The bottom line when you're in college is that success requires maintaining a high GPA. If you can't do that, you face serious consequences, including the possibility of dismissal.
However, there's a long list of things you need to do to keep your GPA up. You have to go to class and study. You want to start writing papers when they're assigned rather than the night before they're due. It sometimes helps to visit with your instructors during office hours or join a study group.
You also have to learn how to work with the university system. You need to know who to talk to if you've been in the hospital and missed some assignments. You need to know how to get along with prickly professors. You need to know what makes the best evidence in a grade appeal.
The studying part and going to class? That's on you. When it comes to college, there's no substitute for hard work and discipline. As for the rest? It's what the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is here for. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are focused on helping students navigate the often bewildering bureaucracy of university life. They know how the University of Tennessee works. They also know your rights as a student. Most of all, though, they're committed to your future and to making sure nothing stands in the way of your academic success.
Academic Progression at the University of Tennessee
Maybe you already know the University of Tennessee Academic Standing policy inside and out. For those who don't, though, the point of this policy is to keep you on track as you work towards your degree. It sets the standards you must meet, and it defines the consequences you face any time you don't meet them.
- Good Standing: You want to be in Good Standing. It means everything's going well, and your progress is steady. In concrete numbers, Good Standing requires you to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and to be consistent in earning term GPAs of at least 2.0.
- Probation: Probation can happen for one of two reasons: either your cumulative GPA falls below that 2.0 number, or you have two semesters in a row of term GPAs below 2.0. In either case, probation is a serious status, a sort of final warning before the university dismisses you. Obviously, you can return to Good standing once your GPAs have risen. And you can remain on probation if either your term GPA or your cumulative GPA is above 2.0.
- Dismissal: If both your term and cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 at the end of a Probationary semester, UT then dismisses you outright from the university. A first Dismissal lasts for at least one semester. You must apply for readmission, and your return is not guaranteed. A second Dismissal lasts for a full year, and it is even hard to gain readmission. Third Dismissals are permanent.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
You can appeal a Dismissal and return to classes immediately, but UT is strict about what qualifies as a reasonable justification for appeal.
- Personal or family emergency
- Unanticipated serious physical health difficulty
- Serious mental health difficulty
- Issues pertaining to a recently diagnosed disability or change in disability status
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are experienced when it comes to filing Dismissal appeals. They've been working with students long enough to know exactly what qualifies as evidence, how to gather the proper documentation, and how to phrase the arguments in your appeal.
Likewise, they know the readmission process at UT inside and out. For example, they know that if you're returning from a second Dismissal, you're going to need at least 12 hours of coursework from another institution and a GPA of at least 2.5 for that coursework.
The fact is, though, that you're far better off if you can avoid reaching the point of dismissal in the first place. Luckily, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team also knows a number of useful strategies for doing that as well. For example,
- Low grades can be the result of academic misconduct allegations. If your instructor thinks you've plagiarized a paper, they have the authority to lower your grade on that paper or to lower your grade in the course. They can even fail you if they feel your offense is serious enough. However, you have the right to challenge their findings and their choice of sanction to their department.
- Classroom mistreatment can be grounds for a grade appeal. If you believe your instructor is treating you unfairly, you should let their department head know immediately.
- Consistently low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. You might consider visiting Disability Services. They can get you tested and work with your professors to put accommodations in place. You might even be allowed to drop low grades from your GPA and retake those courses.
- Some faculty are open to the process of grade negotiation. You might have a specific argument to make as to why your grade should be higher. You might ask your instructor to look over all your work and reconsider your scores. Or, you might try asking for extra credit or makeup assignments.
No matter what your specific situation, the Student Defense Team of the Lento Law Firm can help you come up with a plan to avoid an academic sanction and work with you to put that plan into action, whether that means helping you draft an appeal or coaching you in the art of negotiation. Don't wait until you've reached the point of dismissal, though. Contact the Lento Law Firm at the very first sign of trouble.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Do for You?
Students sometimes ask: how exactly is an attorney-advisor 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. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense 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.
