A thriving academic community is premised on academic integrity. When students exhibit and maintain habits of honesty and accountability in all of their academic endeavors, the quality of education remains high. This is why colleges and universities work hard to enforce rules that preserve academic integrity. If students fail to comply with these rules, the consequences may be harsh, affecting not only your educational career but your professional life as well.
This is why it's important for students accused of academic misconduct to seek the help of an attorney advisor. An experienced legal professional can help you clear your name, and avoid getting you a record for employers and outside institutions to see.
What is Academic Misconduct?
In every Maryland college, there are guidelines to maintain integrity. These regulations are intended to keep students accountable and transparent in their academic endeavors. Anything that could potentially constitute academic dishonesty in an academic setting is prohibited by these rules.
Academic Misconduct Violations
Some of the most common forms and examples of academic misconduct are:
Cheating
- Copying from others during an exam.
- Having a stand-in take an exam for you, or standing in for someone else.
- Sharing answers from a take-home exam unless specifically authorized by an instructor.
- Using unauthorized materials, written notes, prepared answers, or concealed information to complete an exam or project.
- Allowing another person to write a paper for you.
Plagiarism
- Passing off the words, ideas, or concept of another person as your own.
- Using the work of another and not crediting the source (citing must be done correctly, and credit must be given for every direct quote, any paraphrased information, summary, or information that isn't considered common knowledge).
Complicity
- Intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another student to perform any academically dishonest acts.
Fabrication/Falsification
- Inventing or altering citations for a paper.
- Making up people, events, or interactions to complete an assignment.
Consequences
Since administrators see academic misconduct as a big deal, the consequences for failing to comply with these rules in college and university settings are harsh. So harsh, that the effects may extend beyond sanctioning, and invade a student's professional future. Many job prospects will question the integrity and morale of a person if they have an academic misconduct violation on their record. Government jobs, law professionals, and careers in academia all pretty much require squeaky clean records.
Maryland Academic Misconduct Advisor
A finding of responsibility for academic misconduct can jeopardize the academic and professional goals you or your college student have set. If you value the investment you've made into your education and your professional future, contacting a skilled student defense attorney is a must. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped students who've acquired serious academic misconduct charges recover from these allegations, and he can do the same for you. Contact him today for more information.
Maryland colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's academic advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Bowie State University
- Capitol Technology University
- Coppin State University
- Frostburg State University
- Goucher College
- Hood College
- Johns Hopkins University
- Loyola University Maryland
- Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
- Maryland University of Integrative Health
- McDaniel College
- Morgan State University
- Mount St. Mary's University
- Notre Dame of Maryland University
- St. John's College
- St. Mary's College of Maryland
- Salisbury University
- Steven University
- Towson University
- United States Naval Academy
- University of Baltimore
- University of Maryland, Baltimore
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
- University of Maryland, University College
- University of Maryland, Biotechnology Institute
- University of Maryland, Environmental Science
- USM Hagerstown
- Universities at Shady Grove
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
It is an unfortunate reality that academic misconduct charges can upend an accused student's life if not properly addressed, and Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the future of his clients at colleges and universities in Maryland 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 for students facing disciplinary cases in Maryland and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
