Lehigh University doesn't just give diplomas away. If you want a degree, you have to earn it through hard work. That means going to class and studying, writing papers, and taking exams. To keep you motivated to do all of that, the school maintains a standing academic policy with strict requirements. If you can't keep up, you can find yourself on probation or worse.
The thing is, none of us is perfect. Sure, you're smart and capable, or you wouldn't have gotten into Lehigh in the first place. Four years is a long time, though. Sooner or later, you're going to struggle in a class, or go through a bad breakup, or wreck your car and wind up in the hospital for a few days. When life happens, it's not always easy to keep your grades high.
The LLF Law Firm, National Student Defense Education Law Team want to make sure you finish your degree no matter what happens. They know how the system works at Lehigh. They're experienced at negotiating with faculty and drafting strong appeals. Most of all, they're on your side. They want to make sure your school treats you fairly and that you have every opportunity to succeed. If you're struggling with Lehigh progress requirements, you owe it to yourself to find out just what the LLF Law Firm Education Law Team can do for you.
Academic Progression at the Lehigh University
The basic requirements to remain in “good standing” at Lehigh are fairly straightforward.
- First, you must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
- Second, you must make minimal progress toward your degree. This means you must successfully complete at least 24 hours of course credit before your second year, 48 hours before your third year, and 72 before your fourth year.
The total academic standing system can get a little complicated, though.
- Scholastic Probation: If your cumulative GPA falls below the 2.0 mark, you are placed on scholastic probation. While on probation, you are ineligible for intercollegiate competitions and activities. In addition, you cannot hold major office in any university organization. The more pressing matter when it comes to probation, though, is making sure you reach the 2.0 level by the end of the semester. Otherwise, you can be “dropped for poor scholarship.” In fact, you can be dropped after receiving a second semester of probation, even if those semesters are not consecutive.
- Dropped Status: “Dropped” obviously means you are no longer eligible to enroll in classes at Lehigh. However, if you have been dropped, you can apply for reinstatement. That process involves submitting a petition to the Committee on Standing of Students. As part of that petition, you must include a “plan of study” endorsed by both your advisor and your academic dean. In addition, you should know that reinstatement is never automatic, and failed petitions mean dismissal.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Lehigh's academic standing decisions are made by real people rather than computers. As a result, there is some flexibility built into the system. So, for example, students who have not yet accumulated 19 hours aren't held to the same standards as other students. If their GPAs fall between 1.7 and 2.0, they are issued an “academic warning” rather than placed on probation.
In addition, being dropped from the university isn't automatic if you're given probation more than once. Instead, the Committee on Standing of Students reviews your academic record and decides whether you should be dropped or continue on probation. In other words, you always have a chance to make your case.
Finally, there are always informal ways to challenge a sanction for poor academic performance.
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can try bringing these circumstances to the attention of your college dean. You may be eligible for additional time on probation.
- If your GPA is the result of a recording or calculation error, you are always entitled to bring this error to the attention of your professor. Usually, such matters are easily dealt with through a grade change form.
- You also have the right to protest any mistreatment in the classroom. Complaints should be addressed to your instructor's department head or your academic dean.
- Academic misconduct violations can sometimes cause low grades. If you've been accused and found responsible, you can appeal your instructor's findings, the sanction, or both to the Office of Student Conduct.
- You may find some faculty are willing to participate in grade negotiation. If, for instance, your final exam grade is higher than your grade in the course, you could try arguing that the exam grade demonstrates you mastered the material enough to deserve a higher course grade.
- Some faculty are willing to assign extra credit or makeup work, particularly in extraordinary circumstances. You might try this if your grade is already borderline and you only need a few points to raise it.
Whatever your particular situation, the LLF Law Firm Education Law Team know all the options available to you. They can help you make a plan and help you put that plan into action, whether that means coaching you in negotiation tactics, helping you identify who you need to talk to, or working with you to draft a formal appeal.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisors - The LLF Law Firm
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 Educational Law team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The LLF Law Firm and Education Law 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 LLF Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
