Getting into college is no small feat, especially UC Irvine. It shows just how smart, hard-working, and dedicated you are. Even so, your past performance is no guarantee that you'll do well now that you're here. Success at any school, but especially this one, requires you to continue to work hard for another four years.
Four years, though, is a long time. You can almost count on the fact that something will go wrong before you're done. You'll have to drop a course because you broke up with your significant other, and, well, there they are, sitting on the other side of the room from you. You'll miss a test because of a flat tire. Some semesters, you just won't feel inspired.
Life steps in for all of us sometimes, and those moments shouldn't prevent you from earning your degree. National Student Defense attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team want to make sure they don't. OK, so they can't take your exams for you or write your papers. You'll have to do those things yourself. What they can do, though, is make sure that progress requirements don't stand in your way. The Lento Law Firm can ensure that your university treats you fairly and gives you every opportunity to succeed, no matter what may come up.
Academic Progression at UC Irvine
According to UC Irvine's Academic Regulations and Procedures, your progress as a student is based on three major criteria. In order to remain in “good” academic standing, you must
- Maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average
- Earn at least a 2.0 GPA each quarter
- Make “normal progress” in terms of the number of credits you earn each quarter. For instance, during your first quarter, you must earn between 12 and 15 credits. By the end of your second quarter, you should have earned between 26 and 30 credits.
There are some other minor progress requirements as well. Among these, you must have declared a major by the time you reach 90 credits. However, moving forward at UC Irvine basically comes down to your GPA and the number of credits you're completing.
Should you fail to meet any of these requirements, you can be placed on Academic Probation. Normally, academic probation lasts for one or two semesters. If your coursework improves, you return to good standing. If it doesn't improve in that time frame, though, then you are further subject to disqualification from the university.
In fact, you can be disqualified even without a probationary period if your numbers are low enough. You can be summarily dismissed, for instance, should your term GPA ever fall below 1.5 or should you earn fewer than 8 credits in a term.
UC Irvine does offer a process for readmission to the university after a period away. However, this process isn't free. In addition to information on what caused your deficiencies and what you plan to do to correct those deficiencies, you must also submit an application fee of $70. It's also important to note that there is no guarantee your school or college will decide you can return. In that case, your disqualification becomes permanent.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Issues of standing are ultimately in the hands of your college or school. However, most decisions are based on objective numbers—courses completed and GPA—and are generally made automatically.
The California state senate has mandated that all state schools provide some mechanism for appealing a disqualification decision. Appeals typically involve some sort of extenuating circumstances, such as a family emergency or a serious illness.
In addition, there are some informal means of challenging probation and disqualification.
- If you feel you have been mistreated by an instructor, you have the right to take your concerns to that instructor's department head or, failing that, the dean of your school or college. In some cases, you may be entitled to a higher grade.
- Faculty are sometimes willing to negotiate with students for higher grades. If your work improved over the course of a semester, for instance, or your final exam grade was high enough to demonstrate you mastered the course material, you may have a compelling argument to make.
- Likewise, some faculty offer extra credit and make-up assignments to students, especially if their grade is borderline.
- Faculty can and do make mistakes, especially when it comes to calculating final grades. One typo on a spreadsheet can throw everyone's scores off. Sometimes, a higher grade is simply a matter of asking a professor to run the numbers again.
No matter what type of dismissal you're facing, Joseph D. Lento can help. He knows all the strategies for avoiding dismissal, even some of the school itself may not be aware of. He can help you decide which will work best in your particular case, and he can help you to pursue them. Joseph D. Lento has worked with all types of students on all types of cases. He can coach you on how to negotiate with an instructor; he can help you draft an appeal to your school or college. Finally, if the worst happens and you are dismissed, he knows what evidence appeals boards look for and can offer valuable assistance in gathering this evidence and putting together a strong personal statement.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Students are sometimes surprised to learn that an attorney might be able to help them with an academic problem. The fact is, college success is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about taking exams and writing papers. 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 focuses on student conduct and academic progress issues, he knows how the various systems at Rutgers operate, and he's comfortable talking with faculty and administrators.
More important than anything else, though, Joseph D. Lento is on your side. He understands that no one is perfect, and he doesn't think that a few mistakes should keep you from earning your degree and going on to a successful career.
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.
