Going to class and studying are essential to college success. It helps to visit professors during their office hours once in a while. It's never a bad idea to join a study group in subjects when you're struggling or to book time in the writing center to help improve your essays.
You may not have considered just how important it is to master the SCAD “system.” Think about it, though. If you run into an instructor who won't let you make up an exam just because you've got the flu, your grade is going to be hit unless you know an administrator who can fix the problem. Likewise, it's important to know who to talk to when you think you might have a learning disability. And what do you do if you need to miss an important lecture to attend a funeral?
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm have the answer to all these questions. Our Education Law Team is focused on student success. We're experienced at cutting through educational red tape, and we can show you how to use the otherwise maddening bureaucracy of SCAD actually to raise your GPA.
Want to know more? Call 888-535-3686 today, or take a little time now and tell us what kind of problem you're facing.
Academic Progress Standards at the Savannah College of Art and Design
All right, so you're an artist. Maybe a brilliant one. Grades still matter. It turns out that SCAD has an academic standing policy, just like all other colleges and universities. That policy sets strict GPA standards. It also contains a list of penalties you face any time you're not meeting those standards.
- Good Standing: The basic goal at SCAD is to remain in good standing. Obviously, you can earn honors like the Dean's List when you're doing especially well, but good standing means you're making steady progress toward your degree. SCAD defines good standing as a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
- Academic Warning: Most of us encounter those semesters every once in a while where we just struggle for one reason or another. Maybe we can't get along with the professor. Maybe math just feels like a foreign language. The first time this happens, the first time your term GPA falls below 2.0, you're issued an academic warning. This is just what it sounds like. SCAD wants you to know you're struggling and you can face worse consequences if you can't improve.
- Academic Probation: When you can't improve and fail to reach the 2.0 mark for two consecutive terms, SCAD places you on academic probation. At this point, you're issued a probation letter with specific conditions you must meet in order to return to good standing. You are also required to meet with an advisor, and you are barred from withdrawing from any course.
- Academic Suspension: Three consecutive terms with a GPA under 2.0 means suspension. Suspensions last for a full year. You must petition the college for readmission, and your return is not guaranteed.
- Academic Dismissal: Finally, should you return from suspension and continue to struggle, you can also face outright dismissal—permanent separation from SCAD.
Dealing With Academic Sanction
If you've been suspended from SCAD, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help to get you back on track. Your petition is a crucial part of your return. You must offer some justification to the college for why you can succeed academically if you're allowed to register for class again. You may also need to provide some concrete evidence in the form of counseling, tutoring, medical treatment, or a record of success at another school.
We know exactly what makes for the best evidence, and we can help you draft a petition that puts you in the very best light.
You don't have to reach the point of suspension or dismissal, though, to make use of the Lento Law Firm. It turns out we also know a number of valuable strategies for keeping you out of academic trouble in the first place. For instance,
- Extenuating circumstances can be grounds for additional time to improve. If you've suffered from a serious bout of depression, for example, or a long-term illness, you should contact the dean's office and let them know what's going on.
- If you struggle in all or most of your classes, it could be you have a learning disability. Disability Services can get you tested and make sure you have the right course accommodations. You can also ask SCAD to drop low grades from your GPA, helping you avoid sanctions. Then, you can retake those courses once accommodations are in place.
- If you've been accused of academic misconduct like cheating or plagiarism, your instructor may have lowered your grade on an assignment or lowered your course grade. If you're innocent, you can appeal to SCAD's academic appeals committee. Even if you are guilty of the offense, it may be worth filing an appeal if you feel the sanction is too severe.
- Some faculty are open to direct grade negotiation. If, for instance, your final exam grade is especially high, you might try asking an instructor to use it as your course grade.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to assign makeup and extra credit work, especially to students with borderline grades. It could be that an extra lab assignment or a paper rewrite is enough to raise your course grade.
The first thing your Lento Law Firm attorney will do when you contact them is to go over your entire situation. They'll come up with a solution that is tailor-made for you. Then, they'll work with you to implement that solution, whether that means helping you draft an appeal, coaching you in the art of negotiation, or simply figuring out which office you need to contact.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your SCAD diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It's your avenue to a successful career. If it's under threat for any reason, you can't afford to try and handle the problem by yourself. College 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 progress 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 online form.
