You're on your own now. You have to get yourself out of bed every morning; you have to force yourself to study every night. No wonder, then, that lots of students' grades slip during their first few semesters at college.
If it's happened to you, you can't afford to take a wait-and-see attitude. Another difference from high school? A low GPA can get you sanctions: Probation, Suspension, and even Dismissal.
The moment you feel yourself struggling, you need to contact the Lento Law Firm. Our Education Law Team understands the difficulties of college, and we know all the tips and tricks for making it through successfully. We know the law, but more importantly, we know how the Middle Tennessee system works. We know who to talk to when you have a problem, what to say, and even how to say it.
Call 888-535-3686 to find out what we can do for you, or fill out our online form.
Academic Progression at Middle Tennessee State University
Your high school kept track of your grades, but not like MTSU does. Your high school could make you repeat a course, but it couldn't just kick you out for low grades.
The university expects you to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average and to earn a minimum GPA each semester. To remain in Good standing, you need a 2.0 each and every term. In addition, you need to keep your overall GPA above a cutoff level that's based on how many hours you've completed.
- 0-29 hours: You need a 1.5
- 30-49 hours: You need a 1.8
- Over 50 hours: You need a 2.0
The good news is that you're not automatically dismissed if you fall below these numbers. There are consequences, though.
- Academic Probation: The first consequence of a low GPA is Probation. This means just what it sounds like—it's a warning designed to let you know that you can face worse sanctions if you can't raise your grades. That should be your first priority. There are no extra hoops to jump through: no special courses to take or webinars to complete. Your only job is to return to Good standing. However, you have just one semester in which to do that.
- Academic Suspension: If at the end of a probation semester you haven't returned to Good standing, Middle Tennessee then suspends you. First Suspensions last for a minimum of one fall or spring semester. Second Suspensions last for a full year. Any additional Suspensions raise the possibility that you will be dismissed entirely from the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Middle Tennessee offers an option for appealing an Academic Suspension. A successful appeal means immediate reinstatement, and you can avoid any interruption in your studies. These appeals are generally based on extenuating circumstances. If, for instance, you can show that you suffered from a serious depression the previous semester or if you were dealing with a family emergency of some sort, you may be able to get additional time to bring your grades up.
The Lento Law Firm has helped hundreds of students appeal their academic standing. You can trust us to know what appeals committees are looking for and to help you draft documents that put you in your very best light.
What do you do if you can't point to extenuating circumstances as the cause of your deficiencies? For that matter, what do you do if you're just trying to avoid Probation? It turns out there are also some informal ways to deal with the threat of academic sanctions.
- Low grades can be a sign of an underlying and untreated problem: a learning disability. MTSU's Disability Services can help you get diagnosed. And if you do have a disability like ADD or dyslexia, you can petition the university to drop low grades from your transcript. Then, you can retake those courses with appropriate accommodations in place.
- Any time you feel an instructor is treating you unfairly, you should report that to your instructor's department head. You may deserve a higher grade or at least the opportunity to appeal your grade.
- Your grades could also be low as a result of academic misconduct allegations. Your instructors have broad authority to accuse you of cheating and plagiarism and to assign sanctions like points off of an assignment or a lower course grade. However, you can challenge these decisions to the university's Academic Integrity Committee.
- One of the easiest ways to bring grades up is to ask for extra credit or makeup assignments. Not every instructor is open to such assignments. If yours is, though, an extra lab assignment could be all you need to avoid Probation or Suspension.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to negotiate grades along other lines as well. For example, even if you technically failed a course, you might ask the instructor to pass you on the basis of improvement over the course of the semester.
Here again, you can count on the Lento Law Firm to know all the strategies available to you. We'll sit down with you and go over your situation before suggesting a plan of action. Then, we'll work with you to put that plan into effect, whether that means drafting a formal appeal or coaching you on how to negotiate with professors.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your Middle Tennessee Stat 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 automated online form.
