UNC is a serious school with serious academic standards. You want that in a university. It means that when all is said and done, your degree will be worth something. It's not always easy to live up to high standards, though. We all stumble now and then, no matter how bright and motivated we may be.
National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento wants to make sure that stumbling doesn't cost you your degree. You might ask, how can an attorney help me with coursework? He can't. Often, though, issues of academic progress are as much about navigating a school's bureaucracy as they are about what grade you made on your midterm. Joseph D. Lento can definitely help with that. If you're facing probation or even dismissal at UNC, you owe it to yourself to find out just what Joseph D. Lento can do for you.
Academic Progression Requirements at the UNC, Chapel Hill
First things first: just what are the academic standards at UNC, and what happens if you have trouble meeting them? According to the university's Academic Standing Policy, you must meet four criteria to remain in “good” standing.
- First, you must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
- In addition, you must successfully complete at least two-thirds of all the courses you attempt. Keep in mind that successful completion means earning a passing grade.
- You must complete a certain number of hours based on how long you have been enrolled at the university. For instance, after one full-time semester, you must have earned at least nine academic hours. After two semesters, you must have earned at least 24 academic hours.
- Finally, you must complete your degree within 180 attempted credit hours.
UNC reviews student progress after each semester, including summer terms. Should you fail to meet any one of these standards, your status falls to “warning.” This is basically a probationary status. It means you must complete an academic intervention plan explaining how you intend to get your studies back on track, and it means you have just one semester to meet good standing criteria.
If you fail to meet standards at the end of a warning semester, you risk suspension from the university. There is a process for readmission after a semester away from the school. However, readmission is never guaranteed, and further academic struggles can ultimately result in permanent dismissal.
Dealing With Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal Decisions
For the most part, academic standing decisions aren't subject to review at UNC. That's because they are a matter of numbers. Either you are meeting the criteria to be in good standing, or you aren't.
However, there are some available remedies. First, when the school issues you a suspension, you have two options.
- Appeal the suspension. If, for instance, extenuating circumstances led you to struggle, you may be granted a semester of “probation.” Essentially, probation works the way a warning semester works. That is, you are required to complete an academic intervention plan, and if you still aren't meeting requirements at the end of the semester, you are suspended. Under probation, though, you cannot further appeal your suspension.
- Alternatively, you can withdraw from the university for a semester. UNC suggests that you use this semester for personal growth, such as enrolling in courses at another institution, working, volunteering, or improving your health. Then you can appeal to return to the university on probationary status.
In addition, there are other, less formal ways to deal with the threat of suspension.
- If you feel you've been mistreated by an instructor, you should always report that treatment to the department head. You may be entitled to a higher grade.
- You should always make sure to calculate your grade yourself. Professors have been known to make statistical errors, and sometimes getting a higher grade is simply a matter of asking them to review your scores.
- You might try asking a professor to reconsider the quality of your work. Faculty can sometimes be persuaded that a paper you wrote is better than they originally thought it was. Or, you might be able to convince them that while your scores didn't add up to the grade you wanted, your progress over the semester deserves recognition.
- Some faculty offer extra credit or makeup work to help students raise their grades, even after a semester is over. They may be willing to issue you an Incomplete while you finish this work, and that could keep your GPA from falling too low.
Not every option will work for every situation. Joseph D. Lento can let you know which will be best for you, and he can help you to pursue it, whether that means coaching you on how to negotiate with an instructor or helping you gather evidence to support a readmission appeal.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor
Many students assume that once they get to college, they're expected to handle all their problems on their own. After all, you're supposed to be “adulting” now, right? The trouble is, you don't know the first thing about fighting a dismissal decision. You're a student, not an attorney.
Joseph D. Lento is an attorney, and he specializes in helping students. Joseph D. Lento built his career handling academic progress and student conduct issues. He and his Education Law team know the UNC system, and they know how to use it to your advantage. Most importantly, they are on your side. They recognize that no one is perfect, and they don't believe that a few mistakes should keep you from finding success.
You've worked hard to get to this point in your academic career. Don't let a difficult course or a difficult semester ruin all that you've accomplished so far.
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.
