A thriving academic community is premised on academic integrity. The quality of education in higher education institutions only remains high when students exhibit consistent habits of accountability and honesty in all of their academic endeavors. This is why colleges and universities work hard to impose rules that preserve academic integrity. If students don't 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 violation on your record for employers and outside institutions to see.
What Is Academic Misconduct?
In every West Virginia college and university, there are always guidelines enforced to maintain integrity. These regulations are intended to keep students transparent and accountable in all of their academic endeavors. Academic misconduct is anything that constitutes a violation of these rules.
Academic Misconduct Violations
There are many types of academic misconduct. Here are a few common examples and definitions of actions that could constitute academic misconduct at your school:
Cheating
- Allowing another person to write a paper for you
- Copying from others during an exam
- Using unauthorized materials, written notes, concealed information, or prepared answers to complete an exam, project or any other academic exercise
- Having a stand-in to take an exam for you, or standing in for someone else
- Sharing answers from a take-home exam unless specifically authorized by an instructor
Plagiarism
- 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 ideas, summaries, or information that isn't considered common knowledge).
- Passing off the words, ideas, or concepts of another person as your own
Complicity
- Knowingly helping or attempting to help another student to perform any academically dishonest acts
Fabrication/Falsification
- Making up people, events, or interactions to complete an assignment
- Creating or altering citations for a paper
Consequences
Since administrators within higher education institutions see academic misconduct as a big deal, the consequences for failing to comply with these rules are very harsh. So harsh, in fact, that the adverse effects may extend beyond sanctioning and interject into a student's professional future. Numerous job prospects will question the integrity of a student that has an academic misconduct violation on their record. Government jobs, legal professionals, and careers in academia all require squeaky clean academic records.
West Virginia 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.
West Virginia 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:
- Alderson Broaddus College
- American Public University System
- Appalachian Bible College
- Bethany College
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
- Bluefield State College
- Bridgemont Community and Technical College
- Concord University
- Davis & Elkins College
- Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- Fairmont State University
- Glenville State College
- Huntington Junior College
- ITT Technical Institute Huntington
- Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College
- Marshall University
- Mountain State College
- Mountain State University
- Mountwest Community and Technical College
- New River Community and Technical College
- Ohio Valley University
- Pierpont Community and Technical College
- Potomac State College of West Virginia University
- Salem International University
- Shepherd University
- Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- University of Charleston
- Valley College Beckley
- Valley College Martinsburg
- Valley College Princeton
- West Liberty University
- West Virginia Business College Wheeling
- West Virginia Junior College Bridgeport
- West Virginia Junior College Charleston
- West Virginia Junior College Morgantown
- West Virginia Northern Community College
- West Virginia State University
- West Virginia University
- West Virginia University at Parkersburg
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology
- West Virginia Wesleyan College
- Wheeling Jesuit 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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.
