The Challenges of Continuing Education: Colorado State University

Colorado State's Engagement and Extension page tells you everything you need to know:

“We learn and work together across Colorado to exchange, develop, and apply knowledge, empowering individuals and communities to thrive.”

Learning isn't supposed to end once you're 22 and earn your diploma. It's something that goes on for your entire life. When you're constantly learning and constantly growing, you make your community better, and we all thrive. That's the promise of Continuing Education (CE) programs like CSU's Extended Campus.

Pretty inspiring stuff.

Keep in mind, though, that there's a practical dimension to going back to school too. Learning may start with a desire to know things, and that curiosity and excitement can take you a long way. At some point, though, you've got to go to class too. You have to write papers, work through projects, take exams, and study. And you're not 18 anymore. You have a spouse, a family, a job, and a mortgage, and finding time to squeeze learning in isn't as easy as it once was. Simply put, succeeding in a CE program is hard work.

Are you up for the challenge? Of course, you are. It's nice to know you have backup, though. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team are here when you need them. Below, you'll find information about some of the more common problems that CE students face. Before you get into all of that, though, you need to know that Joseph D. Lento and his team understand the CSU system and how it works. They've got years of experience helping students just like you navigate the confusing bureaucracy of higher education. They know what you're up against, and come what may, they're on your side.

Academics

For the most part, trouble in a CE program comes in one of two forms: CSU holds you accountable for how you do academically, of course, but it keeps a close eye on your personal conduct. You signed up for the CE program in the first place because you want to continue your education, so let's start by talking about some of the academic challenges you'll face.

Your Educational Options at Colorado State

One of the real strengths of Colorado State's Engagement and Extension program is that it offers students so many educational options. Your first challenge, then, may simply be defining what it is you want out of your CE experience.

• Professional Education: Take single courses in a variety of subjects—from mindfulness to coding to land stewardship—to help build your resume and move up at work.
• Certification: String courses together and earn an official endorsement in subjects like gardening, project management, ergonomics, and sustainable community development.
• Online Degrees: CSU's Engagement and Extension arm also offers a number of degrees, including BAs, MAs, and PhDs, in subjects ranging from psychology and economics to horticulture and environmental and natural resource economics.
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: Finally, CSU participates in the nationwide Osher program (OLLI), which allows adult students to learn practical skills and explore interesting topics like the history of comedy classics, Elizabeth I and the origins of modern England, and cooking with wildflowers.

Educational Requirements

Your specific educational requirements will depend on exactly what CE path you've decided to take. You can, of course, choose to take one course—either through OLLI or the professional education program. Once you're done, you can move on to a new subject, or maybe one is all you want for now. If you choose to work towards certification, on the other hand, you'll need to take several classes. The graduate certificate in facilitating adult learning, for example, requires 12 credits, while the applied investments graduate certificate requires 10 credits. As you might expect, earning a degree involves an even greater time investment. BA degrees typically include around 120 hours of coursework.

Unless you're taking OLLI classes, your grades will probably be important, and if you're seeking a degree, you'll be subject to CSU's academic standing policy. That policy requires undergraduates to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Anything less, and you can wind up on Academic Probation or even Dismissed entirely from the university. Graduate students must earn at least a 3.0.

You can also expect all your courses—whether online or in-person—to involve attending classes, participating in discussions, completing assignments, and taking exams. And while you may not be under the same kind of pressure to succeed that you felt when you were 20, it's important to remember that you earn no credit for courses you fail or drop.

In fact, it's not always easy to meet academic expectations. In some cases, you may be taking classes with students who are much younger than you, students whose biggest concern is what the cafeteria is serving for lunch. Faculty can be demanding. Most recognize that CE students have unique circumstances, and they'll work with you to accommodate your particular needs. There are instructors out there, though, who refuse to vary from their routines no matter what situation might arise. They may have little sympathy if you turn a paper in late because your kid is sick. They may not understand that you need to miss class because a big project is due at work.

That's when you contact Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. Their first priority is to make sure you're treated fairly. That might involve negotiating with a professor. It might mean filing a grade appeal. Whatever the situation, Joseph D. Lento and his team are on your side and will do whatever they can to get you the best possible resolution.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Some students are subject to a separate set of academic standards known as a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.

The government mandates all schools develop an SAP policy as a way to prevent misuse and fraud in the federal financial aid system. SAP requirements ensure only those students who are making genuine progress toward meeting their educational goals are eligible for funding. If you receive any type of aid—scholarships, grants, loans, and even work-study—SAP defines your eligibility.

Each school measures progress according to its own criteria. At Colorado State, the SAP policy requires you:

• Keep a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (3.0 for graduate students)
• Complete at least two-thirds of all the courses you attempt
• Finish your degree within 150 percent of the credits required for that degree

Fail to meet these standards, and you're placed on Academic Warning status. That gives you one semester to improve before you become ineligible for aid. You can appeal your eligibility if you have extenuating circumstances that led to your deficiencies. However, appeals can be complex and involve submitting evidence of your circumstances, describing what led to your deficiencies, and explaining in concrete terms what steps you plan to take to improve.

Joseph D. Lento and his team have years of experience helping students file SAP appeals. They know what appeals committees look for and how to make you look your best on paper. Keep in mind, though, that these appeals can be time-sensitive. Once you've lost your financial aid, it can be incredibly difficult to get it back. If you're worried about your aid package, it's always better to contact the Lento Law Firm sooner rather than later.

Academic Misconduct

It probably won't surprise you to learn that behaviors like plagiarism and cheating aren't tolerated at Colorado State. The university maintains a strict Academic Honesty and Integrity policy that bars students from any activity that could potentially give them an unfair advantage in their coursework.

Colorado State gives its instructors broad authority to both determine whether or not you have committed an infraction and decide on the appropriate classroom penalty. Typical sanctions include

• A warning
• A makeup assignment
• An educational assignment on the nature of academic integrity
• A lower grade on the assignment up to a zero
• A lower grade in the course, up to an F

Faculty are also required to report all misconduct to Student Conduct Services. This office has the authority to issue additional disciplinary sanctions, including

• Probation
• Suspension
• Dismissal

Fortunately, you have the right to defend yourself from false accusations and unfair sanctions. You can request a hearing through CSU's Student Resolution Center, which gives you the opportunity to make your case before an appointed Hearing Officer. However, you should know that a university hearing can be complicated. Your success may depend on knowing the university's rules for presenting evidence or deciding which questions to ask of witnesses. Your best chance of success, then, is to contact Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team the moment you are charged. They are familiar with the CSU judicial system and can help guide you through your case from start to finish.

Academics: What Could Go Wrong?

On the surface, it might seem like a strange proposition: asking an attorney to help you deal with academic issues. Normally, if you're struggling to make good grades, you visit professors during office hours or find a good tutor, or join a study group.

Here's the thing, though: academic success sometimes has more to do with how you handle bureaucracy than with what study methods you use. No one knows more about bureaucracy than lawyers. It's sort of what they do. And no one knows more about educational bureaucracy than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. They've dedicated their careers to helping students demand fair treatment.

What can Joseph D. Lento and his team do for you?

• Work with you to develop a defense strategy
• Coach you in negotiating with faculty and administrators
• Help you collect evidence
• Help you identify witnesses
• Work with you to develop witness questions
• Coach you in presentation strategies
• Draft official documents
• Accompany you in meetings and proceedings and offer advice

You have a lot at stake when you're a student, especially a CE student. When you find yourself in trouble, who do you turn to? You may think of Colorado State as an ally, and most of the time, it probably is. If you're at odds with your school, though, you need someone on your side. You need Joseph D. Lento and his team.

Disciplinary Misconduct

Academics is one-half of the educational equation when you're a CE student. Your conduct outside of class is under a great deal of scrutiny as well, though. Let's turn now to a discussion of what can go wrong in terms of disciplinary misconduct.

All students at Colorado State are subject to the school's Student Code of Conduct. That includes you, whether you're working towards a Ph.D. in sustainability practices or taking a single course in the history of the novel. The Code has strict rules about things like drug possession, theft, and stalking. Some—such as hazing and underage drinking—may not apply to you as a CE student. Don't think, though, that because you're an adult, you're immune to accusations of trespassing or bringing a weapon onto campus grounds.

In fact, even if you take all your classes online and never step foot on campus, you are still accountable for some aspects of the Code. For instance, CSU expects you to abide by all local, state, and federal laws, and you can face stiff penalties, including dismissal, for a criminal conviction. A DUI or a domestic battery charge can be enough to get you expelled, whether such incidents happen on campus or in an entirely other state.

Another important type of violation is sexual misconduct. Such offenses are actually regulated by federal law under Title IX. Your school can't arrest you or send you to jail, but it is required to take every allegation seriously, conduct thorough investigations, and issue serious sanctions. If you're found Responsible for (guilty of) sexual misconduct, the suspension is probably the minimum penalty you'll face. More likely, you'll be dismissed from the CE program altogether.

Finally, you should also remember that your online behaviors are subject to just as much scrutiny as if you were in a classroom on campus. For instance, should you harass a fellow classmate in an online course forum, you can be sure you'll be charged with a Title IX offense. Many of CSU's Engagement and Extension courses take place online, and in general, you want to make sure you:

• Behave professionally
• Treat others with respect
• Avoid profanity and socially-offensive language
• Dress appropriately when others can see you
• Avoid inappropriate surroundings

Here again, Colorado State gives you some important due process rights any time you're accused of misconduct. For instance, you're entitled to a thorough investigation and to an opportunity to defend yourself at a hearing. You're entitled to a presumption of “Not Responsible” (Innocence), to a formal Notice of the Charges, and to review any evidence against you.

Perhaps the most important right you have is the right to an advisor—someone to accompany you to meetings and proceedings and to help you prepare your case. Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team can't speak on your behalf during the investigation and hearing, but they can help you to prepare, and they can sit beside you and offer advice.

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 run into issues, though, it's important you know that there's help available.

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 they are practiced 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.