You made it into college, and that's quite an accomplishment. Auburn University is a good school. Getting in, though, isn't the same thing as graduating. Making it to the end requires discipline, brains, and at least some degree of luck. The thing is, AU dismisses dozens of students every year for everything from low GPA to plagiarism to stalking, and it's not always as easy to avoid getting into trouble as you might think.
What do you do if trouble happens to come looking for you? What do you do if someone at Auburn mentioned the possibility of dismissal?
You contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. The Lento Law Firm Team is dedicated to helping students demand fair treatment from their universities. They know the law as it applies to education, including all your due process rights. In addition, they're familiar with the AU system. They know how to file academic appeals; they're experienced with the campus judicial system. No matter what problem you might be facing, you can count on the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm to work with you to find a solution.
Reasons for Dismissal from Auburn University
There are actually so many reasons you can be dismissed from Auburn that we can't list them all here. For the most part, though, they can be grouped into four categories. Know these, and you'll be able to defend yourself from most charges.
- Academic Misconduct: First, you need to make sure you're following the AU Academic Honesty policy. That policy is designed to prevent you from gaining any unfair advantage in completing your degree. It bars things like plagiarism and cheating. A single violation probably isn't enough to get you dismissed. If you commit multiple offenses, though, dismissal becomes a real possibility.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: The Academic Honesty policy governs your behavior in class. The Student Code of Conduct governs your behavior outside of class. Offenses include things like theft, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct. Ultimately, any violation can lead to dismissal if it is serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are among the most serious allegations any college student can face. They aren't just violations of school policy but under Title IX of federal law. The most common sanction in such cases is dismissal.
- Academic Deficiencies: It's not just misconduct that can get you into trouble at Auburn. You came to the university to study, and AU will hold you to that. According to the school's Academic Standing Policy, you must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. Anything lower, and you're subject to warnings, suspension, and dismissal.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
If you're facing dismissal, you have no choice but to fight. How do you do that?
If you've been charged with some form of misconduct, Auburn conducts a full investigation and offers you the chance to defend yourself at a formal hearing. Here's what you can expect.
- Cases typically begin with an accusation or “Complaint.” This could come from an instructor, a school official, or a student.
- If the complaint is credible and actionable, Auburn opens an investigation. It then supplies you with a Notice of the Charges. That notice includes details about the allegation and a list of your due process rights.
- You have a number of important rights, including the right to be presumed “Not Responsible” (innocent), the right to review all evidence in the case, and the right to notification before all meetings and proceedings. Perhaps the most important of your rights is the right to an advisor. This advisor may be an attorney, which means someone from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can be beside you from the moment you're charged until you've exhausted your last appeal.
- During the investigation, investigators interview both sides of the case. They'll also collect any physical evidence and talk to potential witnesses.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a written summary of their findings. The university then sets a time and date for a hearing and selects one or more decision-makers to oversee the proceedings.
- At the hearing, both sides get the chance to present their cases. You may call witnesses and submit evidence. You may ask questions of any witnesses against you. Of course, the Complainant has these same rights.
- Cases are decided using the “preponderance of the evidence” legal standard. This standard holds that you are responsible if decision-makers are more than fifty percent convinced you committed a violation.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but grounds for appeal are limited to
- Procedural error
- A sanction that is disproportionate to the offense
- The discovery of new evidence
As this outline suggests, the judicial process at Auburn is complex. The fact that different types of offenses are handled by different administrative offices only further complicates matters. In fact, investigations and hearings can differ in small but significant ways depending on the nature of the charge. For instance, in Title IX sexual misconduct cases, you have the right to cross-examine the Complainant. In other types of cases, only decision-makers may ask questions.
This is one reason why it's so important that you have an attorney from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team at your side. They're familiar with all the rules and procedures at Auburn and can help make sure your rights are protected every step of the way.
Academic Dismissals
There are ways to defend yourself from academic dismissals too, but they aren't quite as straightforward as the methods used in misconduct dismissals. Academic dismissals are based almost entirely on your GPA. That means there's no investigation and no hearing. The facts are the facts.
You can appeal an academic dismissal if you can point to extenuating circumstances that led to your deficiencies.
In addition, there are a number of informal approaches to avoiding academic dismissal. For instance,
- Some faculty are open to the process of grade negotiation. Others are willing to assign extra credit and makeup work. An essay rewrite, for example, could be enough to pull your GPA higher.
- If you have a learning disability, you may be entitled to classroom accommodations. If you should discover you have a learning disability, you can petition the university to set aside your low grades and let you retake those courses.
- Classroom mistreatment is often grounds for a grade appeal. If you feel an instructor has treated you unfairly, you should report this to the instructor's department head.
Here again, you can count on the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm to know all the processes and procedures and to do everything they can to get you the justice you deserve.
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.
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 Student Defense Team was built on helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. We know how to negotiate with faculty and administrators; we know how to interview witnesses; we know how to put together water-tight appeals. To find out more about exactly what the Lento Law Firm can do for you, contact us today at 888-535-3686, or use our automated online form.
