Oregon colleges fight to protect their reputations as academic institutions. This involves the vigorous enforcement of their codes of academic conduct. Because those very codes are written to define misconduct broadly, though, innocent students can find themselves in serious trouble for doing nothing wrong.
In these situations, having a lawyer as your advisor throughout the investigation and hearing process can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.
Academic Misconduct in Oregon
Every school in Oregon has its own way of defining, investigating, and determining academic misconduct, often laying them out in their student handbooks, which are typically hosted online. What constitutes misconduct, however, is often vaguely-defined and deliberately broad, in an attempt to catch students who try navigating around the rules. The expected side effect of this attempt, though, is that innocent students get accused of academic misconduct in Oregon, all the time.
While each school has its own rules, there are a few broad categories of misconduct that appear again and again. These are:
- Plagiarism. Colleges prohibit students from taking someone else's ideas and presenting them as their own in a graded assignment. While plagiarism is unfair, it is also very easy to commit by accident – simply leaving a citation off of a paper can run afoul of your school's code of academic conduct and lead to trouble.
- Cheating. Using prohibited materials on an exam or having someone else take the test for you is a common example of academic misconduct.
- Academic material violations. Stealing or distributing academic material, like upcoming exams or answer keys, is also a frequently-listed example of academic misconduct in Oregon.
- Falsifying or altering records. While the classic examples of academic misconduct happen in the testing environment or with regard to other graded assignments, one of the most egregious examples of it involves altering or falsifying official school records, like your transcript.
- Complicity. Not all allegations of academic misconduct are levied against the student who benefitted from the act. Those who knew of the misconduct but failed to notify the school, or who took active steps to cover up the incident, can face charges of misconduct, as well.
Consequences
While academic misconduct is not a criminal offense, the consequences of being found in violation of your school's code of academic conduct or integrity are severe. The most egregious violations often lead to expulsion. However, even trivial instances of misconduct, like minor plagiarism, can be noted in your file. Interested employers are free to see this blemish on your academic record. In such a competitive job market, this can be a significant obstacle as your first venture into the working world upon graduation.
Joseph D. Lento: Academic Misconduct Advisor in Oregon
If you have been accused of any one of these types of academic misconduct in Oregon, you need a student discipline defense attorney to be your advisor throughout the process. Reach out to Joseph D. Lento by contacting him online or by phone at 888-535-3686. With his help, you can beat these misconduct claims and protect your rights and future.
Oregon 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:
- Blue Mountain Community College
- Central Oregon Community College
- Chemeketa Community College
- Clackamas Community College
- Clatsop Community College
- Columbia Gorge Community College
- Concordia University Portland
- Corban University
- DeVry University Oregon
- Eastern Oregon University
- Everest College Portland
- George Fox University
- Heald College Portland
- ITT Technical Institute Portland
- Klamath Community College
- Lane Community College
- Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Portland
- Lewis & Clark College
- Linfield College McMinnville Campus
- Linn Benton Community College
- Marylhurst University
- Mount Angel Seminary
- Mt Hood Community College
- Multnomah University
- New Hope Christian College
- Northwest Christian University
- Oregon Coast Community College
- Oregon College of Art and Craft
- Oregon Institute of Technology
- Oregon State University
- Pacific Northwest College of Art
- Pacific University
- Pioneer Pacific College
- Portland Community College
- Portland State University
- Reed College
- Rogue Community College
- Sanford Brown College Portland
- Southern Oregon University
- Southwestern Oregon Community College
- The Art Institute of Portland
- Tillamook Bay Community College
- Treasure Valley Community College
- Umpqua Community College
- University of Oregon
- University of Phoenix Oregon Campus
- University of Portland
- University of Western States
- Warner Pacific College
- Western Oregon University
- Willamette 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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.
