Georgia is now home to approximately 114 colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions with over 326,000 students enrolled full-time. In most cases, students are making sacrifices of time and money to pursue their long-term educational goals. Students found to have violated the school's policies relating to academic conduct and integrity may jeopardize their goals. According to disciplinary guidelines these individuals may be suspended or dismissed from the school. Students are given the opportunity to defend against the allegations in a hearing. Those who are unsuccessful in the disciplinary process are usually afforded a short period of time to appeal the ruling. It is recommended that those pursuing an appeal do so with assistance from a lawyer. The Lento Law Firm represents college & university students in these matters.
Types of Academic Misconduct
- Using a “cheat sheet” during an exam
- Having another person take your exam
- Communicating with others in efforts to cheat on an exam
- One of the many potential forms of “collaborative” cheating
- Submission of a report or paper written by someone else
- Plagiarizing someone else's work or ideas without citing the source
Evidence of Misconduct in Records & Transcripts
The Federal Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) was put in place to prevent unauthorized disclosure of student records and transcripts. Those wishing to transfer to another college or enter a graduate school program should be aware that these records will be revealed to the other school. This is merely one example of how evidence of disciplinary action can adversely impact your future.
Appeal Process
Each school establishes their own set of written procedures for disciplinary actions relating to misconduct including the appeals process. Typically a document must be submitted to a specified department or administrator. It must contain the justification for the appeal. Commonly cited grounds include that during the process there were deviations from the school's written procedure or that the sanctions imposed are excessive. The possibility for success in any appeal is based on the effectiveness of the argument contained in this document.
Appeal Details: The University of Georgia
Different schools have different policies regarding what grounds are allowed for an appeal and also the specific steps that must be taken for an appeal to be valid. At the University of Georgia, for example, students who have been suspended or dismissed from the university are able to appeal the ruling to the Board of Regents within five days. The grounds for an appeal include:
- That the evidence did not sufficiently demonstrate that the violation did occur
- The penalties or sanctions imposed are “unreasonably harsh”
- The student's rights were denied
- New information (evidence) has emerged that could change the outcome
Lawyer Role in Appeals Process
Legal representation is critical in crafting a highly impactful written appeals document. In addition, most schools require that this document be submitted within just a matter of days. Your attorney may also engage the disciplinary administrators in negotiations that could lead to more favorable outcomes such as reducing the severity of sanctions.
Student Academic Disciplinary Defense Attorney in Georgia
Students in Georgia faced with difficult sanctions following violations of academic misconduct may want to consider legal counsel. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has the experience necessary to successfully appeal findings according to a school's appeals process. Contact the office today for a consultation at (888) 535-3686.
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
- Agnes Scott College
- Albany State University
- Albany Technical College
- Altamaha Technical College
- American InterContinental University Atlanta
- Andrew College
- Argosy University Atlanta
- Armstrong State University
- Athens Technical College
- Atlanta Metropolitan College
- Atlanta Technical College
- Augusta State University
- Augusta Technical College
- Bainbridge College
- Bauder College
- Berry College
- Beulah Heights University
- Brenau University
- Brewton Parker College
- Brown College of Court Reporting
- Brown Mackie College Atlanta
- Carver Bible College
- Central Georgia Technical College
- Chattahoochee Technical College
- Clark Atlanta University
- Clayton State University
- College of Coastal Georgia
- Columbus State University
- Columbus Technical College
- Covenant College
- Dalton State College
- Darton College
- DeVry University Georgia
- East Georgia College
- Emmanuel College
- Emory University
- Everest Institute Norcross
- Fort Valley State University
- Fortis College
- Gainesville State College
- Georgia Christian University
- Georgia College & State University
- Georgia Gwinnett College
- Georgia Highlands College
- Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
- Georgia Military College Atlanta Campus
- Georgia Military College Augusta Campus
- Georgia Military College Columbus Campus
- Georgia Military College Milledgeville Campus
- Georgia Military College Valdosta Campus
- Georgia Military College Warner Robins Campus
- Georgia Northwestern Technical College
- Georgia Perimeter College
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College
- Georgia Southern University
- Georgia Southwestern State University
- Georgia State University
- Gordon College
- Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service
- Gwinnett College Lilburn
- Gwinnett Technical College
- Herzing University Atlanta
- Interactive College of Technology Chamblee
- ITT Technical Institute Atlanta
- ITT Technical Institute Duluth
- ITT Technical Institute Kennesaw
- Kennesaw State University
- LaGrange College
- Lanier Technical College
- Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta
- Life University
- Luther Rice University
- Macon State College
- Mercer University
- Middle Georgia College
- Middle Georgia Technical College
- Miller Motte Technical College
- Miller Motte Technical College Columbus
- Miller Motte Technical College Macon
- Morehouse College
- Moultrie Technical College
- North Georgia College & State University
- North Georgia Technical College
- Oconee Fall Line Technical College
- Ogeechee Technical College
- Oglethorpe University
- Okefenokee Technical College
- Paine College
- Piedmont College
- Point University
- Reinhardt University
- Sanford Brown College Atlanta
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Savannah State University
- Savannah Technical College
- Shorter University
- Shorter University College of Adult & Professional Programs
- South Georgia College
- South Georgia Technical College
- South University Savannah
- South University Savannah Online
- Southeastern Technical College
- Southern Crescent Technical College
- Southern Polytechnic State University
- Southwest Georgia Technical College
- Spelman College
- The Art Institute of Atlanta
- Thomas University
- Toccoa Falls College
- Truett McConnell College
- University of Georgia
- University of Phoenix Atlanta Campus
- University of Phoenix Augusta Campus
- University of Phoenix Columbus Georgia Campus
- University of Phoenix Savannah Campus
- University of West Georgia
- Valdosta State University
- Virginia College
- Virginia College Augusta
- Waycross College
- Wesleyan College
- West Georgia Technical College
- Westwood College Atlanta Midtown
- Westwood College Northlake
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
- Young Harris College
Regrettably, an academic misconduct finding of responsibility can derail an accused student's academic and professional goals and some students and parents do not recognize this concern until it may be too late. If a student is found responsible for academic misconduct charges, in addition to the short-term consequences such academic and disciplinary sanctions, there will be long-term consequences. Internships, graduate school opportunities, and employment opportunities can all be adversely impacted by a finding of responsibility.
For these reasons and more, it is critical to properly address such concerns as early as possible in the disciplinary process. There are times, however, that it necessary to appeal an adverse outcome, and Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at universities and colleges in Georgia and throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as an academic misconduct advisor to students facing disciplinary cases in Georgia and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected at all stages of the academic misconduct disciplinary process, including the appeal stage - Contact National Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
