A college question...

[saberjk2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Alabama

This all takes place in the Spring of 2009.

At the institution that I was at, my certain department had a policy in place that said that if you received a non-passing grade (a D or an F) in the same major course, on your second attempt of that course, that they would force you to change your major.

Knowing this, I was attempting to pass a major course of which I had already received a non-passing grade. As this was my second attempt, I HAD to pass it in order to NOT get kicked out of the degree program. At the end of the semester, I did not pass the class and was sent a letter saying that I had to find a new major. This policy had been in place since the late 1990s but had never been enforced until now.

That's all well. Never mind some personal extenuating circumstances for why they should have let me back in, I took my things and promptly left.

Here comes the kicker:

This semester, Fall 2009, the administration decides to change the policy so that anyone can fail any number of classes and easily get back in with an interview with the chair and/or faculty

Is this just really $***ty luck or do I have some legal standing?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[cyjeff]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Alabama

This all takes place in the Spring of 2009.

At the institution that I was at, my certain department had a policy in place that said that if you received a non-passing grade (a D or an F) in the same major course, on your second attempt of that course, that they would force you to change your major.

Knowing this, I was attempting to pass a major course of which I had already received a non-passing grade. As this was my second attempt, I HAD to pass it in order to NOT get kicked out of the degree program. At the end of the semester, I did not pass the class and was sent a letter saying that I had to find a new major. This policy had been in place since the late 1990s but had never been enforced until now.

That's all well. Never mind some personal extenuating circumstances for why they should have let me back in, I took my things and promptly left.

Here comes the kicker:

This semester, Fall 2009, the administration decides to change the policy so that anyone can fail any number of classes and easily get back in with an interview with the chair and/or faculty

Is this just really $***ty luck or do I have some legal standing?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

What legal standing?

 

[saberjk2]

Can they just use a policy one semester that kicks people out of a program that they've never enforced in the past and then take away the policy they following semester like nothing ever happened?

 

[cyjeff]

Can they just use a policy one semester that kicks people out of a program that they've never enforced in the past and then take away the policy they following semester like nothing ever happened?

yup. Their rules.

 

[GaAtty]

GaAtty

First, why don't you try their current rules and try the interview with the faculty or chair? Be sure to be charming and leave any anger somewhere else for the interview. I think you could proceed on the theory that you didn't receive the non-passing grade until after the semester was over, and therefore this new semester's rules apply. Second, if that doesn't work, and the chair says no, then go through the appeals process for students. They can make their own rules as long as the rules are not discriminatory, violate their contractual agreement, constitute an unfair business practice, etc.

 

[saberjk2]

I was so close to graduating, 12 hours at the previous institution, and didn't think there would be any way that they would change their minds, that I went ahead and registered at another school in the same major. I've been at the new institution since the start of this fall. It is too late to drop my classes and get my money back.

I would really be ok with all of this except for the fact that they changed their minds about the whole thing.

 

[TheGeekess]

I was so close to graduating, 12 hours at the previous institution, and didn't think there would be any way that they would change their minds, that I went ahead and registered at another school in the same major. I've been at the new institution since the start of this fall. It is too late to drop my classes and get my money back.

I would really be ok with all of this except for the fact that they changed their minds about the whole thing.

These things will happen. Either you can waste time and energy being ticked off or you can put that same time and energy into passing the course at the new school.