You're obviously bright and hard-working, or you wouldn't have gotten into the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Acing your coursework as a high school student doesn't necessarily mean you'll breeze through your college courses, though. You have to remember that you have an added degree of difficulty now. You're on your own for the first time. You don't have anyone to get you up in the morning. You don't have anyone to make sure you study in the evenings. You don't have anyone to do your laundry for you.
You certainly wouldn't be the first student to struggle with academic progression at the UMass, Lowell. You've got a secret weapon at your disposal, though: the Lento Law Firm. We know, we hear it all the time: how exactly is a lawyer supposed to help you with your GPA? The thing is, college success is often as much about learning how to navigate bureaucracy as it is about how much time you spend in the library. No one knows more about bureaucracy than lawyers, and no one knows more about educational bureaucracy than the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686. Or take time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at the UMass, Lowell
Let's start with the basics. What does it take to be in “good” standing at UMass, Lowell? It turns out, the answer is pretty straightforward. According to the university's academic standing policy, good standing means keeping your cumulative and term grade point averages above 2.0. What happens if your GPAs should fall below that number? That's a bit complicated.
· Academic Warning: Any time your term GPA is below 2.0, the university places you on academic warning status. You're still considered to be in "satisfactory" standing. There are no penalties—if you're an athlete, for instance, you're allowed to continue to participate in sports. If you get your term GPA back above 2.0 at the end of your warning semester, you return to good standing. You can remain in warning status as long as your cumulative GPA stays above 2.0. Otherwise, you face more severe consequences.
- Academic Suspension: If at any point your term and cumulative GPAs are below 2.0, you face suspension from UMass, Lowell. Suspension means you cannot enroll in courses the following semester, and you are barred from participating in student activities and athletic events.
- Academic Probation: You may appeal a suspension and gain an additional semester at UMass, Lowell, on probation. Again, you may not participate in sports or activities while on probation.
- Extended Probation: You can continue on probation, even if your cumulative GPA remains below 2.0, provided your term GPA shows considerable improvement.
- Academic Dismissal: Should you continue to struggle while on probation, you can eventually expect academic dismissal. Dismissal means total separation from the university for at least two years, and you must go through an application for readmission.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are experienced in filing suspension appeals. We can help you gather evidence to demonstrate your academic potential and to explain any deficiencies in your record. Appeals are entirely based on this evidence and the quality of your appeal itself. We can help you draft documents and make sure you offer the strongest possible arguments for why you should be allowed to continue at UMass, Lowell.
UMass, Lowell does not, however, offer any other types of appeals. If you're facing warning status or dismissal, there are no formal ways to challenge your sanction.
Luckily, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are also well-versed in a number of informal strategies that can keep your GPA above the danger level. For instance,
- If you suffer from a learning disability like ADD or ADHD, you may have the right to certain course accommodations to help level the playing field. If you should discover you have a previously undiagnosed disability, you can petition the university to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses after accommodations have been put in place.
- Your GPA can be affected by academic misconduct allegations. If your instructors think you've cheated or committed plagiarism, they can lower your grades on assignments or lower your course grades. Your Lento Law Firm attorney, though, can help you to appeal an instructor's findings and/ or the severity of the sanction.
- You always have the right to fair treatment in the classroom. If you feel you're being mistreated for any reason, you should bring that to the immediate attention of your instructor's department head or, failing that, the dean of the college that houses the course.
- Faculty are sometimes willing to negotiate grades. You need a solid argument and strong negotiating skills, but there are reasons why you might deserve a higher grade than your scores add up to. For example, if you scored especially high on your final exam, you might argue that your instructor should use that score as your course grade since it best demonstrates what you've learned.
- Some faculty are also open to assigning makeup and extra credit work. If your grade is borderline, you might try asking if you can rewrite a paper or complete an extra research assignment to raise it to the next level.
The Lento Law Firm has been defending students for a long time. As a result, we know all the tips and tricks to keep your GPA up. We know who to contact when you run into a problem, and we know what to say. No matter what issue you're dealing with, we'll help you come up with a plan, and we'll work with you to implement it.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your University of Massachusetts, Lowell diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It's your avenue to a successful career. If it's under threat, you can't afford to try and handle the problem by yourself. University processes and procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and often, you will find the system is stacked against you. You need the very best help you can get, someone who is in your corner and ready to fight on your behalf.
The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team has helped hundreds of students just like you respond to academic issues and make it to graduation. What can we do for you? To find out, call us today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
