If you're a college student, there's no scarier prospect than the possibility of dismissal. Most students don't even want to talk about it. You see, dismissal doesn't just mean having to leave DePaul. Very few schools are willing to take a chance on someone who's already been dismissed. So, dismissal from DePaul likely means the end of your academic career.
With so much on the line, you sort of have to talk about dismissal, at least a little—at least so you know what to do if your school decides to threaten you with it.
There are ways to fight dismissal. We'll get into some of them below. What was the most important factor in that fight, though? Having the right help. The Lento Law Firm was built to help students defend themselves. Our Student Defense Team has worked with hundreds of students, representing them in all kinds of cases. We know the DePaul System, and we know how to use it to your advantage.
If you're in trouble, don't ignore it. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from DePaul University
Let's start simple. Just what is it that can get you dismissed from DePaul University? It turns out there are only four categories of offense that you need to worry about, though each category contains multiple offenses within it.
- Poor Academic Performance: First up, you have to do well academically. You don't need a 4.0, but anything below a 2.0 and DePaul will place you on probation. You can recover from probation, but if you can't recover in three quarters, you then face dismissal.
- Academic Misconduct: Strict academic standing policies can sometimes drive students to take shortcuts to keep their GPAs up. The thing is, DePaul also has a strict Academic Integrity policy, and cheating can get you dismissed about as fast as low grades. One offense probably won't do it, but two certainly could.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your non-academic behaviors at DePaul are subject to as much scrutiny as your academic behaviors. Maybe more. There are certainly more ways to wind up in trouble. DePaul's Code of Student Responsibility deals with everything from “alcohol” to “unauthorized entry.” Some offenses, like hazing, almost always result in dismissal. Any offense can lead to dismissal, though, if it's serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are technically a kind of disciplinary misconduct. However, they are serious enough that they are treated as their own type of offense. In addition, Sexual misconduct is governed by federal law—Title IX—and the punishment is almost always dismissal.
Misconduct Procedures
You always have the option to fight dismissal, and you're never going to be any better off not fighting. If you're facing a misconduct dismissal, DePaul actually gives you some tools to help you in this fight. They're known as Due Process rights.
- Cases usually begin with a complaint lodged against you with either the Dean of Students, the Academic Integrity Board, or the Title IX Coordinator.
- If you've been accused of an offense, you'll receive a Notice of the Charges. This notice should provide you with a detailed description of the allegations and a list of your due process rights.
- In all judicial matters, DePaul allows you to select a support person to advise you during meetings and hearings. This support person may be an attorney, which means someone from the Lento Law Firm can be at your side from the moment you are charged until your last appeal is exhausted.
- The first part of a case is the investigation. Investigations can be short or long, depending on the nature of the case. Typically, though, investigators begin by interviewing both parties separately. They then move on to collecting physical evidence and interviewing witnesses.
- Once they've completed the investigation, investigators submit a summary of their findings. This serves as the foundation for the next phase of the case: a hearing.
- The hearing is your opportunity to argue your full case. You may submit evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine witnesses against you. Of course, the other side in the case—either a Complainant (someone leveling an accusation against you) or the school itself—has these same rights.
- Hearings are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” You've probably heard of the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard. This one is less strict and requires decision-makers to find you “Responsible” (guilty) if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed an offense.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but only in certain very limited circumstances: the discovery of new evidence, an accusation of a procedural error, or an argument that the sanction assigned is disproportionate to the offense.
You should know that while all cases follow this general outline, they can differ considerably depending on the nature of the charges. For instance, in Title IX cases—and only Title IX cases—you and the Complainant (your accuser) are allowed to cross-examine one another, though all cross-examination must be conducted by your advisors.
No matter what the specific charges against you, though, you can count on the Lento Law Firm to help you navigate the entire process. We know what's allowed as evidence in Title IX cases; we know how long disciplinary misconduct investigations should take. We'll make sure DePaul respects your rights and that you get the best possible resolution to your case.
Academic Dismissal Cases
You can fight an academic dismissal, too, but there aren't any clear processes for doing so. DePaul considers your GPA an objective fact and one that doesn't need to be debated at a hearing.
There are legitimate reasons, though, why your GPA might be low. Luckily, the Lento Law Firm knows some effective strategies in these cases as well. For example,
- Sometimes, low grades indicate a deeper problem, such as a learning disability. If you consistently struggle to pass your courses, you should visit Disability Services. They can help you get tested and work out reasonable course accommodations if it turns out that you have such a disability. In addition, you can petition the university to drop low grades from your transcript and let you retake those courses without penalty.
- Low grades can also be the result of extenuating circumstances, like going through a period of depression or having to deal with a family crisis. If you've experienced such circumstances, you can try appealing directly to the dean of your school or college. They might allow you more time to improve before implementing dismissal.
- Sometimes, improving your GPA is as simple as asking for a higher grade. If your grade is borderline, try asking your instructor for makeup or extra credit assignments. You'll have to do your part—complete an extra lab maybe, or re-write a paper—but that's a small price to pay to avoid dismissal.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you should have a clear sense of why you should never fight dismissal on your own. Procedures at DePaul can be complex and difficult to navigate, and the full weight of the school will be against you. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line.
Luckily, you don't have to fight alone.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. We're committed to protecting your rights and to getting you every reasonable opportunity to complete your degree.
Our Student Defense Team knows how to negotiate with faculty and administrators, but we can also be fierce when we need to. Let us help you fight for your academic future. To find out more, contact the firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, use our automated online form.
