You came to school to study and earn a degree, and you can expect Temple University to hold you to that. Temple is a great school, and you don't develop a reputation for excellence by just giving diplomas away. Courses are tough, and professors are demanding.
Are you up to the task? Sure. You got into Temple, after all, and that wasn't easy. Still, we all run up against challenges sometimes. You may be fine getting through tough exams and research papers under ordinary circumstances. Can you handle those same assignments as well when you're dealing with an illness or family emergency? And remember: you aren't just attending classes. You're trying to master this whole adulting thing too.
The LLF Law Firm and Education Law Team want to make sure that the challenges life throws at you don't interfere with your academic success. Like Temple, they've developed a strong reputation over the years. They're known for helping protect student rights and ensuring their clients get the best possible resolution to their cases. If you're struggling with academic progress issues, contact the Education Law Team, and see what they can do for you.
Academic Progression at Temple University
Like all schools, Temple maintains something called an academic standing policy. Basically, this policy tells you how you're doing as a student. It provides warnings when you're struggling, and, in some instances, it punishes those who can't keep up academically.
In simple terms, Temple's policy requires you to earn at least a 2.0-grade point average each semester and maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. As long as you meet both these marks, you remain in “good” standing. If either of your grade points fall, however, your situation can get complicated.
- Academic Warning: The first consequence of a low GPA is an “academic warning.” This applies to students who earn less than 2.0 in a given semester but who still have above a 2.0 cumulative GPA. It also applies to students whose cumulative GPA is lower than 2.0 but who have accumulated less than 30 hours of coursework.
- Academic Probation: If you have more than 30 hours and your cumulative GPA should fall below 2.0, you are then placed on probation.
- Dismissal: If at the end of probation, you have not met a minimum GPA established by a sliding scale based on your course hours, you are then dismissed from the university. For instance, if you've accumulated 85 hours, you must earn at least a 1.92 to avoid dismissal. If you've completed 105 hours, you must earn at least a 1.97.
- Academic Recovery: If you're facing a first dismissal, you can apply for academic recovery status. This will allow you to re-enroll the very next semester as long as you complete an agreement with your academic advisor as to how you will improve. In addition, in order to be granted this status, your GPA must be high enough that you can reach 2.0 within two years.
- Reinstatement: If you are not granted academic recovery, you can apply for reinstatement to the university, but only after at least four years away.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The good news is Temple does offer a number of ways to avoid permanent dismissal. For instance, you can remain at Temple on probation as long as you are showing some grade improvement each term. Likewise, you can apply for academic recovery if you're dismissed. This means you can continue with your studies with no interruption. Even if you have been dismissed and denied academic recovery status, you can be reinstated after four years.
Of course, these remedies usually mean the situation has reached a critical point. What can you do to keep from going to this point in the first place?
- We all make mistakes, even professors. If your instructor has made a mistake in recording or calculating your grade, you can usually show them copies of your work and request a grade change.
- If your low grade in a course has to do with an allegation of academic misconduct—cheating, for instance, or plagiarism—you are entitled to file a formal grievance to overturn the finding, the sanction, or both.
- You can and should report any unfair classroom treatment either to your instructor's department head or the dean of your school or college. You may be eligible for some form of grade relief.
- Some faculty are open to the possibility of grade negotiation. You may be able to simply get them to reconsider your work from the semester. Alternatively, you might try making a more specific argument, such as an argument that your high final exam score demonstrates you deserve a higher grade in the course.
- A few instructors are willing to assign extra credit or makeup work, especially in special circumstances. You may have a case, for instance, if your grade is borderline and you only need a few points to make up the difference.
The LLF Law Firm and the Education Law Team know all the options for challenging an academic sanction. More importantly, they know how the processes and procedures work. Sometimes what you may need is just to know who to approach. In other cases, you may need a convincing argument. Or, you may be trying to gather evidence and write a strong appeal. Whatever your situation, you can trust the The LLF Law Firm Team to help you put together a plan that will get you the very best possible outcome.
Premier Education Law Team
Students sometimes ask: how can an attorney possibly help me deal with an academic problem? It's a fair question. After all, it's not like they can attend classes for you or take your exams.
The thing is, succeeding in college is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about dealing with bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about dealing with educational bureaucracy than the LLF Law Firm Education Law Team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The LLF Law Firm are on your side. They understand that no one is perfect, and they're committed to the idea that a few mistakes shouldn't keep you from earning your degree and going on to a successful career. They'll fight to make sure you're treated fairly and that you get all the rights you deserve. You've worked hard to get to this point. Don't let that hard work go to waste. To find out more about how you can fight dismissal, contact the LLF Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.