College can be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. It's a chance to learn and grow in ways you'll never have the opportunity to do again. You make friends that last a lifetime. You establish your independence and figure out just who you are.
No one ever said it would be easy, though. It turns out that learning and growing take a lot of effort. Translation: Courses are tough, professors are demanding, and earning good grades takes discipline and hard work.
Sometimes, it also takes knowing the system and how to use it to your advantage. If you can't seem to master differential equations, you're probably going to need to join a study group or hire a tutor. If you're having trouble getting along with an instructor, though, or convincing an administrator that you deserve extra time to complete your assignments because you have a learning disability, you're going to want a different sort of help.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know the law as it applies to education. They also know the UNLV system—inside and out. Most importantly, they're committed to making sure your school treats you fairly and that you have every possible chance to earn your degree. If you're struggling to meet academic progress requirements, and you've done everything you can think of to improve academically, it might be time to contact the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team and see how they can help.
Academic Progression at UNLV
Academic progress at UNLV is defined by the school's Academic Standing policy. Such policies set the standards you must meet in order to keep moving forward from one semester to the next. UNLV's policy is relatively simple. To remain in Good standing, you have to maintain no less than a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Should your GPA fall below that number, you're then subject to sanctions.
- Probation: The first consequence of a low GPA is Probation. UNLV puts a hold on your registration, and you must meet with an advisor in order to lift that hold. Your most important goal, though, should be to return to Good standing. You have two semesters in which to do that.
- College Suspension: Two consecutive semesters of probation means suspension. Suspension means one semester away from the university, and you must apply to the ASC Academic Standards Committee (ASC) for reinstatement.
- University Suspension: Should your Grade Point Balance (a measure of how far below 2.0 you are) fall below -15, UNLV suspends you for a full year. However, you need to reapply. Reinstatement is automatic once this year is completed.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
The good news with UNLV's academic standing policy is that there's no dismissal. A semester or year-long suspension can be a serious disruption to your studies, and many students struggle to perform academically once they've been Suspended. Nevertheless, you can always apply for reinstatement.
The bad news is that UNLV doesn't offer any formal means of challenging an academic standing decision. Probation and suspension are based entirely on GPA, and the school doesn't view that as open to debate.
Luckily, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of options for dealing with the threat of an academic sanction. For example,
- Extenuating circumstances may be grounds for an extension rather than a sanction. If you've been hospitalized, for example, or forced to deal with a family emergency, you can petition the dean of your college.
- The type of classroom mistreatment is grounds for a grade appeal. You should report all such mistreatment to your instructor's department head as soon as it happens.
- Low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. If you consistently struggle to keep up in class, you might consider visiting with Disability Services. If it turns out you have a disability, you may be entitled to special course accommodations. You may even be able to drop low grades from your transcript and retake those courses.
- Another common reason for low grades is academic misconduct accusations. If your instructor believes you've committed plagiarism or cheated on an exam, they have the power to lower your grades. However, you can challenge such decisions to the school's Academic Integrity Appeal Board.
- Try asking instructors for extra credit or makeup assignments. This works especially well if your grade is already borderline. One essay rewrite could be enough to stave off Probation or Suspension.
- Some faculty are also open to more sophisticated types of grade negotiation. For example, if your final exam grade was particularly high, you might try asking your instructor to use it as your course grade.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are highly experienced at filing reinstatement petitions. You can trust them to know what to say in your petition and the best evidence to include.
Don't let your academic situation get to that point, though. At the first sign of trouble, contact the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team; they can suggest to keep your progress steady.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team Do for You?
Students sometimes ask: How exactly is an attorney 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 the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. Their Education Law Team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The Lento Law Firm Team is 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 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
