College success doesn't happen overnight. It takes four years of steady progress—going to class, writing papers, and taking exams. And it's not always easy to stay focused for a full four years. After all, life happens to all of us. Maybe you go through a bad breakup or suffer a long-term illness. Maybe you have to deal with a family emergency or a car wreck.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team want to make sure that nothing stands in the way of you earning your degree from the College of William & Mary. If you're struggling to meet the school's academic standing policy, they can help you identify real options for getting back on track. Joseph D. Lento and his Team know the system at the College of William & Mary. They know who it's best to talk to in any given situation and what kinds of things to say.
It may not seem obvious how a lawyer could help you with academic issues, but before you wind up on academic probation or worse, you owe it to yourself to find out what Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team can do for you.
Academic Progression at the College of William & Mary
The academic standing policy at William & Mary has two components:
- You must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA. During your first two semesters, that minimum number is 1.7. During your third semester, it rises to 1.85. Thereafter, you must have a 2.0 to remain in “good” standing.
- In addition, you must complete a minimum number of credits each term. Again, this requirement varies for first-semester students, who only have to earn 9 credits. After that point, you must earn at least 12 credits every semester.
Should you fail to meet either of these standards at the end of a semester, you are then placed on probation for the next semester. While on probation, you must participate in the school's Aspire program, which is administered by the Dean of Students Office. In addition, you must meet with your academic advisor before you can register for the next term.
You can continue on probation for a second semester if you earn at least a 2.0-term GPA. However, if you fall below that mark, or if you haven't yet reached a 2.0 cumulative GPA by the end of your second semester on probation, you are then suspended from the school. You can appeal a suspension. However, a second suspension means permanent dismissal.
You should note that work completed at other institutions does not transfer to William & Mary unless you are in good standing.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
As noted above, William & Mary does have a process for appealing a suspension. If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can apply immediately to the Committee on Academic Status. As part of this appeal, you must submit a written description of these circumstances and concrete evidence to support that description.
You can also appeal a suspension after a semester away from William & Mary by petitioning the Committee on Academic Status. This petition must explain what led to your academic deficiencies and offer a clear plan for moving forward. In addition, you must offer concrete evidence of your potential for academic success. This could be courses successfully completed at another school (though you cannot transfer this credit to William & Mary), a record of employment, and/ or evidence you have received some form of professional help for medical or emotional issues.
These measures are available after you've been suspended. What do you do, though, to avoid a suspension altogether? In fact, there are several informal options for dealing with the threat of an academic sanction.
- You should always alert the college if you are experiencing any type of classroom mistreatment. Normally, such complaints are directed to the instructor's department head.
- If your grades are consistently low, you might investigate whether you could potentially have a learning disability. Such a disability can be grounds for special accommodations or even grading modifications.
- Some low grades are the result of academic misconduct allegations. You can challenge an instructor's decisions formally. In fact, even if you admit to committing the offense, you can argue that the sanction is too harsh.
- Faculty are sometimes open to grade negotiation. You will likely need to approach your instructor diplomatically, and you will need a strong argument. However, if, for example, your final exam score is higher than your other work in the class, you could make a case that this merits a higher grade in the course.
- Likewise, some faculty are willing to assign makeup and extra credit work, especially to students whose grades are already borderline.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can advise you as to what strategy will work best in your particular situation. They can also help you to implement this strategy, whether that means coaching you on how to negotiate with a professor, working with you to gather evidence of your academic potential, or helping you develop compelling arguments. Of course, if the worst should happen and you wind up suspended, they also have experience working with students to develop compelling appeals documents.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
Students sometimes ask: how exactly is an attorney-advisor supposed to help me with academic issues? It's a fair question. It's not like you're on trial for shoplifting. You need help with your grades. That's normally a matter of studying harder or finding a tutor.
As the information on this page suggests, though, 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 Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
Joseph D. Lento and his Team 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 Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
