Appealing a suspension

<p>CRD…the student likely failed or got D grades in enough courses to warrant a suspension…twice. My guess is he doesn’t have much that a receiving school will accept.</p>

<p>ETA…the following will be an issue regardless of where he attends college.</p>

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<p>his perception was that the classes were too easy. But the reality is…they were not…or he would have passed them. I worked with students with memory issues. It was very important for them to get as much exposure to the material as possible. Cutting classes was not in their best interest.</p>

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<p>Indeed. Also, this attitude of checking out or avoiding boring things won’t help in the working world. </p>

<p>Have some older college classmates who ended up floundering in the working world. This includes a few who were never able to hold down each job for more than a few months so far for this very reason. </p>

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<p>In answer to your question, no, I think your son would be wasting his time. Earlham has categorically stated that students who have been suspended twice are not eligible for readmission:</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.earlham.edu/curriculum-guide/academic-advisory-committee/guidelines-for-committee-actions/”>https://www.earlham.edu/curriculum-guide/academic-advisory-committee/guidelines-for-committee-actions/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Judging from these guidelines, to get suspended twice takes some doing, and is the culmination of a long process with several warning levels. I think your son has burnt his bridges there and should focus on seeking out educational alternatives that don’t involve Earlham. I know that’s probably not what you want to hear. Good luck to you all.</p>

<p>About starting over with a chance for a new GPA, it is true that graduate admissions committees will see all the grades from whatever colleges were attended. But as someone who is serving on grad admissions right now, I can tell you that we don’t sit down and figure out a weighted average GPA based on all that info. Instead, what is displayed most prominently on the application (and what would be listed on your son’s resume) is the GPA from the graduating institution. </p>

<p>Each time he was asked to leave, he fulfilled all the necessary requirements. He went to therapy and took classes at cc. Even when they said he only had to take one he’d take 3. I think I mentioned before, getting a job is the hard part especially with no degree. A dead end job would do more harm than good for him since he gets bored quickly. His last job was perfect, but unfortunately besides the money issues, its more of a seasonal job. He just really wants to get his degree. Plus, and I know this may sound selfish, but I don’t want him living home and where I live a low paying job won’t allow you to live anywhere else. . Too expensive.</p>

<p>He cannot return to Earlham. While he did what they asked him to do while away, the fact is…he was suspended twice. Their policy is very clear. He cannot return. And many many other colleges have the same policy. Strike two and you are permanently out.</p>

<p>Your son needs a new plan for completing his degree. Does your state have any directional universities where he could enroll? </p>

<p>He needs to learn that his perceived boredom is not an excuse for failing a course. And it will not get him any leniency.</p>

<p>I would suggest enlisting the help of a counselor of some sort to help your son learn to manage his issues. He needs to understand that there will be expectations for him to fulfill to finish a degree…oh…and work. Having a disability will not exempt him from carrying his own weight. It might get him some accommodations, but if he doesn’t do the job, he will be asked to leave. And it doesn’t matter how wonderful he thinks he is doing!</p>

<p>Honestly, he needs a plan…a realistic one where he can work towards and get his degree.</p>

<p>What is he studying?</p>

<p>“A dead end job would do more harm than good for him since he gets bored quickly.”</p>

<p>It sounds like learning to cope with some boring duties might be the best possible education for him. He lost his earlier chances at a degree from Earlham, so he can’t get a sophisticated job right now. An low-end job is the consequence.</p>

<p>I agree with last post, by blossom, to generate a Plan B, and pull away from Earlham focus. My experience in a university administrative setting is that most schools are really reticent to give third chances.</p>

<p>Perhaps look at alternative liberal arts schools for fresh start, which might include public liberal arts (e.g., Truman State or Fort Lewis College, or Southern Oregon), some with lower admission bars. Perhaps attend a local community college (CC) and use current accumulated credits combined with strong scores in rest of CC classes to get AA degree and show change. Then target, say, relatively small state school that will take AA transfer, have bio, and will provide learning accommodations. There are lots of small regional state schools with great bio depts, IMO.</p>

<p>OP, wow what a roller coaster you have been on with your son, I wish you luck with him.</p>

<p>I have a lot of sympathy for your son and for you. But I really think that Earlham is probably a lost cause.</p>

<p>Have you considered looking into schools that are a bit off the grid, such as Green Mountain College or College of the Atlantic or even Sarah Lawrence? What is your S’s area of interest?</p>

<p>I would move on and not attempt a third time and you may not have a choice. In watching friends who had kids that failed two time it was time away from college working and a different college that did the trick. I wonder if there has been enough time away. At age 24 he will also be independent for financial aid and he has time to establish residency somewhere he wants to be.</p>

<p>I forgot to mention that my friends children both worked a couple years until they were 24, attended different colleges than the ones they failed from and one of them ended up graduating magna cum laude. I think time definitely is your son’s friend and working for awhile before attempting to return could reap many benefits. I also think you need to let him figure it out. He’s 23, it’s time for him to do the heavy lifting. </p>

<p>OP says that son’s advisor wants him back. It seems as if “two strikes, you are out” is really the policy, wouldn’t he be hearing a different tune from his advisor?</p>

<p>Or else the advisor is just being nice, while knowing full well OP’s son isn’t coming back.</p>

<p>The advisor can’t change school policy in the vast majority of cases.</p>

<p>Honestly, this student has demonstrated that he can’t succeed at Earlham TWICE. Twice. The family and student need to start looking forward now, instead of looking backward which is what Earlham now is…past.</p>

<p>The student needs some help dealing with what his mother describes…perceived boredom, attention issues, etc. it would suggest starting with a thorough diagnostic evaluation followed by some counseling to learn to manage these issues. Otherwise, they are going to present themselves forever.</p>

<p>Plus, if the student wants or needs an accommodation plan via the disability office at his next college, he will need a current evaluation.</p>

<p>So maybe the advisor is unaware of school policy?</p>

<p>Maybe the advisor is being gentle and encouraging, and the student is hearing this as “I want you back.”</p>

<p>I see “easily bored translates into checking out” as the bigger problem here. As stated by others, life is full of boring tasks that MUST be done and done well. </p>

<p>I agree that the student needs to start fresh somewhere else and adjust expectations that every class must be fascinating in order to generate effort.</p>

<p>Yes, exactly. The OP loves her son and wants him to have a degree but even in the OPs notes it is evident that the son needs to develop the skills to power through what is perceived as “boring” or “unnecessary” or required. Conforming to requirements is a necessary skill for life - not just for college. Any person with any disability and if they want to exist in a mainstream lifestyle have to learn the coping skills. There is help in college through disability offices, etc., but for some that is just not enough. It is entirely possible that the OP’s son can learn those skills and then attend a college or university with success. </p>

<p>It is absolutely possible for this student to be successful in college. BUT it may take the gift of time and maturity to do so. In my example above, the student flunked out of college the second time at age. 20. He didn’t return to college until he was 27. In those seven years, he worked at a job which was in an area of interest…but wasn’t a dream job by any measure or means! When he hit age 27, he decided himself that a college degree was important. He had to return to CC to take and pass all of his general education course…and did so with new found enthusiasm…as a more mature adult with some real life experiences behind him.</p>

<p>This student needs to recognize that a job will also help him learn responsibility…and that isn’t a bad thing either. You have to show up on time, and do your job responsibly…every time you are scheduled to work…whether you like it…or not. </p>

<p>Some students just do better in college as older young adults than 18-22 year olds. They just do.</p>

<p>The other thing…if this student is already 23, he is more likely to find a peer group of young adults taking classes at a place that is not Earlham.</p>