It seems like when you’re in college, everyone has some advice or other things to give you. You’ve probably heard it all. Nod while your professors are talking so they think you’re listening. Start papers the day they’re assigned. Visit instructors during office hours so they can put a face to your name.

Here’s a piece of advice you probably haven’t heard, but we guarantee it is just as useful as all the others: figure out how to navigate the Pasco-Hernando (PHSC) system. It’s a lot harder to earn good grades if you don’t know what to do when you need to miss class to attend a funeral. You need to know who to talk to if a professor doesn’t seem to like you and where to go if you think you might have ADD.

The LLF National Law Firm can help. Our Education Law Team knows PHSC inside and out. We can help you figure out who to talk to when you have a problem, and we can tell you exactly what you need to say. We also know all the tips and tricks for keeping your GPA high.

We’ll get into all the details below. For now, though, know that any time you’re struggling academically, 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 Pasco-Hernando State College

Before we talk about how to keep your GPA up, we should probably talk about just how high you need to keep it. Sure, we’d all love to maintain a 4.0 for four years, but let’s be realistic. What do you need to do to stay out of trouble? PHSC’s academic standing policy has all the answers.

  • Good Standing: Again, more power to you if you can keep your GPA at 4.0, but the more reasonable goal is to keep yourself in good standing. That means you’re making steady progress toward your degree, and you don’t have to worry about sanctions. PHSC defines good standing as a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.
  • Academic Warning: Should your GPA dip below the 2.0 mark, the college places you on academic warning status.
  • Academic Probation: Your primary goal while on warning status is to return to good standing. If you fail to do that in a semester, you then face academic probation status.
  • Academic Suspension: Fail to return to good standing during your probationary semester, and PHSC then suspends you from courses. You may avoid suspension at this point by completing the online Academic Success Seminar with a grade of 80 percent and filing a formal Academic Suspension Request form. However, if your appeal is successful, the assistant dean makes recommendations as to what classes you should take and how many hours. They may also assign specific tasks for you to complete while you work to return to good standing.
  • Academic Dismissal: If you fail to meet expectations following a suspension appeal, PHSC then dismisses you for a semester.

Even after dismissal, you can return to the college. However, it is never easy to come back to school after being away, and many students never manage to finish their degrees once they’ve been dismissed.

Dealing With Academic Sanctions

If you’ve reached the point of academic suspension, the Education Law Team can work with you to file the appropriate paperwork to avoid outright dismissal. We’re familiar with the suspension appeal process and know what it takes to impress administrators.

However, if you contact us before you reach the point of suspension, at the first sign of trouble, we can help you keep your GPA out of the danger zone. There are a number of useful strategies for using the PHSC system to your advantage and making academics more manageable. For instance,

  • The PHSC standing policy makes no mention of an appeals process for warning or probation status. However, extenuating circumstances can often be used to forestall an academic sanction. If you’ve been struggling with depression, for example, or dealing with a family crisis, you can petition the dean directly for more time to improve.
  • Any time you feel an instructor is mistreating you, you should report this to that instructor’s department head. They may be able to offer immediate relief. At a minimum, though, you’ve laid the groundwork to file a formal grade appeal once the semester is over.
  • A learning disability entitles you to appropriate course accommodations. If you think you might have such a disability, you should visit Disability Services. If you qualify, you can even drop low grades in previously taken courses.
  • Instructors have the power to lower grades if they suspect you of cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic misconduct. However, you can appeal their decisions through the college’s disciplinary process.
  • Some faculty are willing to assign makeup and extra credit assignments, especially if you already have a borderline grade. You may need to ask for these opportunities, and many instructors will say no. It doesn’t hurt to ask, though.
  • You might also try negotiating with instructors along other lines. Even if you’ve failed a course, for instance, you might argue that your improvement over the semesters warrants a passing grade.

The first thing your team attorney will do when you contact them is go over the specifics of your particular situation. No two situations are the same, and you need a solution that’s tailored specifically to your needs. Your attorney won’t just offer suggestions, though. They’ll work with you to implement solutions. They’re skilled at filing appeals, but they’re equally adept at coaching students in the art of negotiation if that’s what you need.

What Can the LLF National Law Firm Do for You?

Your Pasco-Hernando State College 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 LLF National 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.

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