Illinois is currently home to over 120 colleges, universities, and other postsecondary educational institutions. There are a total of over 430,000 students attending on a full-time basis. One fundamental commonality that these institutions share is a commitment to academic integrity and honor. Administrators have established processes and procedures for disciplinary action that are used when students violate rules of conduct such as by cheating. Those found to be in violation may face difficult penalties and sanctions. The majority of schools will investigate the facts and evidence and ultimately the accused student will answer these allegations at a disciplinary hearing. When the findings are unfavorable for a student they may consider appealing the decision. The Lento Law Firm is experienced in representing students in the many aspects of student disciplinary defense.
What is Academic Misconduct?
Acts of academic misconduct may occur in a variety of ways. Students might be accused of plagiarism for using someone else's work or ideas without properly referencing the source. Others may face allegations that they have participated in cheating on an assignment or on an examination. In some instances, more than one student may be involved in acts of “collaborative” cheating.
Commonly Imposed Sanctions
- A failing grade for the exam, assignment, or for the entire course
- Removal (dismissal) from a particular honors, professional or graduate program
- A disciplinary probation period may be required
- A suspension from the school may be imposed
- Expulsion from the school may be imposed
The Process of Appeal
At the University of Illinois, a student may appeal decisions to the Executive Officer of their college or department. This must be submitted in writing within a five-day period after the ruling. The student must prove the existence one of the following conditions:
- The disciplinary process was not conducted in accordance with a written procedure
- That the ruling is unreasonable based on the evidence
- The sanctions imposed are not proportionate to the violation
- Previously unavailable evidence has been uncovered
Appeals are heard by a committee in a less formal hearing. Students may be accompanied by an advisor or consultant; however, this individual may not directly present testimony, evidence or respond to questions.
How Records of Misconduct Can Be Problematic
Many students may be adversely impacted by the evidence of disciplinary misconduct contained in records and transcripts. This may hinder their ability to transfer to another school or be admitted to a graduate school program. Those with these concerns are strongly encouraged to consider discussing a potential appeal with an experienced attorney.
Having an Attorney as the Advisor in the Appeals Process
Many students underestimate the potentially damaging consequences of violations when they first are informed of the allegations. It is in this crucial first stage that legal representation is recommended. Those who have already had a ruling and sanctions handed down have a very limited amount of time to appeal. Your attorney will be instrumental in drafting an effective document that justifies your appeal. A lawyer will likely reexamine the information and process that led to the initial ruling. Often an independent third-party is better able to recognize where there was noncompliance in procedure or that the accused's rights were violated. An attorney may conduct negotiations throughout the disciplinary process that could resolve the matter in a way that is mutually acceptable to all parties.
Lawyer Represents Students as an Academic Appeal Advisor in Illinois
Attorney Joseph D. Lento will aggressively defend students at colleges and universities who are facing sanctions for misconduct in Illinois. You will have a limited time to appeal a disciplinary action, so contact the office today at (888) 535-3686.
- American Academy of Art
- American InterContinental University Online
- Argosy University Chicago
- Argosy University Schaumburg
- Augustana College
- Aurora University
- Benedictine University
- Black Hawk College
- Blackburn College
- Bradley University
- Carl Sandburg College
- Chamberlain College of Nursing Illinois
- Chicago State University
- Christian Life College
- City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College
- City Colleges of Chicago Harry S Truman College
- City Colleges of Chicago Kennedy King College
- City Colleges of Chicago Malcolm X College
- City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College
- City Colleges of Chicago Richard J Daley College
- City Colleges of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
- College of DuPage
- College of Lake County
- Columbia College Chicago
- Concordia University Chicago
- Danville Area Community College
- DePaul University
- DeVry University Illinois
- Dominican University
- East West University
- Eastern Illinois University
- Elgin Community College
- Elmhurst College
- Eureka College
- Fox College Inc .
- Greenville College
- Harper College
- Harrington College of Design
- Heartland Community College
- Hebrew Theological College
- Highland Community College
- Illinois Central College
- Illinois College
- Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Frontier Community College
- Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Lincoln Trail College
- Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
- Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Wabash Valley College
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Illinois State University
- Illinois Valley Community College
- Illinois Wesleyan University
- International Academy of Design and Technology Chicago
- ITT Technical Institute Mount Prospect
- ITT Technical Institute Oak Brook
- ITT Technical Institute Orland Park
- John A Logan College
- John Wood Community
- Joliet Junior College
- Judson University
- Kankakee Community College
- Kaskaskia College
- Kendall College
- Kishwaukee College
- Knox College
- Lake Forest College
- Lake Land College
- Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Chicago
- Lewis and Clark Community College
- Lewis University
- Lexington College
- Lincoln Christian University
- Lincoln College
- Lincoln Land Community College
- Loyola University Chicago
- MacCormac College
- MacMurray College
- McHenry County College
- McKendree University
- Methodist College of Nursing
- Midstate College
- Millikin University
- Monmouth College
- Moody Bible Institute
- Moraine Valley Community College
- Morrison Institute of Technology
- Morton College
- National Louis University
- North Central College
- North Park University
- Northeastern Illinois University
- Northern Illinois University
- Northwestern College
- Northwestern College Southwestern Campus
- Northwestern University
- Oakton Community College
- Olivet Nazarene University
- Pacific College of Oriental Medicine Chicago
- Parkland College
- Prairie State College
- Quincy University
- Rend Lake College
- Richland Community College
- Robert Morris University Illinois
- Rock Valley College
- Rockford Career College
- Rockford College
- Roosevelt University
- Saint Augustine College
- Saint Xavier University
- Sanford Brown College Collinsville
- Sanford Brown College Hillside
- Sauk Valley Community College
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Shawnee Community College
- Shimer College
- South Suburban College
- Southeastern Illinois College
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Southwestern Illinois College
- Spoon River College
- Taylor Business Institute
- Telshe Yeshiva Chicago
- The Illinois Institute of Art Chicago
- The Illinois Institute of Art Schaumburg
- Trinity Christian College
- Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Trinity International University
- Triton College
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- University of Illinois at Springfield
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
- University of Phoenix Chicago Campus
- University of St Francis
- VanderCook College of Music
- Vatterott College Quincy
- Waubonsee Community College
- Western Illinois University
- Westwood College Chicago Loop
- Westwood College Dupage
- Westwood College O'Hare Airport
- Westwood College River Oaks
- Wheaton 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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.
