You work hard to be the very best student you can be. You’re in class every single day. You spend all your free time studying. You visit professors during office hours, and you’ve joined study groups. What happens when that isn’t enough? The University of Maine has a clear academic standing policy that sets strict academic expectations and imposes penalties on students who aren’t meeting those expectations.
Sometimes, earning good grades is less about learning the Periodic Table than it is about learning how to navigate the system. If you know how to use the University of Maine’s administrative policies effectively, you can save yourself a lot of headaches and make academic success a lot easier to achieve.
The LLF National Law Firm’s Education Law Team can help. No one knows how to handle bureaucracy better than attorneys, and no attorneys know more about educational bureaucracy than the attorneys at the LLF National Law Firm. We’re familiar with how the University of Maine operates, and we can show you ways to use the system 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 the University of Maine
Like all colleges and universities, the University of Maine maintains an academic standing policy. The purpose of this policy is to let you know exactly what’s expected of you. It also outlines the consequences you face when you aren’t meeting those expectations.
Here’s what it has to say.
- Good Standing: The University of Maine defines good standing as a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. There are, of course, no sanctions when you’re in good standing. More importantly, you can be sure you’re making steady progress toward your degree.
- Academic Probation: You are placed on probation any time either your cumulative or your term GPA falls below 2.0. The expectation is that you will return to good standing by the end of the semester. However, you can remain on probation as long as either your term GPA or your cumulative GPA is above 2.0. Keep in mind as well that some departments may require you to sign an academic contract while you are on probation, with clear requirements you are expected to meet.
- Academic Suspension: If your term GPA is below 2.0 at the end of a semester on probation, you face academic suspension. Academic suspension means complete separation from the university for one semester. You can return at this point, but you must file an application for readmission in order to do so.
- Academic Dismissal: Finally, if you should continue to struggle after returning from suspension, you can also be dismissed outright. Under ordinary circumstances, you may not return following a dismissal.
Dealing With Academic Sanctions
The University of Maine’s academic standing policy makes no mention of any formal appeals process for dealing with sanctions. That doesn’t mean you must simply accept whatever sanction you’re given. LLF National Law Firm attorneys know a number of valuable strategies for responding to a sanction and for avoiding sanctions in the first place.
- While there is no formal appeals process, extenuating circumstances may entitle you to more time on probation rather than outright suspension. If you’ve been dealing with a serious illness or a family crisis, you should petition the dean of your college directly.
- A lot of students with learning disabilities don’t even realize they have them. If it turns out you’re one of them, you’re entitled to classroom accommodations and even to drop low grades from your grade point. If you consistently struggle academically, a visit to Disability Services might be in order.
- You are always entitled to fair treatment in the classroom. Any time an instructor mistreats you, you should report that mistreatment to their department head. The goal isn’t to get someone in trouble—though sometimes that’s important—but rather to establish documentation you can use later to file a formal grade appeal.
- Likewise, you should challenge any academic misconduct allegations an instructor might make. Even if you did make a mistake, they have the burden of proving you are responsible. Further, you want to make sure that any sanctions are fair and reasonable.
- Some faculty are willing to assign makeup and extra credit work, especially to students with borderline grades. You may have to ask for these opportunities, but there is no penalty for asking.
- Faculty are also sometimes open to the possibility of grade negotiation. If you did really well on your final exam, for instance, you might try arguing that your score entitles you to a higher course grade.
Once you contact the LLF National Law Firm, an attorney will sit down with you and go over your situation. Then, they’ll work with you to come up with a plan for getting you back on track academically. Finally, you can count on them to help you implement that plan as well, whether that involves filing a formal appeal, ensuring you have access to fair disability testing, or simply figuring out who you need to call when you have a problem. You can count on your attorney to use every resource at their disposal to safeguard your future.
What Can the LLF National Law Firm Do for You?
Your University of Maine 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.