Each year, Andrews University dismisses dozens of students. That's a daunting proposition if you're enrolled at AU and working hard towards earning your degree. You can be dismissed for drinking before you're 21, for failing to keep your GPA high enough, or just because your comp instructor thinks your essay sounds a little too much like one she read last semester.
Dismissal nullifies all the work you've put in up to now. It puts your future in jeopardy. It means having to pay back student loans without the degree you took out those loans for in the first place.
If you're facing dismissal—for any reason—you have to fight. That's not an easy thing to do on your own, though. Your school will tell you that its judicial processes and procedures are fair, but keep in mind that you're being judged by the same school that accused you in the first place. You need someone on your side, someone who understands the system and who has experience fighting for student rights. Simply put, you need Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team.
Keep reading, and you'll find out about all the reasons Andrews might try to dismiss you and all about how you can defend yourself. Right off the bat, though, you need to know that Joseph D. Lento and his Team are on your side, come what may.
Reasons for Dismissal at Andrews University
There's simply not enough space here to talk about all the different reasons Andrews University might try to dismiss you. For simplicity's sake, though, they can be gathered into four categories.
- Academic Performance Issues: First and foremost, you're a student at AU, and the university expects you to perform to the best ability in all your courses. As an incentive, it has a “standing” policy that punishes you if you don't keep your GPA high enough. Fall below a 2.0 cumulative or 1.75 semester GPA, and you're placed on probation. Continue to struggle, and the school can dismiss you altogether.
- Academic Misconduct: You've got to keep your GPA high, but you've got to do that honestly. In addition to a standing policy, AU also has a strict Academic Integrity Code. Cheating, plagiarism, and any other action that might tend to give you an unfair advantage in your coursework are expressly forbidden. Again, minor infractions won't get you expelled, but major and repeat offenses will.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: AU doesn't just pay attention to your classwork. All your behaviors on campus are scrutinized. The school's Student Code of Conduct offers a long list of prohibitions, from theft to “immoral expression.” Any violation can potentially get you dismissed. Some, like hazing and drug possession, almost always lead to dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Another offense that's almost always punished with dismissal is sexual misconduct. This is a serious form of misconduct, so serious, in fact, that it isn't just a violation of school policy. Under Title IX, it's a violation of federal law.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
Andrews University gives you some rights to defend yourself from misconduct charges. However, as a private institution, its judicial procedures are sometimes more informal and less concrete than procedures might be at another institution. In fact, school policy makes clear in several places online,
“A [disciplinary] Panel is not in the character of a criminal or civil legal proceeding. It is not modeled on these adversarial systems, nor does it serve the same social functions. It is not a court or tribunal. Rather, it is an academic process unique to the community of scholars that comprise a university.”
In most cases, you have the right to
- A full and thorough investigation
- A presumption of “Not Responsible” (innocent) until proven “Responsible” (guilty)
- Some type of advisor
- Offer evidence and suggest witnesses to a decision-making panel
- Appeal the panel's finding
However, every type of case is different depending on the specific charge. For example
- Academic misconduct cases are decided using a legal standard known as “Clear and Convincing.” According to this standard, you are Responsible for a violation if decision-makers believe the evidence is more likely to be true than not true. In disciplinary and sexual misconduct cases, the standard is “Preponderance of the Evidence.” This means you're Responsible if decision-makers are more than fifty percent certain you committed a violation.
- In academic misconduct cases, you may choose someone from campus to serve as an advisor. In disciplinary and sexual misconduct cases, you have the right to select an attorney as your advisor. And in sexual misconduct, your advisor must perform some functions—cross-examining witnesses, for instance—for you.
- In academic and disciplinary cases, you may or may not have an opportunity to confront your accuser. In sexual misconduct cases, the right to a live hearing with both parties present is guaranteed under the law.
Whether or not you are allowed to bring an attorney with you to meetings and proceedings, it's vital you consult with Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team throughout your case. Given just how unstructured AU's procedures can be, you need someone paying attention and making sure you are always granted your due process rights.
No matter what charge you may be facing, Joseph D. Lento and his Team know the law, they know the AU system, and they have years of experience representing clients just like you.
Academic Dismissal Cases
As difficult as misconduct cases can sometimes be, dismissals for academic deficiencies can sometimes be even harder to handle. In general, these cases aren't a matter of debate. Decisions about probation, suspension, and dismissal are based almost entirely on your GPA. Either your GPA is high enough, or it isn't.
There are some ways of dealing with the threat of expulsion in these cases, though. For one thing, you can appeal to the dean of your school or college if your deficiencies were caused by extenuating circumstances, like an illness or a family emergency. You may be able to persuade the dean to grant you more time to improve.
There are other strategies as well you might try. Some professors, for instance, are open to grade negotiation. You may be able to convince them to reconsider your work from a semester, or you might try arguing that your particularly high final exam score warrants a higher final course grade. Likewise, some instructors are willing to assign extra credit or makeup work if your grade is borderline.
Again, whatever your particular situation, Joseph D. Lento and his Team can work with you to come up with an effective approach to dealing with it and help you implement that approach.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you probably have a clear sense of why you need the help of an attorney-advisor to fight dismissal decisions. Campus judicial procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and the full weight of your school will likely be against you. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line. You're facing dismissal, and you know what happens to people who go into the workforce with no college degree.
You need someone watching over your shoulder, making certain you're treated fairly and that you get the justice you deserve.
The Joseph D. Lento Law Firm was built on helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. They know how to negotiate with faculty and administrators; they know how to interview witnesses; they know how to put together water-tight appeals. To find out more about exactly what Joseph D. Lento and his Team can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
