The moment you start struggling with your grades, people start coming out of the woodwork to offer advice. You've heard most of it already: make sure you're in class every day and nod a lot so your professors think you're paying attention; start papers the day they're assigned rather than waiting until the night before they're due; figure out who the smartest person in the class is and start a study group with them.
Here's one we're pretty sure you haven't heard yet: hire an attorney. Here's the thing—keeping your GPA up has as much to do with how well you navigate university bureaucracy as it does with how well you do on final exams. When you know who to talk to when problems come up and what to say, academics become a lot easier. No one knows more about how to handle bureaucracy than attorneys.
You need the right sort of attorney, though. You need someone from the Lento Law Firm. The firm's Education Law Team was founded to help students make sense of their universities. We know all the rules and regulations at Webster University, and we can show you how to use them to your advantage.
We'll get into some useful tips and tricks below. For now, know that any time you're struggling with your grades, you owe it to yourself to find out how we can help. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out more, or take a little time now and tell us what kind of problem you're facing.
Academic Progress Standards at Webster University
The first thing you need to know is just what "academic progress" at WU means. It turns out there are specific standards the university expects you to meet, and there are consequences when you aren't meeting them, sometimes quite serious consequences. Here's what the academic standing policy has to say.
- Good Standing: Good standing, which is generally where you want to be, is defined as a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Keep yours at that level, and you have nothing to worry about. You're making steady progress toward earning your degree.
- Academic Probation: A cumulative GPA that slips below the 2.0 mark isn't a crisis. It is a cause for concern, though. To make sure you take the situation seriously, WU places you on academic probation status. Your main goal at this point should be getting yourself back to good standing. There's no hurry about doing that as long as you keep your term GPA above 2.0.
- Academic Dismissal: If your term GPA falls below 2.0 while you're on probation, WU then dismisses you altogether. Dismissal means complete separation from the university, and it lasts for a minimum of one full year. In addition, you must apply for readmission, and a successful application requires you to demonstrate your ability to perform college-level academic work by successfully completing at least 12 hours of coursework at another institution.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
If you've been dealing with extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or family emergency, you can appeal a dismissal and gain immediate reinstatement. Your Lento Law Firm attorney can help you document your particular circumstances and draft the appeal itself.
What do you do if you can't point to extenuating circumstances? For that matter, what do you do if you're just facing probation? The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team can help keep your GPA up before you run into trouble so that maybe you never have to worry about the threat of a sanction. For instance,
- You always have the right to fair treatment in the classroom. If you feel an instructor is mistreating you in any way, you should report this to your instructor's department head. You may get some immediate relief. At a minimum, you'll document the situation, which will make it easier to file a grade appeal after the semester is over.
- Learning disabilities are a common cause of low grades, and many students don't realize they have such disabilities. Disability Services offers free testing and can work with your instructors to implement classroom accommodations if you need them. In addition, you can ask WU to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake courses once those accommodations are in place.
- Another common cause of low grades is academic misconduct allegations. An instructor may have lowered an assignment grade or your course grade if they suspect you of cheating or plagiarism. However, you can always use the university's disciplinary processes to challenge their decisions.
- One easy way to keep your GPA up is to ask instructors for extra credit and makeup assignments. Keep in mind that pulling a B up to an A helps just as much as pulling an F up to a D. You don't have to wait until you're failing to ask for these opportunities.
- Faculty are also sometimes open to other types of grade negotiation. If, for example, you've shown significant progress over the course of a semester, you might ask an instructor to pass you even if your scores don't add up to a passing grade.
University advisors won't always tell you about all these possibilities. Many advisors don't even know about some of them. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm have been working with students for a number of years, long enough to have figured out all the best strategies for keeping your head above academic water. We'll help you come up with a solution that's targeted to your particular situation, and we'll remain at your side to help you put that solution into effect.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do for You?
Your Webster University 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.
