You made it into Wichita State! Congratulations are in order.
Keep in mind, though, that making it in isn't the same as graduating. That takes at least four years of hard work, and you should know that college isn't like high school. WSU can dismiss you if it decides your grades are too low.
How do you prevent that outcome? Well, you study, obviously. You go to class every day. If you're struggling, you visit your instructor during office hours, join a study group, or find a tutor. And there's another useful strategy you might not have considered—you can call the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm.
Attorneys? Yep. A large part of surviving college is figuring out how to navigate the university system. No one understands bureaucratic red tape better than attorneys, and no one is better at handling education bureaucratic red tape than the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team.
Below, we explain all the ways that we can help with your academic progress issues. Before we do that, though, here's how you can contact us. Call 888-535-3686, or take a little time now and tell us about your situation.
Academic Progression at Wichita State University
Let's start by outlining just what you need to stay out of academic trouble at WSU. That's actually relatively straightforward. To remain in "good" standing, you need a cumulative grade point of at least 2.0. As long as you've got that, the university assumes you're making steady progress toward your degree.
The next question, of course, is what happens if your GPA should fall below that point. The good news is you won't find yourself automatically dismissed from the university. At least not yet. Here's the whole Wichita State academic standing policy.
- Good Standing: Your GPA is at least 2.0, and life is good.
- Academic Probation: Your GPA falls below 2.0. You are limited to no more than 14 hours per semester. Your primary goal in life at this point is to get your GPA back up and return to good standing. You can take as long as you need to do that, except that if your term GPA should fall below 2.0, your probation turns into dismissal.
- Academic Dismissal: This means permanent separation from Wichita State. You are no longer entitled to register for or attend classes, and you become ineligible for a degree.
Wichita State's standing policy is one of the stricter policies in the country. There is, for example, no suspension period and no "temporary separation" from the university to teach you a lesson about taking academics seriously. There's just probation and dismissal.
Keep in mind, as well, that dismissal doesn't just mean dismissal. It comes with a transcript notation about what led to your dismissal. It can be hard to find another institution willing to accept you once that's on your record. You must take academic progress seriously, and that means making sure you have the Lento Law Firm attorney on your side.
Dealing With Academic Standing Decisions
Wichita State maintains a University Exceptions Committee, the purpose of which is to determine when students are eligible for exceptions to school policies. One of the chief functions of this committee is to consider academic sanction appeals. If you have been dismissed, and you can point to extenuating circumstances that led to your academic deficiencies, the Exceptions Committee can reverse your sanction. However, you must have compelling evidence to back up your appeal.
If you've found yourself in this situation, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you to gather and organize evidence and draft your appeal. They know what kind of materials this committee finds persuasive, and they know how to make you look good on paper.
What do you do if you're struggling academically and you don't have extenuating circumstances to explain your situation? For that matter, how can you prevent reaching the point of dismissal in the first place?
As it happens, the Lento Law Firm attorneys also know a number of informal options for keeping your GPA out of the danger zone. For example,
- Many disabilities, including learning disabilities, are eligible for classroom accommodations. If you have ADD or ADHD, for instance, you may be entitled to extra time to complete assignments in some of your courses. If you struggle consistently in all your classes, it might be worth getting tested to see if you have a disability. If you do, you can retake courses with no penalty.
- Sometimes, a single "D" or "F" can devastate your GPA. If you've been given such a grade because of an academic misconduct allegation, you should know that you have the right to appeal your instructors' decisions to the Academic Integrity Committee.
- Some faculty still assign extra credit and makeup work to students, especially if you have a borderline grade. It's always worthwhile to ask for such opportunities. The worst they can say is no.
- Some faculty are willing to negotiate grades for other reasons. If, for example, your final exam score was higher than your course grade, you might try asking your instructor to use it as your course grade.
- You always have the right to fair treatment in the classroom. If you've experienced bias or some other type of unfair treatment, you should report this to your instructor's department head. This will open a record that you can rely on to file a formal grade appeal.
Every situation is different. You can count on the Lento Law Firm attorney to sit down with you and go over exactly what's happening. Then, they'll come up with a customized plan for getting you back on track. Finally, they'll work with you to implement that plan, whether that means filing a formal appeal, negotiating with an instructor, or just figuring out who you should call.
What Can the Lento Law Firm Do For You?
Your Wichita State diploma is far more than just a piece of paper. It's your avenue to a successful career. If it's under threat, 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 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.
