Real setback but should I include in appeal letter?

Revealing that his grades have suffered because he has become a criminal will not help his case.

Many unwed mothers go through school while working a job. I've sat beside them in classrooms and been in awe of what they have to deal with on a daily basis.

Your son doesn't have what they have. Not now, anyway. And there's no way you can give it to him. He has to find himself and his own way. Give him your unconditional love. Pull back from the desire to live his life for him.

Assuming your son is over the age of 18, he should be the one making this decision. And, he should be the one writing the letter. You should support him... but you shouldn't be doing this for him.

There are a couple of reasons for this, the most important being that your son needs to learn to fend for himself as an adult. I don't think I would advise him to put his scrape with the law in any appeal. I am not sure if academic suspension can even be appealled... you get bad grades and the suspension is automatic I think.

The school has an advising department which will help him. He should be able to find a counselor who will advocate for him, and tell him what he can do. One option may for him to take a lightened load (less than full time) to prove that he can do the work... and then go back to full time in a semester or two.

Just a bit of personal experience. I dropped out of college with very bad grades in my Sophomore year. I didn't get suspended, but I probably would have if I didn't drop out first.

I spent a few years working.

Then I went back... and graduated with high honors. Sometimes having a couple of years to grow up is a very good thing.

Thank you for the responses., very much appreciated.