So, college has turned out to be tougher than you expected. You knew courses would be rigorous. You knew professors would be demanding. You weren't expecting to have so much trouble balancing coursework with the everyday frustrations life throws your way, though. The thing is, when you were in high school, you had someone to wake you up in the morning, someone to make sure you studied at night, someone to do your laundry. In simple terms, you're learning how to adult at the same time you're learning calculus, and as a result, you're struggling a little.
It happens. Even the best students sometimes see their grades slip in college. The trick is not to let them slip too far. There are consequences for a low GPA.
We can help. The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team knows what you're going through. We've worked with hundreds of students over the years, and along the way, we've learned a thing or two about how university bureaucracy works. We can tell you who to call when you need to miss class to deal with a personal crisis, how to file a grade appeal, and how to negotiate with professors.
So, at the very first sign of trouble, contact the Lento Law Firm and find out what we can do for you. Call 888-535-3686, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at the University of North Georgia
You had a safety net when you were in high school. Every kid in America is entitled to a K-12 education. Your school could make you repeat classes if you failed them, but it couldn't throw you out. UNG can do that.
The university has a strict academic standing policy. According to that policy, you need to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point of 2.0 in order to remain in “good” standing. Anything below that, and you face academic sanctions.
- Academic Warning: If your GPA should fall during your first semester, UNG issues you an academic warning. You're still technically in good standing. The university recognizes that lots of freshmen struggle with the adjustment to college, so as long as you're still under 18 hours, you just get a warning.
- Academic Probation: If your GPA should fall after you've completed 18 hours, you're put on academic probation. The world hasn't come to an end if this should happen to you. There are no special courses to take or webinars to complete. No one will contact your parents, probation doesn't show up on your transcript, and you can return to good standing as soon as you get back above a 2.0. However, while you're on probation, you need to make sure your term GPA is at least 2.0. Otherwise, you risk more serious consequences.
- Academic Suspension: If you cannot earn a 2.0 while on probation, UNG then suspends you for two full semesters. After these two semesters, you can apply for reinstatement, but should you return, you will be on probation once again until you raise your cumulative GPA.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
If you've been dealing with extenuating circumstances—maybe you've experienced a death in the family, or you've been struggling with depression—you can appeal a UNG suspension to the Office of the Vice Provost. A successful appeal means you can continue on probation for an additional semester.
What do you do if you don't have such extenuating circumstances to explain your deficiencies? For that matter, what do you do if you want to avoid a lesser academic sanction, like probation? The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can suggest a number of options to keep your GPA above the danger level. For example,
- If you consistently struggle to pass your courses, it could be that you have an undiagnosed learning disability, such as ADD, ADHD, or dyslexia. Such a disability may warrant course accommodations, like extra time to complete assignments or access to special technology. In addition, you can petition UNG to drop low grades from your GPA. Then, you can retake those courses and replace those low grades.
- Your instructors have enormous authority in the classroom. Among their powers, they can accuse you of cheating or plagiarism and assign you an in-class sanction like a lowered grade on an assignment or a lowered grade in the course. No one will question their initial decision. However, if your GPA is suffering because of an accusation like this, you should know that you do have the right to challenge your instructor's decisions to a higher authority and to make your case before a Student Conduct Hearing Panel.
- Instructors sometimes mistreat students in other ways as well. If you don't feel an instructor is treating you fairly, you should alert that instructor's department head. You may be entitled to some form of grade relief.
- Some instructors are willing to assign extra credit and makeup work if you ask for it. This can be an easy way to raise your grade in the course and, thus, your overall GPA.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to negotiate grades if you have a compelling argument. If, for instance, your final exam score was higher than your course average, you might ask your professor to use it in place of your course average.
The thing is, while there are a number of these informal ways to deal with a low GPA, you have to know them, and you have to know which ones are right for your particular situation. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you come up with a plan that's targeted to your individual needs, and they can work with you to put that plan into action, whether you need to file a grade appeal or you need coaching in how to negotiate with professors.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your University of North Georgia 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.
