College is tough, and we're not just talking about calculus and astronomy. Yes, courses can sometimes be difficult, but college can be hard in other ways too. There is perhaps no place in America where you are as carefully monitored as you are on a university campus. Your every move is scrutinized, and the slightest misstep can put your future in jeopardy. In fact, Drexel University dismisses dozens of students every semester for both academic and disciplinary reasons.
If you're finding school difficult, maybe even facing dismissal, you need to know where to go to get help. National Student Defense Attorney-Advisors at the LLF Law Firm have built their careers dealing with student conduct and academic progression issues. He's helped hundreds of students just like you handle everything from low grades to sexual assault charges. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about staying out of trouble and defending yourself if you get into it. The most important thing to know, though, is that the LLF Law Firm is ready and willing to stand by your side no matter what.
Reasons for Dismissal at Drexel University
If you're worried about the dismissal, you want to find out everything you can about why you can be dismissed. Only when you know the rules can you avoid trouble. There are basically four reasons Drexel University can dismiss you.
- Academic Performance: Drexel gives you every opportunity to succeed as a student, but if you can't keep up, you can face dismissal. The school has an academic standing policy that requires you to earn a 2.0 grade point average every semester and to maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average as well. Otherwise, you can be put on probation or ultimately dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: As you're earning your degree, you also have to make sure you're not breaking any classroom rules. Drexel's Academic Integrity Policy specifically prohibits plagiarism, cheating, and fabrication, but any action that might tend to give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework can get you into trouble. Particularly egregious and repeat offenses are often punished with dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Drexel has rules that govern your behavior outside of class as well. The school's Conduct Policies forbid a wide range of activities, from drug possession to destruction of property. Any violation can potentially result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are almost always subject to dismissal. That's one reason they're treated separately from other types of disciplinary misconduct. The other reason is that they aren't just violations of school policy but under Title IX of federal law.
Misconduct Procedures
You have the right to defend yourself against any misconduct charges at Drexel University and to challenge dismissal decisions. Here's what you can expect in terms of the judicial process.
- Except for Title IX cases, all complaints are handled through the school's Student Conduct and Care office. Title IX cases are handled by the school's Title IX Coordinator.
- Throughout the process, you have the right to an advisor, someone to help you prepare your case and to accompany you to meetings and hearings.
- You have several important due process rights. The school must provide you with a Notice of the Charges, which should enumerate these various rights.
- Once the school decides to pursue a case, it appoints an Investigator. Investigations can be as simple as meeting with both sides of the case. Or they can also be quite complex. Sexual misconduct cases, for instance, often involve witness testimony and the collection of physical evidence and can take up to four months to complete.
- The investigation findings become the foundation for the next phase of the case, a formal hearing.
- Any time you are facing dismissal, you have the right to a hearing. This is your opportunity to present your case in full. You may make arguments, submit evidence and call witnesses.
- After both sides have had a chance to present their cases, Decision Makers deliberate as to your level of Responsibility, to do this, they use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence,” which requires they find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe you “more likely than not” committed an offense.
- You have the right to appeal the hearing outcome, but appeals must be filed within seven days.
While this basic outline applies to all misconduct cases, there are some important differences when it comes to sexual misconduct cases.
- At the conclusion of a Title IX investigation, the Investigator submits a written report of their findings. This report must be unbiased, and both sides have the right to question the findings and suggest revisions to the document.
- Students in academic and disciplinary misconduct cases must select an advisor from the campus community. They may not select a parent or an attorney (though you are always entitled to consult with an attorney before, during, and after a case). Students in Title IX cases, though, are entitled to select an attorney if they so choose, though at their own expense.
- Advisors may not speak on behalf of students in disciplinary and academic misconduct cases. In contrast, advisors must conduct all cross-examination in Title IX cases.
- Appeals may be filed in Title IX cases only under very specific conditions, including the discovery of new evidence, a procedural error, bias on the part of a Title IX official, or a disproportionate sanction.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Academic dismissal cases are not subject to review in the same way misconduct cases are. This is primarily because dismissal decisions are usually based on objective criteria—your term and cumulative GPA.
You can appeal for immediate reinstatement if your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as an illness or a family emergency.
In addition, there are several other informal ways to prevent dismissal. You have a right, for instance, to fair treatment in the classroom. Any time you feel you are being mistreated, you can ask your instructor's department head to reconsider your grades from the semester. Alternatively, some professors are open to grade negotiation. Others are willing to consider extra credit or makeup assignments.
The LLF Law Firm has helped hundreds of students, and they know all the options that are open to you. They can help you develop a sound plan for dealing with the threat of dismissal and help you put it into action.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you should have a clear sense of why you need the help of an attorney-advisor to fight dismissal decisions, even if the process you're involved in doesn't allow you to be accompanied by one. Campus judicial procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and the full weight of your school will be against you. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line. You need someone watching over your shoulder, making certain you're treated fairly and that you get the justice you deserve.
The LLF Law Firm practice was built to help students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges.The Education Law Team have dealt with every sort of charge. They know how to negotiate with faculty and administrators; they know how to interview witnesses; they know how to put together water-tight appeals. Most importantly, no matter what problem you're facing, they are on your side and will do everything in their power to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.
To find out more about what the LLF Law Firm can do for you, contact them today at 888-555-3686 or use our automated online form.
