You might be surprised at how many things can get you dismissed from college. Low grades? Sure. Assault on another student? Yep. But also plagiarism, underage drinking, simple harassment, and dozens of other policy violations. It's no wonder freshman classes are sometimes two or three times larger than graduating classes: not everybody makes it to the end.
How do you make sure you survive to walk across that stage?
- Start by knowing the rules. Just what is it that can get you into trouble, and how do you avoid making mistakes?
- Next, make sure you know how the judicial system at Iowa State works. What do you do if, despite your best efforts, you should wind up accused of a serious offense?
- Finally, and most important, know how to get help when you need it. Taking on your university is a daunting proposition, and you don't want to do it alone. Luckily, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are on your side.
Reasons for Dismissal at Iowa State University
It's like the setup to some unpleasant joke: how many ways are there to get dismissed from Iowa State? Turns out, too many to list. That said, most of them can be grouped into one of four categories.
- Academic Deficiencies: It probably won't surprise you to learn that you can be dismissed for low grades. After all, you came to ISU to be a student. The academic standing policy requires you to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0. You won't be kicked out just for falling below that number, but you might be if you struggle consistently to pass your classes.
- Academic Misconduct: Something else Iowa State takes seriously? Academic integrity. That means no cheating, no plagiarism, no making up lab results, and no turning the same work into multiple courses. Again, one mistake won't lead to dismissal. Multiple mistakes, though, can.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your conduct outside of class is subject to the same level of scrutiny as your conduct in class. In this case, the rules are contained in the Student Code of Conduct. There, you'll find prohibitions against everything from weapons possession to public urination. Any violation can potentially result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: These offenses almost always result in dismissal. In fact, sexual misconduct isn't just a matter of school policy. Under Title IX, it's against federal law.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
Iowa State grants you the right to defend yourself from any type of misconduct charge. The judicial system's rules and procedures can be complicated to follow, though. Here's a rough outline.
- Complaints are normally directed to the Office of Student Conduct. The exception is sexual misconduct, where complaints are registered with the school's Title IX Coordinator.
- You have a number of important due process rights at Iowa State. For instance, you are entitled to a presumption of “Not Responsible” (innocence). One of the most important of these rights is to choose an advisor. That means Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team can help you prepare your defense and stand beside you as you present it.
- Cases start with an investigation. You can expect investigators to meet separately with both you and the Complainant (your accuser). This is your first chance to give your side of the story. You can also submit evidence and suggest witnesses.
- Investigation timelines vary. An academic misconduct accusation might only require a few days of investigation. Sexual misconduct investigations, on the other hand, can take several months to complete.
- Once the investigation is complete, the school appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over a hearing into the matter.
- A university hearing isn't the same as a trial, but there are structural parallels. Both sides get to present evidence and call witnesses. Both get to ask questions of adverse witnesses.
- Perhaps the biggest difference between a university hearing and a court case is in how they are decided. Criminal court cases are ordinarily decided using the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard. Campus hearings use a much less stringent standard, “preponderance of the evidence.”
- You can appeal the hearing outcome if you should lose your case. However, grounds for appeal are strictly limited to issues such as new evidence, procedural error, a conflict of interest on the part of a decision-maker, or a sanction that is disproportionate to the offense.
Cases can differ in small but important ways depending on the nature of the charge. For example, Respondents (the accused) and Complainants (accusers) can cross-examine one another in Title IX sexual misconduct hearings but not in other kinds of hearings.
The good news is Joseph D. Lento, and his team are familiar with all of Iowa State's judicial procedures. They know the system, and they know how to use it to your advantage.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Academic dismissals work significantly differently from misconduct dismissals. They're based entirely on your grade point average, a fact not typically open to debate. In other words, you shouldn't expect an investigation or hearing.
Even in these cases, though, Joseph D. Lento and his team know a number of options for responding to the threat of dismissal.
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you have the right to file an immediate appeal with the Academic Standards Committee. A successful appeal means more time to improve rather than dismissal.
- If you discover you have an undiagnosed learning disability, you can petition Disability Services to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses with accommodations in place.
- Some faculty are willing to assign extra credit or makeup work. It could be that writing an extra paper or conducting an extra lab assignment could be enough to raise your GPA and prevent dismissal.
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.
