There are lots of ways to define college success. You came to St. John's to find out more about yourself, and it's important you explore your independence. You want to get to know people and develop a core group of friends you can rely on. You need to figure out how to set your own boundaries and make your own decisions.
The bottom line, though, is that you're here to earn a degree. That means going to class, studying, taking exams, and writing papers. It means earning good grades and keeping your GPA up.
Of course, maintaining a high GPA is sometimes easier said than done. You have a lot on your mind, and let's face it, learning how to become an adult is no simple matter. You certainly wouldn't be the first student to struggle with your coursework. What do you do when it happens, though? What do you do when your grades slip a little or more than a little?
You contact the Lento Law Firm. Our Education Law Team knows what you're up against. More importantly, we know how to help. We've worked with hundreds of students over the years, and along the way, we've learned all the tips and tricks to keeping your GPA up and avoiding academic sanctions.
You don't want your grades to fall too far too fast, though, so the very moment you have a problem, or if you just think you might have a problem soon, contact the Lento Law Firm. Call 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes now and let us know a little more about your situation.
Academic Progression at St. John's University
As we've already mentioned, there are lots of ways to define college success. There is, however, a concrete way of defining it as well. All schools have what's known as an academic standing policy. At St. John's University, each individual school and college is allowed to set its own policy, and there are minor differences between what's required depending on your individual course of study. However, most of these policies resemble that of St. John's largest undergraduate program, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Requirements are actually fairly straightforward. If you fail to meet those requirements, though, things can quickly get complicated.
- Good Standing: The goal is always to remain in Good standing. That means you're making steady progress toward your degree and earning the credits you'll need to graduate. To remain in Good standing, you need to keep your cumulative and major grade point averages above 2.0.
- Academic Probation: Should either of your GPAs fall below 2.0, St. John's places you on Probation. As part of Probation, you are limited to 15 hours a term. The good news is that you can remain on Probation as long as it takes to return to Good standing. The bad news is that if you continue to struggle, you face more serious consequences.
- Academic Dismissal: Fall below 2.0, and you wind up on Probation. Fall lower, and you can be dismissed outright. First-year students must keep a GPA above 1.5 to remain at St. John's. Second-year students must earn at least a 1.75; third-year students must earn at least a 1.9; and seniors must earn at least a 2.0.
The St. John's Undergraduate Bulletin makes no mention of any readmission process. This suggests that if you should find yourself dismissed, it means permanent separation from the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The Undergraduate Bulletin also makes no mention of any type of appeals process when you are facing an academic sanction. Academic Probation and Dismissal are based exclusively on your GPA, and the university does not consider that a matter for debate.
Nevertheless, there are some informal strategies for avoiding sanctions. For instance,
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as a long-term illness or family emergency, you can try appealing directly to your school or college dean. You may be able to convince them to give you more time to improve.
- You should never suffer mistreatment in the classroom. If you feel an instructor is treating you unfairly, you should report that immediately to the instructor's department head. Such mistreatment can be grounds for a grade appeal.
- If you consistently struggle to pass your courses, you could have an undiagnosed learning disability. Disability Services can get you diagnosed and will work with you to set up any course accommodations you may need. You can also petition the university to drop low grades from your transcript and allow you to retake those courses once accommodations are in place.
- Low grades are sometimes the result of academic misconduct allegations. If your instructors think you've cheated on an exam or plagiarized a paper, they have the power to lower your grades on assignments or lower your course grades. However, you can challenge these decisions through the Office of Judicial Affairs.
- Faculty will sometimes negotiate for grades, especially if you have a compelling argument. For example, if your final exam grade was particularly high, you might try convincing an instructor to use it as your course grade.
- One of the easiest ways to improve a grade is simply to ask for extra credit or makeup work. Not every instructor is receptive to these requests, but it could be that one makeup lab assignment or a paper rewrite could be enough to save you from Probation or Dismissal.
When you contact the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team, we'll sit down with you and go over the specific elements of your situation. Then, we'll work with you to develop a plan, and we'll stand beside you while you put that plan into action.
It can be difficult, though, to undo a St. John's decision once it's been made. That's particularly true of Dismissal. That means you cannot afford to put off getting help when you're struggling. It's vital that you contact the Lento Law Firm as soon as you realize there's a problem. We can help, but only if you let us.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your St. John's 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. What can we do for you? To find out, call us today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
