You came to the University of Oregon to be a student, and you can expect the school to hold you to that. Sure, you've got a lot of other worries: your roommate's night terrors, how you're gonna pay all those parking tickets from last semester, learning how to separate your colors and your whites. UO is most interested in your GPA, though, which means you have to be too.
What do you do when all those other things you're worried about actually start to get out of control—you know, those semesters when everything seems to go wrong at once, and your GPA starts to slip?
You call Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. They know the University of Oregon inside and out. They know the judicial procedures; they know the grade appeals process; they know whom to talk to when problems come up and what to say. Most importantly, they're on your side. They know how tough college can be, and they don't believe a mistake or two should put your education in jeopardy.
Academic Progression at the University of Oregon
Like all universities, the University of Oregon measures academic progress with a “standing” policy. UO's standing policy is relatively straightforward. You need to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA in order to stay in “good” standing. Anything lower than that, and you face serious consequences.
- Academic Warning: First, you should know that should your term GPA fall below 2.0, even if your cumulative GPA remains about that number, the school issues you a “warning.” The good news is warnings don't show up on your transcript. They're just early indicators that you need to work a bit harder.
- Academic Probation: Should your cumulative GPA fall below that 2.0 number, you're then placed on “probation.” You can also be placed on probation for three consecutive term GPAs below 2.0. While on probation, you are limited to taking fifteen hours. In addition, you should know that probation is noted on your transcript, and that can cause issues when you're applying to graduate school or looking for your first job out of college.
- Academic Disqualification: Your biggest concern when you're on probation, though, is getting off of it. If you haven't raised your cumulative GPA by the end of this semester, you then become academically “disqualified.” This, too, is noted on your transcript, but far more importantly, it usually means the end of your career at UO. The Scholastic Review Committee does accept petitions for readmission if you've been disqualified. However, readmission standards are rigorous, and the majority of petitions are ultimately denied.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
It is far better to avoid disqualification if you can since, at that point, it may simply be too late to convince the Scholastic Review Committee to give you another chance. How do you avoid it, especially since the University of Oregon doesn't offer any formal process for challenging a warning or probation decision?
It turns out there are a number of informal approaches for dealing with the threat of an academic sanction. The trick is knowing how to use them effectively.
- Extenuating circumstances sometimes entitle you to more time to improve your grades. If you've dealt with a long-term illness or a family emergency during the semester, you can try appealing to the dean of your school or college.
- You may come across instructors who don't treat you fairly. If this is the case, you should let the instructor's department head know. Again, this could result in a higher grade for the course.
- If you suffer from a disability—including learning disabilities—you may have the right to course accommodations. If you don't receive these, you can appeal your grades. In fact, even if you weren't diagnosed at the time you took the course, you may be able to drop your low grade and re-take the class with no penalty.
- Academic misconduct is another reason for low grades. If your instructor has accused you of cheating or plagiarism and lowered an assignment score or your course grade, you have the right to challenge those decisions through an Administrative Conference and, if necessary, an appeal to a University Appellate Body.
- Some instructors are willing to assign makeup and extra credit work, especially to students with borderline grades.
- Faculty are also sometimes willing to negotiate class grades. If you have a compelling argument—such as the fact that your final exam score was especially high—you might try asking a professor to reconsider your work.
Again, none of these is a formal approach to a low GPA. You won't read about them in your Student Handbook, and they may not occur to your advisor. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team, though, have spent years working with students to overcome academic progress issues. Over those years, they've amassed a long list of options for handling such issues. They can help you choose a plan and help you put it into action.
Of course, if you should wind up disqualified, they are also experienced with the appeals process at the University of Oregon. They can help you gather evidence and draft a persuasive petition to try and get yourself reinstated.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor, Joseph D. Lento
Students ask all the time: How is an attorney supposed to help me make it through college? It's a fair question. After all, 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.
The thing is, though, succeeding in college is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about writing papers and taking exams. No one knows more about dealing with bureaucracy than attorneys, and no one knows more about dealing with educational bureaucracy than Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are 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 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
