Most students struggle with their grades at some point during their college career. Your GPA isn't always about how bright and hard-working you are. In fact, your academic progress issues could have absolutely nothing to do with how hard you study or how early you start working on papers and projects.
Maybe you run into an instructor who just doesn't seem to like you. Maybe you have to miss class as a result of a serious illness. Maybe you've got a learning disability and don't know it.
Whatever your particular situation, the Lento Law Firm can help. Yep, you read that right—a law firm. Here's the thing: St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is essentially one giant bureaucracy, and if you want to succeed here, you need to learn how to navigate the system. No one understands bureaucracy better than attorneys. No one is better at handling educational bureaucracy than the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team. We know how SCSU operates. We know how to use the system to your advantage.
The only question is, what can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 today to find out, or take a little time now and tell us what kind of problem you're facing.
Academic Progress Standards at St. Cloud State University
Let's start with the basics. What does “academic progress” actually mean at SCSU? Yes, you need to earn enough credits to graduate. Of course, you want to keep your GPA as high as possible. In a concrete sense, though, what's required to hold on to your spot at the university and earn your diploma?
It turns out, SCSU maintains a clear academic standing policy, and this policy tells you everything you need to know.
- Good Standing: In simple terms, this means you're making sufficient academic progress toward your degree. You don't have to worry about red tape. You don't have to worry about suspension. If your total hours remain below 45, you need a minimum 1.75 grade point average to earn good standing. If your total hours are above that number, you need a 2.0. In either case, you also need to keep your course completion percentage above 66 percent. Dropped courses count against this percentage, as do failed courses.
- Academic Warning: Should you fail to meet either good standing criteria, SCSU issues you an academic warning. As part of the warning status, you are required to meet with an advisor and discuss ways to improve your academic success. You have just one semester to return to good standing.
- Academic Suspension: If you have not returned to good standing after a semester on warning status, SCSU then suspends you entirely from taking courses. First suspensions last for at least one semester (Fall or Spring). Second and third suspensions last for a full year.
- Academic Probation: Return from your first three semesters is automatic. When you return, the university places you on academic probation. You may remain on probation as long as it takes to return to good standing, provided you show academic improvement every semester.
- Academic Dismissal: While SCSU is relatively liberal about allowing students to return, there is a limit to that liberality. After a third suspension, you must earn a minimum 2.3 semester GPA every semester and complete every course you attempt until you've returned to good standing. Otherwise, you are permanently dismissed from the university.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
You know exactly what you're facing—exactly what's expected of you. What do you do when you aren't meeting those expectations, though?
If your academic deficiencies are related to extenuating circumstances, you can appeal a suspension and earn immediate reinstatement on probationary status. This might include anything from a serious bout of depression to a family emergency. You must be able to provide documentary evidence of your circumstances, though, as well as a clear explanation of how you were affected and how you plan to improve going forward.
If you're planning to file an official appeal, the Lento Law Firm can help you gather evidence and draft your appeal. We've helped hundreds of students through this process.
You don't have to be facing suspension, though, to get help with your GPA. The Lento Law Firm attorneys know a number of ways to keep your grades up and avoid an academic sanction in the first place.
- You always have the right to fair treatment in the classroom. If you feel an instructor is mistreating you, deliberately or otherwise, you should report this immediately to your instructor's department head. This will lay the groundwork if you need to file a grade appeal.
- Consistently low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. It might be worth visiting with Disability Services. They can help you get tested. If you do have a disability, you may be entitled to course accommodations, like access to special technology or extra time to complete assignments. You can also ask the university to set aside your low grades until you can retake courses with accommodations in place.
- Cheating and plagiarism can be grounds for an instructor to lower your grades, and if you don't challenge their decisions, those low grades can drag down your GPA. However, you have the right to appeal allegations to your college's Academic Integrity Committee.
- Some faculty are willing to negotiate grades if you have a compelling argument. If, for example, you did especially well on your final exam, you might try asking an instructor to use that as your course grade.
- You always have the right to ask for makeup or extra credit work. Not every instructor will be receptive to these requests, but it doesn't hurt to ask, and it could be that one extra lab assignment is enough to keep your GPA out of the danger zone.
The Lento Law Firm attorney will go over your entire situation with you. They'll help you come up with a workable plan, and they'll stay beside you while you implement that plan.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your Saint Cloud 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 for any reason, 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 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.
