How do you succeed in college? You study hard; you go to classes; you ace exams; you write papers. Sometimes, though, those things just aren't enough. College also means learning to navigate the system, figuring out ways to get along with difficult professors, and learning how to make yourself look your best on paper.
If you're struggling to meet the University of Cincinnati's academic progress requirements, you should probably start by visiting your professor during office hours, joining a study group, or stopping by the writing center. Sometimes, though, these things aren't enough. When that happens, you turn to attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team. They're familiar with all of UC's rules and procedures. They know who to talk to when you run into trouble and what to say. Most importantly, they're on your side and ready to do what it takes to make sure you make it to graduation.
Academic Progression at the University of Cincinnati
As a starting point, you need to know what the University of Cincinnati expects of you academically. Progress is defined by the school's Academic Standing Policy. “Good” standing means maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Your particular school or college may add other requirements as well, but your first priority is to keep that GPA up.
If you fail to meet these standards, you're subject to a progressive set of penalties.
- Academic Alert: Students with less than 30 hours whose GPA falls below 2.0 are issued an Academic Alert. Fortunately, there are no specific consequences for an Academic Alert. The university recognizes that it can take new students some time to adjust to college life. As the Standing policy notes, “It is simply a means to direct the student toward academic improvement.”
- Academic Probation: Should your GPA fall after you've earned 30 hours, however, you are placed on Academic Probation. You can remain on probation until you return to Good standing, provided you earn a minimum 2.0 term GPA each semester. If you can't do that, UC then places you on Academic Suspension.
- Academic Suspension: Suspension means at least one full academic year away from the university, and your return is not guaranteed. It requires a petition for readmission, including a letter explaining the reasons for your academic deficiencies and a college-approved plan for moving forward. Importantly, suspensions are noted on your transcript, and that can cause problems when it comes to looking for your first job.
- Academic Dismissal: When you return from a suspension, UC places you once again on Academic Probation, and you are subject to the same probationary standards as you were before. This time, though, if you fail to earn a 2.0-term GPA, you are permanently dismissed from the university.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The University of Cincinnati reviews every student's academic record at the end of each semester. Sanctions for low grades are automatic, and the school offers no formal means of challenging these decisions.
That doesn't mean you have no options. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have been working with students for a number of years, and they've learned many useful techniques for avoiding Alerts, Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal.
- It's always worth asking an instructor for extra credit or makeup work. You may have to accept an Incomplete while you finish this work. An Incomplete doesn't count against your GPA, though. A low grade does.
- Sometimes faculty are willing to negotiate grades. Maybe you feel like your progress over the semester merits a higher course grade. If you can make a compelling argument, you may be able to convince your professor to reconsider your scores.
- If you have mitigating circumstances that caused your grades to fall, you can appeal to your college or school dean for additional time to improve before they impose a sanction.
- If you struggle consistently, you should consider visiting Disability Services. You could have an undiagnosed learning disability. This might entitle you to drop low course grades and retake those courses with accommodations in place.
- If you feel your instructor has mistreated you in any way, you should bring this to the attention of the instructor's department head immediately. You may be entitled to a grade revision.
- Your instructors have the authority to accuse you of academic misconduct and assign sanctions like lower assignment grades or lower course grades. However, you can appeal these decisions to a College Hearing Panel.
Your advisor may not tell you about the many options available to you for improving your GPA. In fact, they may not know about some of them. You can count on Joseph D. Lento and his team, though, to help you come up with a plan and to work with you to implement that plan, whether that means gathering evidence of your academic abilities, drafting documents, or coaching you in negotiation tactics.
Of course, should you wind up suspended, Joseph D. Lento and his team are also highly experienced at filing readmission petitions.
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.
