Colleges in New Mexico want to ensure that their reputation for academic rigor is unchallenged, and so enforces their codes of academic integrity very stringently. If you get accused of academic misconduct, therefore, you can expect your school to go to great lengths to investigate the charge.
Having a lawyer as your advisor during the investigation and hearing process can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case and protect your rights and your professional future.
Academic Misconduct in New Mexico
While every New Mexico college has its own rules and regulations for academic misconduct allegations and their investigation, those rules are almost always located in their student handbook. Reading and understanding those rules is an important first step in knowing the nature of any allegations you are facing.
What is Academic Misconduct?
Most universities are worried about students skirting around tightly defined rules governing academic misconduct. To combat this, though, schools in New Mexico tend to define misconduct is terms so broad that they can implicate innocent and unsuspecting students and get them into serious trouble:
- Cheating. Bringing prohibited materials into an exam can violate your college's rules against academic misconduct. However, if the professor's instructions were vague, you can unintentionally stumble into trouble through no fault of your own.
- Plagiarizing. Perhaps the most common instance of academic misconduct is plagiarizing a paper. Colleges expect you to cite to the origin of all non-original ideas and data if they are not common knowledge. What constitutes common knowledge, though, is rarely clear, and mistakes happen.
- Complicity. Being complicit in a violation of your school's rules of academic conduct can also lead to trouble. Whether you helped someone else commit an act of misconduct or just failed to report it, you can find yourself facing accusations, as well.
- Falsification. Not all instances of academic misconduct happen in the classroom. Falsifying school records by lying or altering documents can lead to misconduct allegations.
- Stealing or distributing. Finally, stealing or distributing course materials – like answer keys or upcoming test materials – can lead to misconduct claims against you.
Consequences of Violating Academic Integrity Codes
The consequences of being found to have violated your school's code of academic conduct are not to be taken lightly. Even if you are only found to have committed a minor infraction, like failing to properly cite sources in a paper, you can still receive a warning that puts a blemish on your academic record. A major violation, on the other hand, can lead to you being expelled from school.
New Mexico Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento
In a job market that is as highly competitive as today's is, having a taint on your academic record can be enough to set you behind other qualified candidates for your dream job. Joseph D. Lento is a student discipline defense attorney who can serve as your advisor if you have been accused of academic misconduct in the state of New Mexico. With his help, you can defend against these groundless accusations and protect your future. Contact him online or by phone at 888-535-3686.
New Mexico colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's academic misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Brown Mackie College Albuquerque
- Central New Mexico Community College
- Clovis Community College
- Computer Career Center
- Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
- Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus
- Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus
- Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture
- ITT Technical Institute Albuquerque
- Luna Community College
- Mesalands Community College
- National American University Albuquerque
- National American University Rio Rancho
- Navajo Technical College
- New Mexico Highlands University
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
- New Mexico Junior College
- New Mexico Military Institute
- New Mexico State University Alamogordo
- New Mexico State University Carlsbad
- New Mexico State University Dona Ana
- New Mexico State University Grants
- New Mexico State University Main Campus
- Northern New Mexico College
- San Juan College
- Santa Fe Community College
- Santa Fe University of Art and Design
- Southwest University of Visual Arts Albuquerque
- St John's College
- University of New Mexico Gallup Campus
- University of New Mexico Los Alamos Campus
- University of New Mexico Main Campus
- University of New Mexico Taos Campus
- University of New Mexico Valencia County Campus
- University of Phoenix Albuquerque Campus
- University of the Southwest
- Western New Mexico University
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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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.
