If you've been at the University of Missouri, St. Louis (UMSL) for more than a minute, you already know that college isn't like high school. Courses are tougher, teachers are more demanding, and if your GPA falls low enough, the university won't just make you retake classes. It can dismiss you altogether.
If you're struggling to meet academic progress requirements, we can help. What do attorneys know about raising GPAs? More than you might expect. Often, grades have as much to do with navigating the university system as they do with learning to solve differential equations. Who knows more about dealing with complex bureaucratic systems than attorneys? And the Lento Law Firm attorneys work specifically in the area of education bureaucracy. Our Education Law Team can tell you who to talk to when you have a problem and what to say. And if you need to fight for your educational rights, we're always on your side.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at UMSL
OK, so you have to keep your grades up. You're a student, so that's not entirely unexpected, right? Just how high do you need to keep them, though?
According to UMSL's academic standing policy, "good" standing requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above. As long as you're meeting that standard, you're making steady progress toward your degree and don't have to worry about sanctions. Otherwise, though, things can get complicated.
- Academic Notice: The first consequence for falling below the 2.0 number is academic notice. The standing policy makes no mention of extra requirements. You don't have to sign up for a study skills class, for instance, or take a time management seminar. You have just two semesters, though, to get your GPA back up to good standing.
- Academic Warning: If your GPA remains below 2.0 after a semester on academic notice, UMSL then issues you an academic warning. This is just what it sounds like a warning that if you continue to struggle, you can face much worse punishment. Again, there are no extra academic requirements. You don't even have to visit with your advisor. This is your last semester, though, to pull up your grades.
- Academic Dismissal: If, after two semesters, you cannot pull your GPA up, you then face outright dismissal from UMSL.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Neither does UMSL make any mention of a formal appeals process. The implication is that because sanctions are based solely on your GPA, decisions are final. There is no need for an investigation or hearing to confirm your deficiencies, and notice, warning, and even dismissal happen essentially automatically.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm recognize that there are all sorts of reasons why your GPA might fall, and we don't believe a tough semester or two should stand in the way of earning your degree. We've also been helping students long enough to have picked up some useful tips and tricks along the way. If you're having trouble keeping your grades up, we may be able to suggest some useful strategies. For example,
- Consistently low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. If you have such a disability, you may need course accommodations to help level the playing field. We can get you tested, and we can petition the university to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake courses without penalty.
- It is unusual, but you will occasionally come across an instructor who is biased against you for some reason or simply refuses to treat you fairly. You should report any mistreatment to your instructors' department heads. You may deserve some type of grade revision.
- Instructors have enormous authority in the classroom. They can, for example, decide you have cheated or committed some form of plagiarism and, on their own authority, lower your grade on an assignment or lower your course grade. They can even fail you outright if they think your offense is serious enough. Luckily, there is a check on this power. You have the right to appeal their decisions to a Student Conduct Committee. Even if you are guilty of the offense, you can still ask the committee to reduce the severity of your sanction.
- If your grade in a course is borderline, you should always ask the instructor for extra credit or makeup work. This won't work in every case, but it will usually work often enough to keep your GPA where it needs to be.
- Faculty also sometimes entertain other sorts of arguments about grades. If, for example, your final exam score is higher than your course grade, you might try negotiating with an instructor to use it as your course grade.
We've already said it, but it bears repeating. You're not alone if you're facing an academic sanction. The Lento Law Firm is always here for you. We won't just give you suggestions for what to do. We'll work with you to come up with a clear plan, and we'll help you to implement that plan, whether that means filing a formal appeal, coaching you in negotiation tactics, or simply figuring out what you need to call.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your University of Missouri, St. Louis 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.
