The Continuing Education program at Brown University is in a class by itself. It's not just that the Brown name is attached to the degree or certificate you're seeking. Brown offers a unique educational experience, one defined not by your grade point but by your own interest and excitement in learning. That's sort of a perfect fit for anyone who's enrolled in a CE program. You're going back to school because you care about education because you take learning seriously. CE courses at Brown aren't any different from any other courses the university offers. You're taught the very same material as any other student, and you're taught by the very same renowned faculty.
It's important you keep in mind, though, that you aren't a typical Brown undergraduate or graduate student. You've got a family, a job, a mortgage to worry about. Academics aren't always your number one concern. Your biggest challenge is keeping everything in balance so that you have the opportunity to earn a degree, but you can do it without upsetting the other important aspects of your life.
It helps if you have a plan, if you know what to expect, and if you're ready for any eventuality. So, what do you need to worry about? Basically, there are two kinds of issues that can come up for CE students.
- First and foremost, you're a student at Brown, and that comes with its own set of challenges. You're expected to excel in your coursework, and you're expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity.
- You're not just a student, though: you're also a member of the Brown community. That comes with its own set of responsibilities. The university expects you to abide by its rules and generally to serve as a productive member of that community.
Below, you'll find useful strategies for how to handle problems in both areas. Before you read any further, though, there's something else you should know: when problems come up, you're not alone. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are here to help. They've represented hundreds of students. They know what to expect, and they know all the best strategies for keeping your academic career on track. So, take the time now to find out all you can about what might come up during your continuing education and how to handle it. But know, too, that you can count on Joseph D. Lento and his team to be by your side whenever you need them.
Academics
First things first: you're going back to school to learn, so it's important you understand how the learning component of your experience will work. Just how does the CE program at Brown work? What are the possibilities for study, and what are the school's expectations of your coursework?
Brown's CE program offers a unique focus: leadership. All of its degree and certificate offerings are oriented in one way or another around becoming a better leader. As a result, the program is particularly useful for anyone in an executive position or anyone who is looking to move into an executive position.
Brown offers three CE options.
- Degree Programs: First, you can pursue a higher degree through the school's hybrid master's program. Choose from one of three focus areas: healthcare leadership, technology leadership, or an executive MBA. Each program lasts between 12 and 16 months.
- Certificate Programs: You can also choose to earn a certificate in teaching mindfulness-based stress reduction, teaching mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or adapting to recent digital health innovations. Certificates allow more flexibility in terms of how you progress through your coursework and seminars, and as a result, can take between six months and six years to complete.
- Executive Education Programs: Finally, Brown offers a set of courses focused specifically on various aspects of leadership, such as “powerful and persuasive communication” and “team coaching.” These can last anywhere from a few days to several months.
Brown is unique in its educational approach. In the early 1970s, the school decided to do away with grade point averages. There are no academic standing requirements; there's no dean's list, there's no class ranking. In fact, you can choose to take courses on an A, B, or C/ Fail system or a Pass/ Fail system. You should be aware, though, that graduate degree programs require you to earn at least a C in all your coursework. Further, all courses at Brown have rigorous standards, and you should expect your instructors to push you to do your very best work. Again, even the CE program is attached to the Brown name, and Brown doesn't simply give credentials away.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
While you may not have to worry about grade points at Brown, if you receive any type of financial aid, you'll have certain academic requirements to fulfill. The federal government requires all colleges and universities to maintain what's known as a Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, policy. Such policies set specific criteria students must meet in order to receive aid, and they help to ensure no one can abuse the aid system.
Brown's SAP policy is focused on the percentage of courses you complete. You are expected to complete at least 5 courses in their first year, 13 by the end of their second year, and 20 courses by the end of their third year. Keep in mind that “completion” at Brown requires you to earn a minimum grade of C in the course.
Failure to meet these marks usually means the permanent loss of financial aid eligibility. Brown does offer an appeals process for students whose academic deficiencies may have been caused by mitigating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a major family emergency. A successful appeal means an additional semester of aid under probationary status. However, appeal standards are high, and you must be able to provide documentation of your circumstances.
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have helped hundreds of students file SAP appeals. They know what review committees look for and how to make you look your best on paper. However, SAP appeals are time-sensitive. Once your financial aid is gone, you can't get it back. It's important, then, that you contact the Lento Law Firm at the very first sign of trouble.
Academic Misconduct
As you might expect at an institution that puts so much emphasis on learning, Brown maintains a strict Academic Code designed to regulate how you go about getting your degree or certification. In fact, that Code is some 20 pages long, with detailed sections on
- The use of sources
- Copyright infringement
- Creative work and plagiarism
- Examinations, quizzes, and tests
- Lab work and assignments
- Registration documents
The bottom line is that you should avoid any action that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework.
All faculty at Brown are required to report suspected academic misconduct to an academic dean at their school or college. This dean then serves as the Case Administrator and, in that capacity, has the authority to determine whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) an offense and to select an appropriate punishment when necessary. They have a variety of sanctions to choose from, including:
- Reprimand
- Loss of credit for the assignment
- No credit for the course
- Suspension
- Dismissal
- Expulsion
You do have the right to challenge a case administrator's decisions to the Standing Committee on the Academic Code and, under certain conditions, even to appeal the committee's decision to the dean of your college. Unfortunately, Brown doesn't give you the right to legal counsel during these proceedings, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't contact Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. They can help you gather evidence and prepare any written documents you might submit. More importantly, they can keep an eye on how the school treats you and make sure you're afforded all the due process rights you deserve. Any time a school denies you access to an attorney, you need to take extra precautions to ensure you're treated fairly.
Academics: What Could Go Wrong?
Students are sometimes surprised by the idea that a lawyer might be able to help with academic issues. And it's true: an attorney can't take your courses for you. They can't write your term papers either or sit in on your exams.
The thing is, college is often as much about navigating bureaucracy as it is about how you do on this or that paper. Earning solid grades and hanging on to your financial aid package sometimes comes down to knowing who to talk to and what to say. No one is better at these tasks than an attorney. In many ways, it's what they're trained to do.
Joseph D. Lento and his team are specifically focused on educational bureaucracy. They've spent years learning how to deal with faculty and administrators. They know Brown University's policies; they know all the procedures; they know which arguments are most effective. When things go wrong, then there's simply no one better positioned to advise you than an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
Disciplinary Misconduct
Your first priority as a CE student may be your coursework, but you want to remember that you are part of a campus community, and that comes with certain expectations as well. In fact, you are more likely to be dismissed from Brown for a disciplinary infraction than you are for a low GPA. The Student Code of Conduct features a lengthy list of prohibited conduct with detailed sections on
- Alcohol
- Bribery
- Collusion
- Disruption of community
- Disruption of university activities
- Drugs
- Failure to comply
- Harassment
- Harm to persons
- Hazing
- Invasion of privacy
- Misrepresentation
- Noncompliance with terms
- Participation in banned student groups
- Property damage
- Relationship or dating violence
- Retaliation
- Sexual assault
- Stalking
- Theft
- Unauthorized entry
- Violation of operational rules
- Weapons
In addition, you can also find yourself in trouble for violating state or federal laws, even if the violation happens off-campus. A DUI or a domestic violence conviction, for example, can be enough to get you expelled from Brown.
You should also keep in mind that the concept of “misconduct” applies to your digital actions as much as your real-world actions. Many of Brown's continuing education courses are conducted online. Even in these environments, though, you are expected to
- Behave professionally
- Treat others with respect
- Avoid profanity and socially-offensive language
- Dress appropriately when others can see you
- Avoid inappropriate surroundings
Finally, you'll already have noticed the Code mentions sexually-based offenses, like sexual assault and relationship violence. It's worth noting that in today's political climate, colleges and universities pay particular attention to these types of misconduct. In fact, such offenses aren't just a matter of school policy. They are regulated by federal law under Title IX. This means that you can expect your school to conduct a thorough investigation into any allegations against you. It also means that should you be found Responsible, you will most likely face dismissal.
Joseph D. Lento: Continuing Education Student Attorney-Advisor
If you've been out of school for a few years, you need to know that things have changed in education.
- Cheating is on the rise, so professors are more hyper-vigilant.
- Academic expectations grow higher every year.
- In today's political climate, no school can afford to be seen as soft on discipline, and every school conducts rigorous investigations and doles out stiff penalties.
It's worth recognizing, though, that you've changed too. Sure, you care about passing your courses and getting your degree, but that's not the highest priority in your life anymore. You've got a partner, a mortgage, and kids to worry about. Satisfying your boss's demands is probably far more important to you than pleasing your professor.
Most continuing education faculty understand the particular kinds of stresses you're under, and most are willing to work with you to make your educational experience rewarding. If you should find, though, that an instructor won't let you make up an exam you missed because one of your kids was down with the flu or an administrator wants to dismiss you from your program because you didn't put a quotation mark in the right spot, know that you have options.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have helped hundreds of students just like you deal with school-based issues. They know the law as it applies to education and their practice in dealing with faculty and administrators. Whatever problem you might be facing, from issues with technology to accusations of sexual misconduct, don't wait to see what will happen. If you're in trouble, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
