Universities these days take academic excellence very seriously. Ultimately, that's to your advantage. You don't want to graduate from a school with a reputation for low standards.
The thing is, four years is a long time to make sure everything goes just right. Life has a funny way of intervening sometimes, and most of us will experience a tough class or a tough semester at some point. Maybe you just can't wrap your head around calculus. Maybe you have trouble getting along with a professor. Maybe something happens—an illness, a car wreck—and you can't attend classes. What do you do if you find yourself struggling to meet the University of Denver's academic standing requirements?
You contact the Lento Law Firm. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are committed to helping students navigate the often treacherous bureaucracy of higher education. They know the law, and they know how your school operates. Most importantly, they're committed to making sure you're treated fairly and that you have the very best shot at a degree from the University of Denver.
Academic Progression at the University of Denver
If you're at all concerned about your grades, your school's academic standing policy is a good place to go to find out how you're doing. That policy should tell you what it takes to be in “good” standing and what happens if you should fall out of good standing. Here's a rough outline of the policy at the University of Denver.
- Good standing: To remain in good standing, you must keep your cumulative grade point average above 2.2.
- Warning: If your GPA falls between 2.0 and 2.2, you remain in good standing, but you are considered to be on academic warning.
- Precipitous Decline: You are also notified should your grades drop during an individual quarter. If your cumulative GPA is above 2.2, but your term GPA falls below 1.5, the University of Denver will let you know.
- Probation: Should your cumulative GPA fall below the 2.0 mark, you are placed on academic probation. Your academic program may set conditions for remaining on probation. In addition, to continue on probation, you must earn at least a 2.0-term GPA.
- Last Quarter Probation: Should your term GPA fall below 2.0 or should you fail to meet requirements set by your program, you are placed on last quarter probation. You can continue as a student, but you are required to meet certain criteria set forth by the university and your academic program.
- Suspension: Students who fail to meet Last Quarter Probation requirements can be suspended for up to one full academic year and must apply for readmission to the university. If you are allowed to return from suspension, you do so on Last Quarter Probation. You should also be aware that you cannot transfer any course credit earned from another school while you are on suspension.
- Dismissal: Students who fail to meet Last Quarter Probation requirements can also be dismissed from the university entirely. Dismissal is permanent.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Academic standing decisions at the University of Denver aren't ordinarily subject to review. That's primarily because they're based on cumulative and term GPAs, numbers not normally open to debate.
There is an appeals process for suspension and dismissal decisions. However, appeals are based strictly on whether or not the university made an accurate decision in assigning you these punishments. Instructions for appeal are included in your suspension or dismissal notification.
You can apply to return if you've been suspended. As part of this process, you must describe what you did while you were away, lay out a plan for how you intend to improve once you return, and explain what resources you have in place to help you succeed.
What can you do, though, about other types of sanctions—probation, last quarter probation—or to prevent suspension before it happens? Luckily, there are some informal ways to deal with any type of academic punishment.
- You can try negotiating with your instructors directly for higher grades. You will likely need a strong argument and a solid plan for how you will approach them, but some instructors are willing to listen if you have a compelling reason why your grade should be higher.
- Other faculty are willing to assign makeup and extra credit work when it's appropriate. You may be a good candidate if your grade is already borderline.
- It's always a good idea to keep your own records of your coursework. From time to time, faculty do make mistakes when it comes to recording or calculating grades, and if you're keeping track, you may discover you're entitled to higher scores.
- Low grades can result from academic misconduct allegations. Normally, your instructor has the authority to decide if you committed a violation and to assign you a penalty. However, you have the right to challenge these decisions through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
- You can and should protest any mistreatment you receive in the classroom. Such incidents should be reported to the instructor's department head or the dean of your school or college.
- If you have a disability, identified or unidentified, you may be entitled to extra consideration in your coursework.
- Finally, if you have extenuating circumstances that may have resulted in your deficiencies, you should bring these to the attention of your dean.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have experience filing appeals. In addition, they know all the available options for handling an academic sanction. Whatever your situation, they can help you come up with a plan for avoiding an academic setback and work with you to put that plan into action.
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 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 and his Education Law Team. That Team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm 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.
