You work hard as a college student, we know. You get to every single class every day. When you're not in class, you're studying. There are papers to write and student groups to join. You try to make time to stop by to see professors during office hours, and you've visited the writing center. You do all of this in the name of a higher GPA.
Maybe it's time you considered working smarter rather than just working harder. What do we mean? It turns out that if you know how to effectively navigate the UT-Chattanooga system, it can make a demonstrable difference to your grades.
How do we know? The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team has been working with students for many years, and along the way, we've learned every trick in the book to meet academic progress expectations. Our attorneys can tell you exactly who to contact any time you have a problem and exactly what to say.
Whatever your specific situation, we can help. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out how, or take a little time now and tell us what kind of problem you're facing.
Academic Progress Standards at UT-Chattanooga
College isn't like high school. No matter how low your grades dip in high school, they can't kick you out. Low grades have clear consequences for college students, though. You can even find yourself dismissed if you're not careful.
All of this is explained in UT-Chattanooga's academic standing policy.
- Good Standing: It is possible to earn academic honors like the Dean's List mentions, but your primary goal while you're at UT-Chattanooga should be to stay in “good” standing. To do that, you need a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
- Academic Warning: Any time your semester GPA falls below 2.2, the university issues an academic warning. You remain in good standing, but the school wants you to know that you're struggling a bit academically.
- Academic Probation: If your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, UT-Chattanooga moves you from good standing to academic probation status. At this point, the clock is ticking on your return to good standing. You can remain on academic probation for an additional semester as long as your semester GPA is 2.0 or better. If you haven't improved after two semesters on probation, though, you then face suspension.
- Academic Suspension: This means total separation from the university for at least one semester (note that the multiple summer terms count as a single semester for purposes of suspension). After this point, you can apply for readmission. In fact, if you've taken courses at another institution in the meantime and earned at least a 2.0 on all coursework, your readmission is automatic.
- Academic Dismissal: Should you continue to struggle after returning from a suspension, you then face dismissal. Dismissals last for at least one year, and your return is not guaranteed. As part of your readmission package, you must be able to explain what led to your academic deficiencies and how you plan to improve moving forward.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
Lento Law Firm attorneys are adept at filing readmission packets if you've been suspended or dismissed. We know what counts as evidence of academic improvement, and we've helped hundreds of students convince readmission committees that they're capable of doing college-level work.
However, there are also ways to keep your GPA up and avoid suspension and dismissal in the first place. Lento Law Firm attorneys are also well-versed in using UT-Chattanooga policies to keep our clients out of academic trouble. For example,
- If you've dealt with extenuating circumstances over the last semester or the last year, you can leverage these to gain more time on probation. A serious illness or a family emergency is usually grounds for extra time to improve.
- You always have the right to fair treatment in the classroom. If you feel an instructor is mistreating you, you should report that immediately to the instructor's department head. You may be entitled to some form of grade relief.
- If you should discover you have a previously undiagnosed learning disability, you can petition UT-Chattanooga to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses for replacement credit.
- Another common source of low grades is academic integrity allegations. If an instructor has accused you of cheating, plagiarism, or some other form of dishonesty, you can challenge those accusations through the university's disciplinary misconduct policy.
- Some faculty are willing to negotiate grades if you have a compelling argument. Even if you've failed a course, for instance, you might try asking an instructor to take your improvement into account.
- Faculty are also sometimes open to assigning makeup and extra credit work, especially to students with borderline grades. Even if you can only improve a couple of course grades, that can make a big difference to your GPA.
Your Lento Law Firm attorney will go over your entire case with you. Based on your specific situation, they'll offer recommendations to get you back on track, and they'll work with you to put those recommendations into action. We can always get you in touch with the right administrator, but we can also coach you in negotiation tactics or help you file a formal appeal. Whatever you need, we're here for you.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your University of Tennessee-Chattanooga diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It's your avenue to a successful career. If it's under threat for any reason, 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 progress 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.
