If you haven't found out already, you soon will: colleges and universities take academics and student discipline extremely seriously these days. Every school knows that it's just one CNN story away from having its reputation ruined by a cheating scandal or an allegation of sexual misconduct.
Johns Hopkins has a more prestigious reputation than most. That means it has more to lose than the average school, which ultimately means that it can sometimes be ruthless in how it deals with students. Make no mistake: you're getting a top-notch education. Step out of line, though, or make a mistake, and you could easily find yourself dismissed.
What can get you dismissed, and how do you go about fighting it? We'll get into all of that. Right up front, though, you need to know that you don't have to take on that fight alone. Whatever issue you might be facing, National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento is on your side. He knows what you're up against, and he has the knowledge and experience to help you defend yourself.
Reasons for Dismissal
There's a lot that can go wrong during the four to five years you spend at college. Johns Hopkins will hold you accountable in four specific areas:
- Academic Performance: First and foremost, JHU expects you to excel as a student. In concrete terms, that means you must complete at least 12 hours of course credit each semester. Failed classes and withdrawals don't count toward this total. In addition, you must achieve a 2.0 GPA each semester. Should you fall below these expectations, you will quickly find yourself on academic probation or even dismissed from the school entirely.
- Academic Misconduct: Another way of earning dismissal at Johns Hopkins is through academic misconduct. JHU identifies five separate types of dishonesty: cheating, plagiarism, falsification, facilitation, and unfair competition. Any one of these can garner dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You can also be dismissed from Johns Hopkins for behaviors outside the classroom. JHU prohibits a wide range of misconduct, from bullying and hazing to underage drinking and threats.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, John Hopkins maintains a strict policy against sexual misconduct. Most of these cases are subject to rules and procedures as dictated by federal law under Title IX. Dismissal is always a distinct possibility if you're found responsible for a violation.
The Adjudication Process
If you're facing dismissal, how do you go about defending yourself? Well, that depends on the particular situation. An allegation of cheating, for instance, normally begins with a meeting between you and the instructor who's accused you. Sexual misconduct cases involve a thorough investigation conducted by a trained Title IX officer.
All of the school's judicial procedures have a few features in common, though:
- You have the right to notice the charges and to review any evidence against you.
- You have the right to defend yourself at a formal hearing.
- You have the right to appeal the outcome of the hearing.
- You have the right to an advisor to help you through the investigation and adjudication process, and this advisor may be an attorney.
These are all important due process rights instituted to ensure that you are treated fairly and that the outcome of your case is just. They aren't the same kind of rights you'd receive in a court of law, though. For instance, the school doesn't have to find you guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt” to dismiss you.
This means that while it's certainly an advantage to have someone with a legal background help you prepare your case, not just any lawyer will do. Only someone like Joseph D. Lento—someone who works every day on student rights cases—will know how to navigate the system.
Decision Authority
The precise nature of the charge against you is also crucial in determining who will decide your case.
At Johns Hopkins University, academic and disciplinary misconduct cases are heard by a trained board appointed by the Office of Student Conduct. These boards are made up of both students and faculty but are generally chaired by students.
In contrast, sexual misconduct dismissal cases are handled by the school's Title IX Coordinator and the Office of Institutional Equity, who appoint their own panel to decide students' level of responsibility. These panels are typically chaired by faculty or administrators.
Meanwhile, issues of academic standing are in the hands of the school's various academic advising offices, and financial aid decisions are determined by Student Financial Services.
Appeals Process
A dismissal from school doesn't have to mean the end of your university career. Most dismissal decisions at Johns Hopkins University are subject to some type of appeal. Again, though, how those specific appeals work is based on the type of dismissal you're facing. Misconduct appeals, for example, should be directed to the Office of Student Conduct. Sexual misconduct appeals are heard by an Appeals Officer appointed by the Title IX Coordinator.
You should also know that grounds for appeal are limited in all types of cases. When it comes to sexual misconduct, for instance, you must be able to show one of the following:
- New information has arisen that would have a significant bearing on the outcome.
- A Title IX official had a conflict of interest or bias.
- A procedural error occurred during the Title IX process that would have affected the case outcome.
Disciplinary misconduct appeals are similarly limited to:
- New evidence
- Procedural errors
- Sanctions disproportionate to the nature of the offense
Fighting for Your Future
It's always in your best interest to fight dismissal. Should you lose, you are no worse off than you'd be if you simply accepted your fate. If you win, of course, you can resume your studies and complete your degree. There's no substitute for that accomplishment.
You don't want to fight a dismissal battle alone, though. There's too much on the line, and the rules and procedures are too complicated to navigate by yourself. Joseph D. Lento built his firm helping students fight university dismissals. He's dealt with every kind of case, from cheating allegations to Title IX violations. He knows how school procedures work, and he's practiced in talking to faculty and administrators.
If you or your child if facing dismissal, even if you've already been dismissed, Joseph D. Lento may be able to help. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
