Just getting into college takes a tremendous amount of hard work and discipline. If life was fair, now that you're enrolled at Michigan State University, you'd be able to relax a little. You've proven you can succeed. Now you should be able to take classes at your own pace without having to worry about looming deadlines and exams.
Instead, things are going to get harder over the next four years. Michigan State expects you to prove yourself all over again, and it even has a set of standards to make sure you do. If you can't meet all the requirements of the school's academic standing policy, you can quickly find yourself on academic probation or worse.
It's not always easy to meet requirements, though. Life sometimes has a funny way of intervening. A serious illness or a family emergency can easily throw everything off track.
If you're struggling to meet requirements, you should know that there is help available out there. Joseph D. Lento is a National Student Defense attorney-advisor who is dedicated to the idea that academic struggles shouldn't stand in the way of you earning your degree. Whatever problem you're facing, Joseph D. Lento has the knowledge and experience to make sure you're treated fairly and that you have every opportunity to find success.
Academic Progression at Michigan State University
The basic academic standing requirement at Michigan State is relatively simple: maintain a cumulative grade point average higher than 2.0. As long as you do that, you remain in “good” standing. Things can get complicated, though, if your GPA falls below that number.
- The most immediate effect of a low GPA is that you're put on probation. While on probation, you are usually required to meet with an academic advisor before you can register for classes. Assuming your GPA rises above 2.0, you return to good standing the next semester.
- If your GPA remains below 2.0 after a semester on probation, you are then placed on “final probation” status for the next semester.
- If you struggle to complete major requirements on time, or your major GPA should fall below the required average, you can also be given a “warning for lack of satisfactory progress in the major.”
- If your GPA remains below 2.0 after a semester on final probation or you continue to struggle after receiving a warning, you are then “recessed” from the university for at least one calendar year.
- If upon returning to MSU, you again meet the qualifications for recession, you are then dismissed from the university entirely.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Michigan State reviews academic progress at the end of every semester, and standing decisions are based entirely on GPA. You should also know that there are no formal means of challenging a standing decision.
That doesn't mean there aren't ways of avoiding a negative sanction, though.
- If you fail to meet standing requirements but can demonstrate that you are making significant progress toward meeting them, you may be eligible for a sanction exception.
- In the case of extenuating circumstances, you can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college for more time to meet the requirements.
- Any time an instructor treats you unfairly, you have the right to lodge an official complaint with the head of that instructor's department or the dean of your college. Often, this can result in a grade revision.
- You also have the right to file a grievance any time you feel your grade is lower than it should be. This also applies to low grades due to academic misconduct charges.
- Occasionally, a low grade is simply the result of a grading error or a miscalculation. It's a good idea to keep a record of all your grades and copies of all your work to use in cases of a grade dispute.
- Some instructors are open to grade negotiation. If, for instance, you showed progress over the course of a semester, that might be enough to convince your professor to give you a passing grade, even if your score total isn't high enough.
- Other faculty are willing to assign extra credit or makeup work, especially if your grade is borderline or you have a compelling reason why you didn't finish an assignment. You may have to accept an Incomplete while you finish this work, but “I” grades don't count against your GPA.
Joseph D. Lento knows all the many options open to you and can help you decide which ones will work best in your particular situation. In addition, he is experienced in gathering evidence and filing appeals. He can coach you in negotiation tactics and help you decide who to talk to and what to say. Finally, should you wind up recessed, he can help you put together a compelling argument for why you should be allowed to return to the university.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
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.
Succeeding at college, though, 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. He built his practice handling student conduct and academic progress issues.
More important than anything else, Joseph D. Lento and his 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 Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
