College success is about studying hard and making sure you're in class every day. It's about visiting your instructors during office hours, joining study groups, and working on papers before the night before they're due.
That's not all there is to it, though. College success is also about knowing who to call when you have to miss class for a funeral, where to go if you think you might have a learning disability, and what to say to a professor who just doesn't seem to like you.
If you're struggling to meet academic standards at SUNY Albany, you need to know that there's help out there. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can't take your exams for you or write your lab reports. However, our Education Law Team knows how to navigate the university system. We've worked with hundreds of students over the years, and we know all the strategies for keeping your GPA up. Plus, unlike your advisor, we're not swamped with other students; we're focused on you and your success.
To find out more, call today at 888-535-3686. Or take time now and tell us a little about your situation.
Academic Progression at SUNY Albany
All colleges and universities maintain something called an "academic standing policy." The purpose of this policy is to monitor your academic progress. It isn't just for the school; it's also designed to let you know where you stand. You should know, though, that it does involve a strict set of standards, and when you aren't meeting those standards, you face an escalating series of consequences.
- Good Standing: At SUNY Albany, the goal is to keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.0. That's known as “good” standing.
- Academic Warning: As long as you keep your GPA above that 2.0 mark, you remain in good standing, but should your semester GPA fall below 2.0, the university issues you an academic warning. As the name implies, this is simply to let you know that you're struggling a bit. There are no penalties associated with this status.
- Academic Probation: If at any point your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, SUNY Albany places you on academic probation. This is a more serious condition. Once your cumulative GPA slips, it can be hard to pull it back up. However, as with academic warnings, probation doesn't require anything of you other than to get back to good standing.
- Terminal Probation: You have just one semester to get back to good standing while on probation. If you fail to do that, you're placed on what's called “terminal probation.” Here again, the name pretty much says it all: you're one step away from dismissal. In addition, you must meet with an advisor and complete an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP).
- Continued Terminal Probation: You can remain on Terminal Probation for as long as it takes you to return to good standing, provided you earn a minimum 2.0 GPA each semester.
- Academic Dismissal: If your semester GPA falls below 2.0 while on terminal probation, you then face complete dismissal from SUNY Albany.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
If you've received a dismissal letter, it should have included instructions for how to appeal that decision. Successful appeals usually require some evidence of extenuating circumstances. Maybe you had to deal with a death in the family while you were on probation. Maybe you were dealing with a serious bout of depression. A Lento Law Firm attorney can help you gather your evidence and draft your appeal.
You're always better off if you can solve the problem before you get to that point of getting a letter of dismissal, though. Luckily, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know ways to help you avoid academic sanctions altogether.
- Any time you feel you're being mistreated by an instructor, you have the right to report that mistreatment to their department head. At a minimum, you can file a formal grade appeal.
- If you struggle in most of your courses, that could be a sign of an undiagnosed learning disability. The SUNY Albany office of disability services can get you tested. It could turn out you need some accommodations in some courses to help you level the playing field. You can also petition the university to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake courses once the accommodations are in place.
- Low grades are sometimes tied to academic misconduct allegations. If one of your instructors believes you've cheated on an assignment or committed some form of plagiarism, they have the power to lower your grade on the assignment or lower your grade in the course. They can even fail you outright, and that can certainly damage your GPA. However, you have the right to appeal their decisions to the department and, if necessary, the school or college that houses the department.
- You'll find that some faculty are willing to negotiate grades if you have a compelling argument. If your final exam score was particularly high, for instance, you might try asking an instructor to use it in place of your course grade.
- Perhaps the easiest sort of grade negotiation is to ask instructors for extra credit or makeup assignments. If your grade is borderline, this can be a reasonably pain-free way to pull it up.
Your Lento Law Firm attorney will explain these and other options to you. In addition, though, they'll help you develop a workable plan and they'll work with you to put that plan into place. They know who to call when you're having trouble, and they know exactly what to say.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your SUNY Albany 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 online form.
