Academic Progression at Texas Woman’s University

There's no getting around it: college is tough. It's hard enough keeping yourself awake when it's eight AM, and your professor isn't the most lively lecturer, or keeping yourself awake at night when you need to be finishing a paper, but your soft, warm bed is calling to you. The thing is, writing papers and studying for exams is only half the battle. Success at Texas Woman's University (TWU) is as much about learning to navigate the system as it is about mastering the Periodic Table.

What do we mean? You have to know how to prove to your professors that you were actually throwing up at three in the morning and not just trying to get out of class. You have to know who to contact if you need to take time off to attend a funeral. You have to know where to go if you think you might have a learning disability. TWU is a bureaucracy—a complicated, maddening bureaucracy—and trying to deal with red tape can sometimes feel like a full-time job.

The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can't take your tests for you or finish your lab assignments. What we can do is help you to master the system. It turns out that lawyers do best when dealing with bureaucracy. And no law firm in the country understands university bureaucracy like the Lento Law Firm. Our Education Law Team is entirely focused on helping students succeed. We know the law, but we also know the TWU system and how to use it to make your life easier rather than harder.

If you're struggling to meet TWU's academic progress standards, you could just need help navigating the system. We can give you that help. Call 888-535-3686 to find out what the Lento Law Firm can do for you, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.

Academic Progression at Texas Woman's University

Let's start with the basics. What do we mean by “academic progress standards”? All colleges and universities maintain academic standing policies. The purpose of these policies is to make sure you're aware of how you're doing academically. TWU assigns you a status based on your GPA. You can also face serious academic sanctions, though, if your status falls too far:

  • Good Standing: This is the optimal status. It means you're making steady progress towards your degree. You don't have to worry about sanctions or any other extra requirements. TWU defines good standing as a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and above.
  • Academic Probation: Should your GPA fall below 2.0, you're then placed on academic probation. This is just what it sounds like. You can continue to enroll at the university, but you are in danger of academic sanctions if you cannot improve. While on probation, you must meet with an academic advisor before registering for classes. The good news is you don't have to return to good standing immediately. You can remain on probation as long as you need to, provided you earn at least a 2.0 semester GPA.
  • Academic Suspension: If you fail to earn a 2.0 semester GPA while on probation, TWU then suspends you from enrollment. A first suspension lasts for at least one semester, fall or spring. You can return to the university, but only after filing an approved Suspension Recovery Plan. A second suspension lasts for two semesters. Should you fail to meet all the terms of your Recovery Plan, you can be suspended for two full years. Note that any time you've been away from TWU for a year or more, you must reapply to the university.

TWU's standing policy doesn't mention dismissal. However, suspension can seriously hurt your chances of graduation. It can be tough returning to college after time away, and lots of students either never come back or find it too hard to finish their degrees when they do come back. Keep in mind as well that, depending on the length of your suspension, you may have to begin paying back any student loans before you return to school.

Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions

Your Lento Law Firm attorney can help you deal with academic standing decisions and sanctions. If you've been suspended, for example, we can help you negotiate a fair Suspension Recovery Plan, something that will allow you to succeed when you return to TWU.

Of course, you're always better off if you can avoid reaching the point of suspension in the first place. We can offer some valuable suggestions for doing that as well. For instance:

  • If extenuating circumstances have contributed to your low GPA, you can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college. A family emergency or a serious illness is grounds for more time to improve.
  • Consistently low grades can be a sign of undiagnosed learning disability. We can make sure you get tested, and if you do have a disability, negotiate appropriate course accommodations. Usually, you can also retake courses to get replacement grades.
  • Instructors have an enormous amount of authority at TWU. If you feel an instructor is mistreating you in any way, you should report that immediately to your instructor's department head. This will start a paper trail you can use to file a formal grade grievance.
  • If your instructor has accused you of cheating or plagiarism, you have the right to challenge those accusations and any sanction they may have assigned you through the Student Code of Conduct Process.
  • One of the easiest ways to raise your GPA is to ask instructors for makeup and extra credit work. Some instructors will say no, but it doesn't hurt to ask. One extra lab assignment could be all you need to avoid probation or suspension.
  • It is also sometimes possible to negotiate with instructors on other grounds. If, for example, your final exam score was higher than your course grade, you might ask your instructor to use it as your course grade.

You can count on your Lento Law Firm attorney to come up with an individualized plan that will help you deal with your particular situation. In addition, they'll work with you to put that plan into action. They can help you draft appeals, coach you in negotiation tactics, or simply figure out who you need to talk to about your particular issues. We're on your side and committed to your success.

What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?

Your Texas Woman'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 online form.

Contact Us Today!

If you, or your student, are facing any kind of disciplinary action, or other negative academic sanction, and are having feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for what the future may hold, contact the Lento Law Firm today, and let us help secure your academic career.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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