For some reason, I couldn't get this petition reopened:
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-rutgers-from-frivolously-dismissing-and-robbing-its-graduate-students

So I'm starting another one.

Here is the dismissal policy for the Rutgers University School of Social Work:
A student is considered to be in academic jeopardy and will not be permitted to continue at the School of Social Work, if at the conclusion of any given semester, any of the following conditions apply:

1. The student has a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0;

2. The student has a semester GPA of less than 2.49;

3. The student received a grade of F in a required course; or

4. The student received a grade of F in fieldwork.

The associate dean for student services will notify any student with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 in writing of the GPA and automatic dismissal. A copy of the notice will also be sent to the student's academic adviser and the associate dean for academic affairs.

Students who fail to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and are automatically dismissed may appeal the dismissal to the associate dean for academic affairs in writing within two calendar weeks of the notification of dismissal.

The student must address the reason(s) for not achieving the minimum GPA and show how this factor(s) has been addressed and resolved. The student must also develop a specific written plan to resolve the academic problem. The student should meet with an academic adviser to develop and review this academic plan.

The associate dean for academic affairs will review the student's written statements and academic plan, and the student will be notified in writing within two weeks of the date that the associate dean receives the student's written appeal.

If the student is not satisfied with the associate dean's decision, the student may appeal to the dean of the School of Social Work in writing within two weeks of receipt of the associate dean's decision. The dean will notify the student in writing within two weeks of the date that the dean receives the student's written appeal. The decisions of the dean are final.

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It doesn't take a genius to understand the policy, nor to realize the fact that its solid nature undermines the so-called mission of the school.

This is a bill being proposed to NJ State Assembly:

NOTE: This bill involves ALL Universities, Colleges, Schools, Departments, and Programs of higher education in the State of New Jersey.  It is NOT limited to the Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work.

Higher Education "Crash and Burn"

Upon passage of this bill:

NO institution of higher education in the state of New Jersey shall be permitted to academically dismiss a student in ANY program that fails only ONE course in that program, required or not, regardless of the number of credits the course carries; provided that the student maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better WITH the grade of F factored into it.  Be it also established that 3.0 shall be the maximum threshold GPA permitted in regards to dismissal from an academic program in the State of New Jersey, and this law does not prohibit any institution to set its threshold GPA lower than 3.0 if it so chooses. 

Furthermore, if any of the following conditions apply:

(1) A grade of F is given to a full-time student in the semester preceding their final semester.

(2) A grade of F is given to a part-time student in the semester preceding their final year OR their final semester.

(3) A grade of F is given to ANY student in their anticipated FINAL semester. OR

(4) Any student requires twelve credits or less to graduate after receiving a grade of F. 

THEN the GPA threshold for dismissal shall be lowered from 3.0 to 2.85.  HOWEVER, if a 3.0 or otherwise specified cumulative GPA is required by the program in order to graduate, the student will be required to finish their program earning that specified cumulative GPA with their remaining coursework.  Failure to do so will allow the school to dismiss the student according to the policy of the program. 

A student who received a grade of F in ONE required or elective course, but maintained a GPA of pure 3.0 or higher shall not be required to appeal, disclose personal information, pay any additional fees, nor be subject to any additional constraining conditions to remain in the program if the course was only taken and failed ONCE.  All grades of F shall remain on a student's transcript.  If a student fails the SAME course TWICE but still maintains a 3.0 GPA, academic probation may be allowed to be used by the institution, and any conditions associated with it.

The student shall be permitted by law to retake the SAME course that they failed as many times as necessary, until:

(1) The student receives a passing grade for that course

(2) The student fails an additional course different from the one originally failed OR

(3) The student's GPA drops below 3.0 (2.85 if 12 credits or less remain for graduation) or other specified lower GPA required of the specific program due to failing the course.
*This provision shall not apply if the student passes the specified course with a grade of C or C+ causing their GPA to drop below 3.0 (or 2.85);  In this case, the student must be given one semester to bring their GPA back above 3.0 pending dismissal process.

 

If condition (2) or (3) applies, then the institution will be permitted to dismiss the student and follow up with their appeals processes.

Furthermore, upon passage of this bill:

Retrospective students from any NJ higher education institution who faced academic dismissal under these conditions (One failed course and a GPA of 3.0 or higher) regardless of the number of years that have elapsed since their dismissal, are to be contacted by their institution that dismissed them by March 1st, 2013 and offered reinstatement WITHOUT:

(1) Any application fees

(2) Any essay requirements

(3) Any additional requirements not given to new applicants

(4) Any confining conditions of reinstatement not given to newly admitted students.

These students are to be given the option to either accept or decline this reinstatement, and must inform the institution of their acceptance by May 31st, 2013. Failure of the student to do so will result in the reinstatement offer being rescinded except under special circumstances.

Tuition, fees, and any other costs involved in finishing the program will remain the responsibility of the student.

Upon reinstatement, the student shall NOT be required to repeat ANY courses for which they received a passing grade of C or higher, regardless of the number of years since their enrollment in the program.

Upon passage of this bill:

If any institution fails to comply with any terms of this law, by engaging in any of the following activities:

(1) Dismissing a student with one failed course and a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

(2) Attempting to impose obstacles on a student subject to these specified circumstances as conditions to remain in the program.

(3) Failure to contact previously dismissed students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on their transcript in the program they were enrolled in by March 1st, 2013.

(4) Failure to make reasonable accomodations to reinstated students with disabilities.

(5) Requiring reinstated students to repeat courses that they have previously earned credit for and passed with a grade of C or higher.

THEN the students will have the right to file a complaint to the State of New Jersey. For the student's complaint to be valid, their transcripts must indicate that their GPA upon dismissal was a pure 3.0 or higher and that there is not more than one course for which they received a grade of F.

If it has been determined that a student's complaint is valid, the institution will be held liable for ALL of the student's remaining student loan debt that was accumulated while in college, whether it was used for that particular program or not. The student's debt will then be lifted from their record and imposed on the institution, and the student will no longer be required to make further payments. If the student has little or no remaining debt ($5000.00 or less), then a settlement will be granted to the student, depending on how much money the student invested into the program.

Some provisions of this bill may vary, as different academic programs may have lower GPA requirements than the 3.0 requirement specified by the Rutgers University Graduate School of Social Work, HOWEVER, the cumulative GPA threshold requirement may not exceed 3.0 in any institution or program, and any student who meets the cumulative GPA requirement specified by the school or program, and has only one grade of F on their transcript shall be immune from dismissal.  All other provisions of this bill affect all New Jersey Institutions equally. 

 

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All of these conditions applied to me, and still my appeals were denied, even after disclosing my condition, which in itself is discrimination.
I will tell you, it was an embarrassment for me to need to play the "Disability Card" when I had a stellar GPA before receiving the F (3.57), and still maintained the required cumulative GPA of 3.0 (3.17) after receiving the F. Was it really necessary for me to need to disclose my personal life and condition in a three page appeal letter?

Mission Statement:
The mission of the School of Social Work is to develop and disseminate knowledge through social work research, education, and training that promotes social and economic justice and strengthens individual, family, and community well-being in this diverse and increasingly global environment of New Jersey and beyond.

There are no perfect students, as Melody mentioned, and excluding students who have neurological conditions to make their overall performance go up and preserve their own accreditation is not social justice, it's bigotry. If they can't live up to their mission, they should not be accredited.
HAVE A CLUE RUTGERS!!!!!