The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is among the top schools in the country. In keeping with that reputation, it expects its students to achieve academically. Fail to keep your GPA high enough, or fail to complete enough credits in a semester, and you could wind up on probation or worse.
The thing is: none of us is perfect. You're smart, and you're capable. Otherwise, you would never have made it into the University of Illinois in the first place. Sometimes these aren't enough to keep you from struggling academically, though. Maybe Shakespeare is just beyond you, and you can't keep up in your English lit course. Maybe some personal issue comes up, and you just can't concentrate in any of your classes.
We all struggle sometimes. Those struggles shouldn't stand in the way of getting your degree. Joseph D. Lento wants to make sure that they don't. Joseph D. Lento is a National Student Conduct attorney-advisor. He knows how university bureaucracy works, and he's well-versed in the many strategies you can use to help keep your academic career on track. Joseph D. Lento can't take your courses for you, but if you're having trouble meeting academic progress requirements, he can make sure you're treated fairly and that you're given absolutely every opportunity to succeed.
Academic Progression Requirements at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Success at the University of Illinois is about making steady progress semester to semester and year to year. To help you keep track of your progress, the school maintains an “academic standing” policy. This policy not only describes what's required to move forward at the university, but also the consequences for failing to do so.
The policy sets forth three standards you must meet in order to remain in “good” academic standing.
- First, you must complete at least 12 credit hours each semester.
- Second, you must earn at least a 2.0 grade point average each semester.
- Finally, you must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Failure to meet any one of these three standards typically results in “academic probation.” Students on probation must then meet a GPA requirement based on their past performance. Otherwise, they risk being dropped from the school altogether.
- Freshmen who earn less than a 2.0 in their first semester must earn a 2.0 in the following semester.
- Students whose cumulative GPA is at least 2.0 but whose semester GPA is below 2.0 can return to good standing simply by earning at least a 2.0 the following semester.
- Students whose cumulative GPA falls to between 1.75 and 1.99 must earn semester GPAs of at least 2.25 until they return to good academic standing (a cumulative 2.0 GPA).
- Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 1.75 must earn semester GPAs of 2.33 until they return to good academic standing.
Students who fail to meet these standards while on probation are subject to being dismissed entirely from the school. In addition, you can be dropped immediately if you should earn less than a 1.0 GPA in any semester.
Finally, you should know that some schools at the University of Illinois have even higher GPA standards. The School of Information, for instance, requires students maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Fighting Dismissal
Many students assume that academic standing decisions are made automatically, by computer, based on semester and cumulative GPAs and credits earned. They are actually made by faculty committees in each college, with real flesh-and-blood members. In fact, the university policy actually notes that “The drop rules may be waived when, in the judgment of the student's college or school, the student's scholastic record warrants such action.” This suggests there is some room for challenging drop decisions.
In fact, each school or college at the university offers a process for appealing drop decisions, particularly in cases where extenuating circumstances may have caused your academic deficiencies.
In addition, there are other, less formal ways of trying to remain at the university. For example, you might try talking to a professor directly. Some faculty might be willing to consider raising your grade in a course if you showed significant progress throughout the semester. Others may be willing to issue you an Incomplete grade while you complete extra credit assignments or makeup work. Often a single raised grade will be enough to keep you in good academic standing or prevent you from being dismissed.
Finally, the University of Illinois also offers a process for re-entering the university after being dropped. At a minimum, this process involves providing a written statement and documentation explaining why you believe you can improve academically if you are readmitted. You may also be required to meet certain requirements before being readmitted. Finally, You should also know that readmission applications are due at least 60 days before the beginning of a new semester.
Your advisor may not tell you about all the options open to you. Keep in mind that you're one of the thousands of students at the University of Illinois. Joseph D. Lento will. He knows what strategies will work best, and he can help you to navigate the process, whether that means collecting documentation to support your academic achievement or coaching you on how to negotiate with faculty and administrators.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Many students assume that once they get to college, they're supposed to handle all their own problems by themselves. After all, you're supposed to be “adulting” now, right? They may not know how to go about fighting a dismissal decision, and so when they get that letter telling them they've been dropped from the university, they just accept it.
You know better. You know there are many ways to salvage your academic career, even if you've made some mistakes. More importantly, you know you don't have to handle this situation all on your own. There's help available to you.
Joseph D. Lento knows how the University of Illinois system operates. He knows the processes and procedures, and he knows how to use them to your best advantage. Whether you're trying to satisfy probation requirements, facing dismissal, or working to be readmitted, Joseph D. Lento is on your side and ready to do what it takes to keep your future bright.
To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team today, at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
