When a college student in Indiana gets accused of academic misconduct, it can trigger an investigation and a misconduct hearing that is supposed to determine whether there had been a violation. However, these hearings are prone to severe error. When they make mistakes, it can ruin the college careers of the unfortunate students facing allegations of cheating, plagiarism, or tampering with official documents.
Appealing these terrible outcomes is essential, and is a part of the academic misconduct system. Academic appeals advisor Joseph D. Lento can guide you through what can be a tricky process.
The Problems With Academic Misconduct Hearings
Academic misconduct investigations and hearings follow rules that are often unique to each college in Indiana.
While not every school is the same, most of them utilize a hearing panel that is designed to pick members from all walks of life on campus: From the administration, faculty, and even from the student body.
While the diversity seems admirable, the reality of these panels is that they are often terribly inexperienced at determining guilt or innocence, seeing past even blatant emotional appeals, recognizing reliable or unreliable pieces of evidence or testimony, or keeping prejudicial thoughts from tainting a panel member's ruling in your case. Each one of these problems can wreak havoc on your future if you have been accused of academic misconduct in Indiana.
Appealing from an Academic Misconduct Violation
Because the hearing panel is so prone to finding innocent students in violation of the code of academic integrity in Indiana, the right to appeal an adverse outcome becomes even more significant.
Unfortunately, many colleges try to keep appeals to a minimum. While this is often done in an attempt to only allow worthwhile appeals to move forward and to prevent the appellate hearing board from being overwhelmed, the result is that many appeals with merit are left unpursued or dismissed for merely procedural reasons.
For example, many colleges in Indiana only allow appeals to be made in certain specified circumstances and put it up to the student making the appeal to prove that their appeal falls within one of these required situations. Making sure that this procedural requirement is met, while still crafting an appeal that is likely to succeed at the appellate level, is something that can take the help of an academic misconduct appeals advisor and attorney like Joseph D. Lento. With his help, you can make use of your right to appeal an adverse outcome and bring your side of the story to a hearing panel that is more likely to take your rights seriously.
Academic Misconduct Appeals Advisor Joseph D. Lento Serves Students in Indiana
Joseph D. Lento is a lawyer and an academic appeals advisor who can help your cause if you go to college in Indiana and have been found in violation of your college's code of academic integrity. Call his law office at (888) 535-3686 or contact him online to get the legal help and guidance you need to protect your interests and your future.
- Ancilla College
- Anderson University
- Ball State University
- Bethel College Mishawaka
- Brown Mackie College Fort Wayne
- Brown Mackie College Indianapolis
- Brown Mackie College Merrillville
- Brown Mackie College Michigan City
- Brown Mackie College South Bend
- Butler University
- Calumet College of Saint Joseph
- College of Court Reporting Inc.
- Crossroads Bible College
- DePauw University
- DeVry University Indiana
- Earlham College
- Fortis College Indianapolis
- Franklin College
- Goshen College
- Grace College and Theological Seminary
- Hanover College
- Harrison College Anderson
- Harrison College Columbus
- Harrison College Elkhart
- Harrison College Evansville
- Harrison College Fort Wayne
- Harrison College Indianapolis East
- Harrison College Lafayette
- Harrison College Muncie
- Harrison College Northwest
- Harrison College Terre Haute
- Holy Cross College
- Huntington University
- Indiana Institute of Technology
- Indiana State University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Indiana University East
- Indiana University Kokomo
- Indiana University Northwest
- Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne
- Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
- Indiana University South Bend
- Indiana University Southeast
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- International Business College
- International Business College Indianapolis
- ITT Technical Institute Fort Wayne
- ITT Technical Institute Indianapolis
- ITT Technical Institute Merrillville
- ITT Technical Institute Newburgh
- ITT Technical Institute South Bend
- Ivy Tech Community College Bloominton
- Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana
- Ivy Tech Community College Columbus
- Ivy Tech Community College East Central
- Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo
- Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette
- Ivy Tech Community College Northcentral
- Ivy Tech Community College Northeast
- Ivy Tech Community College Northwest
- Ivy Tech Community College Richmond
- Ivy Tech Community College South Central
- Ivy Tech Community College Southeast
- Ivy Tech Community College Southwest
- Ivy Tech Community College Wabash Valley
- Manchester College
- Marian University
- Martin University
- MedTech College
- MedTech College Ft Wayne Campus
- MedTech College Greenwood Campus
- Mid America College of Funeral Service
- Oakland City University
- Purdue University Calumet Campus
- Purdue University Main Campus
- Purdue University North Central Campus
- Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
- Saint Josephs College
- Saint Mary's College
- Saint Mary of the Woods College
- Taylor University
- The Art Institute of Indianapolis
- Trine University
- Trine University Regional/Non Traditional Campuses
- University of Evansville
- University of Indianapolis
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Phoenix Indianapolis Campus
- University of Phoenix Northwest Indiana Campus
- University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
- University of Southern Indiana
- Valparaiso University
- Vincennes University
- Wabash 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 Indiana 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 Indiana 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.
