You aced all your courses in high school. You did well on the SATs. You got into Valencia College with no problem. College should be a breeze, right? Not so fast. College courses aren't the same as high school courses, and most professors are far more demanding than even the strictest high school teachers. Plus, you won't just be taking classes now. You'll be trying to learn how to adult at the same time. Bottom line: you're going to have some tough classes and even some tough semesters over the next several years. How do you make sure they don't hold you back from earning your degree?
At the first sign of trouble, you contact Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. They know how VC works. They know who to talk to when you have a problem and what to say, and they can help you navigate the system whether you're trying to convince an instructor to extend the due date for a paper or you need to appeal an academic dismissal.
Academic Progression at Valencia College
Academic progress is defined by your school's academic standing policy. This sets the minimum standards you must meet in order to keep moving toward graduation as well as the penalties you face should you fail to meet those standards.
Good academic standing at Valencia College is pretty straightforward. Maintain a term grade point average of at least 2.0 every semester, and you're in good shape. Should your GPA fall below that number, though, you face an escalating series of consequences.
- Academic Warning: The first time your GPA falls, VC places you on Academic Warning status. There are no requirements when you're on Academic Warning other than to improve your GPA and return to Good standing. However, the school does “strongly recommend” you consult with an academic advisor.
- Academic Probation: If you do not raise your term GPA and cumulative GPA above 2.0 while on Academic Warning, you are then subject to Academic Probation. You must complete a Probation Pass. In addition, you must not only visit with an advisor but get that advisor's approval before you can register for your next semester's courses.
- Academic Suspension: If your term GPA remains below 2.0 for two successive semesters while on probation, you are then suspended from VC for one semester. In addition, you must complete an online suspension tutorial course. Finally, you cannot return until you have successfully applied for readmission to the college.
When you return from a suspension, you are once again placed on probation, and if you cannot earn a 2.0 term GPA, VC then places you on a longer suspension. Ultimately, if you cannot improve, you face permanent dismissal from the college.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
There are no formal mechanisms at Valencia for challenging an academic standing decision. That includes suspension and dismissal decisions.
Luckily, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know a number of informal approaches to handling academic sanctions. For example,
- Extenuating circumstances, like a family emergency, can be grounds for more time to improve. If you're dealing with such circumstances, you should let the Dean of Students know as soon as possible.
- Mistreatment from an instructor may warrant a grade revision. If you believe you've been treated unfairly, you should bring this to the attention of your instructor's department head.
- If you have any type of disability, including a learning disability, you may be entitled to course accommodations, such as extra time to complete your assignments. When an instructor doesn't give you these accommodations, you may be entitled to some form of grade relief. At a minimum, you may be able to drop the grade and retake the course without penalty.
- Low grades are sometimes the result of cheating allegations. However, you have the right to challenge such allegations and any assigned sanctions through the school's Student Code of Conduct.
- You will find some faculty are open to the process of grade negotiation. Of course, that process can be delicate, and you'll certainly need a strong argument for why you deserve better scores.
- You will also find that some faculty are willing to assign extra credit or makeup assignments. If you have a borderline grade, this is often the quickest way to improve your GPA and avoid a sanction like Probation or Suspension.
Joseph D. Lento and his team don't just know all the available solutions to academic progress issues; they're also skilled at choosing the very best solution for your specific situation. In addition, they can offer practical help getting your GPA up, whether you need them to draft a grade appeal or you're looking for coaching in the art of negotiation.
Of course, should you be suspended, they're also familiar with Valencia's readmission process. They know what review committees look for and how to make you look your best on the application.
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 attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Educational Law team. That team was assembled specifically to handle student conduct and academic progress issues.
Joseph D. Lento and his 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.
