If you're enrolled at Arizona State University, SkySong, there may actually be days when you don't feel like a student. After all, courses are online, so you may never have stepped foot on an ASU campus. You've probably never sat outside a professor's door waiting for office hours. You've never hung out on the quad and played Frisbee. You don't have a roommate to worry about.
You're still subject to the same rules and regulations, though, as any other ASU student on any other ASU campus. You can be dismissed, too, for things like plagiarism, harassment, or simply failing to keep your grades up.
Just like any other ASU student, then, you need to know how to get help if you should find yourself facing dismissal. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team are here when you need them, ready to fight for your educational future and to ensure your school treats you fairly. They've helped hundreds of students to deal with all kinds of issues, from cheating scandals to allegations of rape. They're knowledgeable, they're experienced, and they're on your side, no matter what.
Reasons for Dismissal at Arizona State University, SkySong
As an online student, you don't have to worry as much about some of Arizona State University's rules. For example, you're probably not going to wind up accused of trespassing on school property. Even so, there are four categories of violations that can get you dismissed from SkySong.
- Academic Deficiencies: Your first concern as an ASU student, of course, is making sure you keep your grades up. College isn't like high school: fail enough courses, and you can be dismissed. The school's academic standing policy requires you to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. If you can't reach that number, you are subject to Probation, and if you continue to struggle while on Probation, you can be dismissed entirely.
- Academic Misconduct: It's not enough to get good grades at ASU, SkySong. You also have to get them, honestly. The school's Academic Integrity Policy prohibits plagiarism, cheating, and anything else that might give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework. A serious enough offense, or multiple offenses, can get you dismissed.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Outside the classroom, your behavior is governed by the school's Code of Conduct. Again, it's unlikely anyone will issue you a citation for setting off fireworks or tampering with fire safety equipment. Many of the rules do apply to online students, though, such as restrictions on how you use university technology. In addition, you should know that violations of local, state, or federal laws can get you dismissed from ASU, no matter where those violations occur.
- Sexual Misconduct: You are also subject to ASU's sexual misconduct policy. Federal law (Title IX) requires all colleges and universities to investigate all but the most spurious allegations. Online behavior is subject to the same strict rules.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
If you are dealing with a misconduct charge, the good news is that you have the right to defend yourself. The school must conduct an investigation, and it must hold a formal hearing before deciding whether or not you are “Responsible for” (guilty of) an offense.
The bad news is case procedures can be complicated. Here's a rough outline of what you'll likely face.
- Cases usually begin with a complaint lodged either with the Office of University Rights and Responsibilities or, in the case of sexual misconduct, with the Title IX Coordinator.
- Before opening an investigation ASU, SkySong will provide you with Notice of the Charges. This document should describe the exact nature of the allegation and apprise you of your rights.
- Among your rights, you are entitled to select an advisor, someone to help you prepare your case and to accompany you to meetings and proceedings. Importantly, this advisor may be an attorney.
- As part of the investigation, investigators should interview you to get your side of the story. In addition, they collect any physical evidence and talk with witnesses.
- Once the investigation is complete, the school then sets a time and date for a hearing. In addition, it appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over the proceedings.
- At the hearing, you may call witnesses and present evidence. You may also cross-examine any witnesses against you. Of course, the Complainant has these same rights.
- All cases are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Far less strict than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” this standard requires decision-makers to find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed an offense.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but only on certain limited grounds:
- Procedural error
- Newly discovered evidence
- An excessive sanction
- A decision not justified by the evidence
Cases can differ significantly depending on the specific nature of the charge. For example, Title IX sexual misconduct cases require that advisors conduct all witness examinations. That means if you don't have an advisor, the school must provide one for you, though it doesn't have to provide you with an attorney.
Joseph D. Lento and his team are familiar with all of ASU and SkySong's judicial procedures. No matter what your situation, they can advise you on how to proceed and protect your rights from start to finish.
Academic Dismissal Cases
In contrast to its misconduct policies, Arizona State, SkySong offers no formal procedures for challenging an academic dismissal. The school regards your GPA as a matter of fact, a fact it doesn't believe needs to be investigated or adjudicated.
Luckily, Joseph D. Lento and his team know a number of informal approaches to dealing with this type of dismissal. For instance,
- If you should discover you have a learning disability, you can request the school drop low grades from your transcript and allow you to retake courses with accommodations in place.
- Mistreatment in the classroom is grounds for a grade appeal. If you feel an instructor has treated you unfairly, you should bring this to the attention of the instructor's department head.
- If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can ask the dean of your school or college to give you more time to improve rather than dismissing you.
You can count on Joseph D. Lento and his team to know all the available options. You can also count on them to help you put a plan into action, whether that involves coaching you in the art of negotiating with faculty or working with you to gather evidence for a grade appeal.
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 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.
