Getting into college is tough. It takes hard work, discipline, and sacrifice to earn all those good grades and high SAT scores. If there was any justice in the world, you could relax now. You've proven your education is important to you. College should be about figuring out who you want to be and working towards a degree at your own pace.
The reality, of course, is that things only get tougher from here. Most college courses are more difficult than high school courses, and professors tend to be far more demanding than even the strictest high school teachers.
Here's the good news: there's help available when you need it. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are on your side. They know all the ins and outs of the UA system. They know exactly who you need to talk to when you run into problems and what to say. Most importantly, they're committed to your education. They understand what you're up against, and they're determined to make sure nothing stands in your way.
Academic Progression at the University of Alabama
The key to academic success is meeting the University of Alabama's academic standing requirements. These are standards that let you know you're making satisfactory progress toward your degree.
"Good" standing means you've got a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Should your GPA fall below that number, you're subject to academic sanctions. The exact nature of these sanctions depends on just how far your GPA has fallen.
As long as your GPA remains above a minimum cut-off level based on your class standing, you are under Warning status.
- For freshmen, that minimum number is 1.5.
- For sophomores, it is 1.7.
- For juniors, it's 1.9.
- For seniors, it's 2.0.
Generally speaking, you may remain on Warning status as long as it takes to return to Good standing. However, should your GPA fall below the minimum cut-off level, you are then subject to suspension. Suspension lasts for one semester, and, importantly, it is recorded on your transcript.
Your return to UA after a suspension is automatic. However, if you cannot improve upon your return, you can be suspended indefinitely. An indefinite suspension lasts for at least one academic year. In order to gain readmission to the university, you must file a petition with your college or school, and your return, in this case, is not guaranteed.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Unfortunately, there are no formal processes for challenging an academic standing decision. Because such decisions are based on your GPA, the University of Alabama doesn't regard them as open for debate.
That doesn't mean you must simply accept a warning, a suspension, or an indefinite suspension. There are a number of useful strategies for raising your GPA and avoiding sanctions. For instance,
- UA allows you to take courses in the summer immediately following your suspension. If you can improve your grade point during this term, you can return to classes immediately.
- If your low grades are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as an illness or a family emergency, you can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college. You may be able to get more time to improve before a sanction is imposed.
- If you are diagnosed with a learning disability, you can ask the school to drop your low course grades and let you retake those courses with accommodations in place.
- If UA has granted you disability accommodations and your instructor doesn't provide them, you have the right to appeal your grades to Disability Services.
- Classroom mistreatment is also grounds for a grade appeal. If you believe your instructor has treated you unfairly, you should bring this to the attention of the instructor's department head.
- Some low grades are the result of academic misconduct accusations. Your instructors have the right to lower your assignment and course grades if they believe you've cheated or committed plagiarism. However, you can appeal their decisions to an Academic Misconduct Monitor and, ultimately, to your academic dean.
- Some faculty are open to grade negotiation. If you have a compelling argument, you may be able to convince an instructor to reconsider your scores or to look at mitigating factors that might warrant a grade revision.
- Instructors are also sometimes willing to assign extra credit or makeup assignments. If your grade is already borderline, this can be the easiest way to improve your GPA.
Of course, improving your GPA sometimes just involves plain old hard work. Maybe a tutor, a chat with your professor, or a visit to the writing center are the best options. There are certainly instances, though, when hard work just isn't enough, when what you really need is to know how to navigate the system. When that happens, Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team are on your side.
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 dealing with bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about how to handle educational bureaucracy than Joseph D. Lento and his Educational 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.
