No one makes it through college unscathed. No one. We all fail exams and maybe even a class or two. We go through bad breakups. We wreck our cars. The question is whether we let these moments define us or we find a way to rise above them.
Dartmouth dismisses dozens of students each year because they don't measure up academically or they make some stupid mistake that violates school policy. How do you make sure you're not one of them?
Simple: if you're facing dismissal for any reason, you get help. Joseph D. Lento is a National Student Defense attorney-advisor who understands the complex bureaucracy of higher education and who knows how to navigate it. He's experienced at negotiating with faculty and administrators and skilled at putting together student conduct defenses. So, find out all you can about what can go wrong at Dartmouth. Then make sure you know how to get help when it does.
Reasons for Dismissal at Dartmouth College
There are many reasons you can wind up in trouble at Dartmouth College, from failing too many courses to playing your music too loud in the dorm. For the most part, though, these can be grouped into four categories.
- Academic Performance: Dartmouth is a prestigious school, and it expects all of its students to meet high academic standards. Fail a class, or make a couple of Ds in a term, and you could find yourself on academic probation. Do it more than once, and you could find yourself dismissed from the school entirely.
- Academic Misconduct: Another common reason for dismissal is academic misconduct. Dartmouth's Academic Honor Principle forbids plagiarism, cheating, and turning the same work into two classes—basically anything that could give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework. Serious violations can certainly get you expelled.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: The Honor Principle is one of a number of Standards of Conduct at Dartmouth. These standards include rules about non-academic behaviors as well. For instance, one standard prohibits “behavior which causes or threatens physical harm to another person or which would reasonably be expected to cause physical harm to another person ‘consensual' or not.” Another focuses on alcohol and drug usage. Violations of any conduct standard can also result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Perhaps the most serious standard you can breach at Dartmouth is that against sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct isn't just a violation of school policy but of federal law. Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments bars sexual discrimination and harassment in educational programs. As a result, you can expect Dartmouth to pursue every allegation zealously and to punish offenses severely. In fact, suspension is typically the minimum sanction in such cases, and dismissal is the most likely outcome.
The Adjudication Process
While there are many reasons Dartmouth might try to dismiss you, the school offers you the chance to defend yourself in most dismissal cases. How you go about defending yourself will depend on the specific charge, but in general, the process works the same no matter what type of dismissal you're facing.
- Cases begin with an allegation made either to the Office of Community Standards and Accountability (CSA) or Dartmouth's designated Title IX Coordinator.
- You have several important due process rights as a Respondent (accused person), such as the right to notice of the charges and the right to a presumption of innocence. You also have the right to an advisor, and this advisor can be an attorney.
- The first phase of any misconduct case is an investigation. This investigation may be simple. In academic misconduct cases, for instance, an investigation might involve collecting examples of your coursework. In other cases, though, an investigation can be quite complex. Sexual misconduct investigations typically involve gathering physical evidence and talking to witnesses and can sometimes take several months to complete.
- The second half of the case is a hearing where you have an opportunity to formally argue your innocence. You may present evidence and call witnesses. Of course, the Complainant (your accuser) may do the same.
- At the conclusion of the hearing, Decision Makers must decide whether or not you are responsible for (guilty of) an offense. In doing so, they use a legal standard known as “Preponderance of Evidence.” According to this standard, they must find you Responsible if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed a violation.
Again, there are some minor differences in how misconduct proceedings work. In particular, sexual misconduct cases, because they are subject to federal law, are treated somewhat differently than other types of cases. Investigators and Decision Makers, for example, are specially trained to follow Title IX protocols. In addition, you have some special rights under Title IX. For instance, you are not required to conduct a cross-examination yourself. Instead, your advisor does this on your behalf. Joseph D. Lento is familiar with all processes and procedures at Dartmouth and can offer you guidance on how to deal with whatever charges you may be facing.
Appeals Processes
You also have the right at Dartmouth to appeal any hearing outcome that goes against you. This is known as a “Request for Review.” However, there are some restrictions on whether or not the school actually undertakes a full review.
For one thing, there is a strict time limit on filing all reviews. Requests in academic and disciplinary misconduct cases must be filed within seven days of receiving the hearing outcome. Title IX appeals must be filed within three days.
In addition, there are limits on the grounds for appeal.
- A procedural error that may have affected the outcome
- New information that might have a bearing on the case outcome
- Bias on the part of a judicial process official
Academic Dismissal Cases
The one type of dismissal that isn't subject to a judicial process is dismissal for poor academic performance. For the most part, such decisions are made automatically based on your grades from a term as well as your academic history.
However, there are methods of dealing with the threat of dismissal, even in these cases. If, for example, you feel you have been mistreated by an instructor, you have the right to notify the department chair and the Dean of Undergraduates.
If that's not the case, you can also try approaching your instructor directly and explaining your performance. Some faculty are willing to re-evaluate your work from a term if you request it. Others offer extra-credit opportunities to help students bring up their scores.
Here again, Joseph D. Lento can explain all your options to you and help you decide which are most appropriate in your particular circumstances. He can even coach you in negotiation tactics or help you gather evidence if that's what is needed.
Fighting for Your Future
Make no mistake: fighting for your future at Dartmouth College can be a daunting proposition. It means developing a defense strategy, collecting evidence, and talking to witnesses. All of these take time and energy, something you don't have a lot of as a student. You're never any worse off fighting and losing, though, than you would be just giving up. And you don't have to take on the fight alone.
Joseph D. Lento is here to help. Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. He's dealt with everything from plagiarism allegations to rape charges. He knows how to negotiate with faculty and administrators; he knows how to formulate witness questions; he knows how to put together a water-tight appeal. Most importantly, no matter what problem you're facing, Joseph D. Lento is on your side and will do everything in his power to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.
To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
