Your college years can be among the most rewarding of your life, but they certainly won't be the easiest. University courses can be tough, and university professors can be demanding. You're obviously bright and capable, or you wouldn't have made it this far. When you were in high school, though, you had something you don't have this time around: someone to get you out of bed in the morning, to make sure you're studying, and to do your laundry.
You're not entirely on your own, though. Your parents are just a phone call away if you need them. And, if you're struggling to keep up, if you find your grades beginning to slip, you can also call on Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. What can a lawyer do to help you with academics? We'll get into that. For now, you need to know that, outside of your parents, no one cares more about your success than Joseph D. Lento and his team. They don't believe anything should stand in the way of earning your degree, and they're here to make sure you get to the finish line.
Academic Progression at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech talks about academic progress in terms of “eligibility.” Meet academic standards, and you remain “eligible” to continue enrolling in courses. The most important of these standards is the cumulative grade point average. Keep this above 2.0, and you remain in “good” standing. Should your GPA fall below this number, though, you face a series of progressive sanctions.
- Academic Probation: The first consequence for a low GPA is probation. While on probation, you are limited to 16 credit hours per term. In addition, you must meet with an advisor and sign a statement acknowledging your deficiencies and providing a thorough plan for improvement. Your more important concern when you are on probation, though, is getting off of it. You have two semesters to return to good standing. Otherwise, you face stiffer penalties.
- First Academic Suspension: Should your GPA remain below 2.0 at the end of two semesters on probation, the school then suspends you for a period of one semester. Upon returning from suspension, you must obtain a cumulative GPA above 2.0 in two semesters.
- Second Academic Suspension: If, on returning from suspension, you fail to achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA in two semesters, you are then placed on a second suspension. This time, you must remain away from Virginia Tech for a full year. Again, you are expected to return to good standing within two semesters after returning from this suspension.
- Dismissal: Should you be suspended a third time, your separation from the university becomes permanent. In other words, you are no longer allowed to enroll at Virginia Tech.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Unfortunately, Virginia Tech does not offer any formal means of protesting an academic standing decision. The school assumes that the grounds for sanctions are a matter of fact—specifically, your GPA—and since this isn't normally a matter for review, it sees no reason to conduct investigations or hearings into whether or not a sanction is warranted.
That doesn't mean you have no options if you're facing probation or suspension. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know a number of useful strategies for responding to the threat of sanctions.
- If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can try appealing to the academic dean for more time in which to improve. Often, a genuine crisis merits a reprieve from probation or suspension.
- A learning disability can sometimes be grounds for a grade appeal. If, for instance, you are entitled to course accommodations you weren't given, you may deserve a higher course grade.
- Academic misconduct allegations can also be a contributing factor to low grades. If your instructor decides you've plagiarized all or part of a paper, they can lower your grade on the assignment or lower your grade in the course. You have the right to challenge your instructor's decisions, though, by appealing to an Honor System panel.
- Classroom mistreatment can also be grounds for a grade appeal. If you feel an instructor is treating you unfairly, you can appeal to that instructor's department head.
- You might be surprised to discover that some faculty are open to the possibility of grade negotiation. You need a convincing argument and some good evidence, like a particularly high final exam score, but it might be that you can talk a professor into giving you the course grade you feel you deserve.
- Some faculty are also willing to assign makeup or extra credit work. If your grade is borderline, you may only need a handful of points to improve your GPA.
Whatever your situation, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can work with you to craft a plan and put that plan into action.
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 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, a 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
