We know what you're thinking. You're struggling to meet Montana State's academic progression requirements. Somehow or other, you found yourself here, but now you're wondering exactly how an attorney is supposed to help you with your grade point. You might be surprised.
The thing is, college success can be as much about learning to navigate the university system as it is about learning the Periodic Table. Do you know how to deal with a professor who just doesn't seem to like you? Do you know who to call when you have to miss class to deal with a family emergency? Do you know how to appeal a grade?
We do.
It turns out that attorneys know an awful lot about how to deal with bureaucracy, and the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are particularly focused on educational bureaucracies like the one at MSU. What can our Education Law Team do for you? The possibilities are endless. Call 888-535-3686 to find out more, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Montana State University
If no one has talked to you yet about MSU's academic standing policy, it's time you learned about it. Academic standing policies define what constitutes adequate progress toward your degree. They also set specific penalties for any student failing to make that progress. Here's what the policy at MSU has to say.
- Good Standing: This is where you want to be, and when you're not here, it's where you want to get back to. Good standing means a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above. You can earn additional honors for higher grades, such as inclusion on the Dean's List. Falling out of good standing, though, brings negative consequences.
- Academic Warning: The first consequence of a GPA below 2.0 is academic warning. This is just what it sounds like a warning that you need to improve. A warning doesn't come with any additional requirements. You don't have to sign up for a study skills course or take a time management seminar, though the university offers those. You can also remain on warning status as long as it takes you to return to good standing, as long as you keep your term GPA above 2.0.
- Academic Suspension: If you continue to struggle after receiving a warning and your term GPA falls below 2.0, MSU then suspends you from the university. First suspensions last for a minimum of one semester. If you're suspended after a fall semester, you must sit out during the spring, but you may take classes again beginning the following summer. If you are suspended after the spring semester, you must sit out both the summer and fall terms. Second suspensions last for a full academic year.
You can return to MSU following a first or second suspension by undertaking a formal appeal. The university makes no mention of third suspensions, however, which suggests that at such point, you would face complete dismissal.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Montana State also allows you to file an immediate appeal if you've been suspended. If you can demonstrate that your deficiencies were caused by extenuating circumstances, such as a serious bout of depression or a long-term illness, you can receive additional time on warning status.
Certainly, if this is the situation you find yourself in, the Lento Law Firm attorney can help you file your appeal. We know what counts as the best evidence and how to put forward compelling arguments.
Even if you don't have an obvious excuse for your low GPA, we can still help. We've been working with students long enough to have learned all the tips and tricks for avoiding serious academic sanctions. For instance,
- You might want to consider getting tested for a learning disability. Conditions like ADD and ADHD can do serious damage to a GPA. If you have such a disability, you are entitled to course accommodations, at least in some classes. You can also ask MSU to drop low grades from your transcript and allow you to retake those courses once the playing field has been leveled.
- If your instructors decide you've committed academic misconduct of some sort, they have the authority to lower your grades on assignments or lower your grade in the course. They can even fail you outright. That, too, can hurt your GPA. You have the right to appeal their decisions, however, to the University Student Conduct Board.
- You always have the right to fair treatment in the classroom. Any time you feel an instructor is mistreating you, you should report that to the instructor's department head. At a minimum, you are entitled to appeal your grade.
- Faculty are sometimes open to the possibility of assigning makeup or extra credit work. You may need to take an Incomplete while you finish this work, but an "I" doesn't count against your GPA the way a "D" or an "F" does.
- You can try negotiating with faculty for higher grades if you feel you have a compelling argument. Maybe you missed some class, and your grade suffered, but all of the work you turned in was strong. You might have an argument for dropping unfinished work from your course average.
The Lento Law Firm attorney won't just help you come up with the best plan for avoiding a sanction. They'll also work with you to implement that plan. They can coach you in negotiating with faculty, draft formal appeals on your behalf, support an appeal to the Conduct Board, or simply help you figure out which offices to contact and what to say. They're on your side and committed to your success.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your Montana State 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. To find out what we can do for you, call us today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
