Academic integrity is an important part of a thriving learning environment. In order to keep the quality of education high, academic integrity has to be preserved. This is why colleges and universities enforce rules that maintain this integrity. If students don't comply, the consequences can be harsh.
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?
The vast majority of colleges and universities in Tennessee have rules that are intended to preserve academic integrity. These rules are intended to keep students accountable and transparent when it comes to the completion and submission of their work, and respecting the work of others. Any actions that break these rules can be categorized as academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct Violations
There are many forms of academic misconduct. Here are some common definitions and examples of academic misconduct that may be considered punishable at your school:
Plagiarism: using intellectual material authored by another person in your work without acknowledging the original source.
- Passing off the words, concepts, or ideas of another person as your own
- Using the work of another in your academic work without giving them proper credit. This is known as citing the source. To properly cite the source, one must give credit for every direct quote, paraphrased idea, summary, or information that isn't considered common knowledge
Cheating: using deceitful, fraudulent, or dishonest methods to gain academic merit.
- Allowing another person to write a paper for you
- Using unauthorized materials, written notes, prepared answers, or concealed information that isn't allowed to complete an exam or project
- Sharing answers from a take-home exam (unless specifically authorized by an instructor)
- Copying from others during an exam
- Having a stand-in take an exam for you, or standing in for someone else
Fabrication/Falsification: inventing or altering information in an academic exercise.
- Creating or altering citations for a paper
- Making up discussions, interactions, people, or events to complete an assignment
Complicity: aiding or attempting to aid another student perform academically dishonest acts.
- Allowing another student to copy your homework, exam, or project
- Letting another student use your identification to access a restricted part of campus
Consequences
The effects of academic misconduct repercussions extend far beyond college sanctions. This violation has the ability to haunt students in their professional life. Some employers will have access to student academic records and may use a violation of this nature to deny students employment. Government jobs, careers in academia, and professions in law are likely to do so. So if you're pursuing any of these positions, it's important you utilize your right to an attorney advisor.
Tennessee 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.
Tennessee 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:
- American Baptist College
- Aquinas College
- Argosy University Nashville
- Austin Peay State University
- Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences
- Belmont University
- Bethel University
- Bryan College
- Carson Newman College
- Chattanooga College Medical Dental and Technical Careers
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Christian Brothers University
- Cleveland State Community College
- Columbia State Community College
- Cumberland University
- Daymar Institute Clarksville
- Daymar Institute Murfreesboro
- Daymar Institute Nashville
- DeVry University Tennessee
- Dyersburg State Community College
- East Tennessee State University
- Fisk University
- Fortis Institute
- Fortis Institute Nashville
- Fountainhead College of Technology
- Free Will Baptist Bible College
- Freed Hardeman University
- Hiwassee College
- International Academy of Design and Technology Nashville
- ITT Technical Institute Chattanooga
- ITT Technical Institute Cordova
- ITT Technical Institute Johnson City
- ITT Technical Institute Knoxville
- ITT Technical Institute Nashville
- Jackson State Community College
- John A Gupton College
- Johnson University
- King College
- Lane College
- Le Moyne Owen College
- Lee University
- Lincoln Memorial University
- Lipscomb University
- L'Ecole Culinaire
- Martin Methodist College
- Maryville College
- Memphis College of Art
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga
- Miller Motte Technical College Clarksville
- Miller Motte Technical College Madison
- Milligan College
- Motlow State Community College
- Nashville State Community College
- National College of Business and Technology Nashville
- Northeast State Community College
- Nossi College of Art
- O'More College of Design
- Pellissippi State Community College
- Remington College Memphis Campus
- Remington College Nashville Campus
- Rhodes College
- Roane State Community College
- Sewanee The University of the South
- South College
- Southern Adventist University
- Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Technological University
- Tennessee Temple University
- Tennessee Wesleyan College
- The Art Institute of Tennessee Nashville
- The University of Tennessee
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- The University of Tennessee Martin
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Tusculum College
- Union University
- University of Memphis
- University of Phoenix Chattanooga Campus
- University of Phoenix Knoxville
- University of Phoenix Memphis Campus
- University of Phoenix Nashville Campus
- Vanderbilt University
- Vatterott Career College Memphis Appling Farms
- Vatterott Career College Memphis Dividend Drive
- Victory University
- Virginia College School of Business and Health
- Visible Music College
- Volunteer State Community College
- Walters State Community College
- Watkins College of Art Design & Film
- William Moore College of Technology
- Williamson Christian College
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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.
