Your teachers, your parents, and your older friends have all given you advice on how to succeed in college. They've told you things like how important it is to get to class every day. They've emphasized studying when you're not in class, visiting professors during office hours, and finishing papers before their due date.
Has anyone talked to you, though, about how important it is to master the St. Louis University (SLU) bureaucracy? The thing is, that can be just as important to your success as memorizing the periodic table. You need to know how to deal with instructors who just don't seem to like you, whom to talk to if you have to miss class to attend a funeral, and where to go if you think you might have a learning disability.
The getting up on time and studying parts of college are all on you. The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team is here to take care of the rest, though. Our attorneys know what you're up against when it comes to fighting your way through administrative red tape. That's what lawyers do best, and no one understands how universities operate better than we do. We not only know all of SLU's rules and regulations, but we also know how to use them to make your life easier rather than harder.
If you're struggling to keep your GPA up, you owe it to yourself to find out how we can help. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out what we can do for you, or take a little time now and tell us what kind of problem you're facing.
Academic Progress Standards at St. Louis University
Staying on top of your academic progress at St. Louis University starts with understanding the school's academic standing policy. This policy explains exactly what you need to do to make it to your graduation, one year, one semester, one class at a time.
Here are the basics.
- Good Standing: Certainly, there are honors to be had at SLU, such as appearing on the Dean's List. Your primary goal, though, is to remain in good standing. As long as you're in good standing, you've nothing to worry about academically. SLU defines good standing as a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above. Simple enough, right?
- Academic Probation: The thing is, you can't always tell when life may throw a curve ball at you. It's not always easy to keep your grades up when you have to manage a crisis. So what do you do in the unlikely event that your GPA should slip below that 2.0 number? Luckily, SLU doesn't dismiss you outright. Instead, you're placed on academic probation. Then, you have three full semesters to get yourself back to good standing.
- Academic Dismissal: Should you fail to return to good standing within three consecutive semesters, you then face outright dismissal from the university. Dismissal means complete separation from SLU, and this condition is irreversible. It is also the case that very few colleges and universities are willing to admit students who have already been dismissed elsewhere. In other words, dismissal from SLU can mean the end of your academic career.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
Unfortunately, the St. Louis University standing policy makes no mention of any formal means of appealing your academic status. The university assumes that three semesters is enough time for anyone to pull their GPA up. This means it's important to keep a close eye on all of your course grades. Even small slips can lead to big spirals.
As we mentioned before, though, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of strategies, both formal and informal, for helping you succeed. For example,
- Often, extenuating circumstances, such as a long-term bout of depression or a serious illness, are grounds for extra time to improve. If you're dealing with such a circumstance, the Lento Law Firm attorney can help you file an appeal with the dean of your particular college.
- It doesn't happen often, but you will sometimes come across instructors who mistreat you in some way. When you do, you should talk with your instructor's department head immediately. This will lay the groundwork for a formal grade appeal if you need to file one later.
- If you've been accused of cheating, plagiarism, or some other form of classroom dishonesty, your instructor may have lowered your grade on the assignment or even lowered your course grade. You have the right to appeal their decisions, though, to the Director of Academic Integrity.
- If you frequently struggle to pass your classes, you may have an undiagnosed learning disability. The Lento Law Firm attorney can help you get tested, and if you do have such a condition, they can negotiate with SLU to drop low course grades from your GPA.
- It never hurts to ask instructors for makeup or extra credit assignments when your grade is borderline. Not every one of them will say yes, but even if you can raise one or two grades, it can sometimes be enough to help you avoid probation or dismissal.
- You can also try negotiating directly with faculty. If, for instance, you've shown real improvement during a semester, you may be able to convince an instructor to pass you, even if your individual scores don't add up to a passing grade.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are on your side, no matter what the situation. Your advisor may not tell you about these and other options. They have lots of students to worry about. Our only concern is you. We'll sit down with you and determine the best way forward in your particular situation. Then, we'll work with you to get things back on track, whether that means filing an appeal or coaching you on how to negotiate with a professor.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your St. Louis 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.
