College these days is tough. Need proof? Check out how many students Kent State dismisses each and every year. And these dismissals aren't just for low GPAs, though, of course, that happens. They're for things like plagiarism, theft, trespassing, and stalking. In fact, there is perhaps no place in America where you are scrutinized the way you are on a college campus.
What do you do to protect yourself?
Three things:
- First, you make sure you know the rules, especially the rules that can get you dismissed from the university.
- Second, you find out everything you can about Kent State's judicial processes and procedures. After all, you can never tell when trouble might come looking for you.
- Third, you get help. You can't take on the authority of your university all by yourself. If you're facing dismissal, you need someone on your side who understands how campus justice works, someone with experience representing students and making sure they're treated fairly. You need someone from the Lento Law Firm.
At the very first sign of trouble, you must contact the Lento Law Firm and find out how they can help. Contact the firm at 888-535-3686 or use the automated online form.
Reasons for Dismissal at Kent State University
First things first: what is it that can get you dismissed from Kent State? Basically, there are four kinds of things that can go wrong.
- Academic Performance: First, you can get into trouble simply for failing to keep up in the classroom. The university has an academic standing policy that requires you to maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average. You won't be dismissed the first time your GPA falls, but if you continue to struggle, dismissal becomes a real possibility.
- Academic Misconduct: While you're keeping your grades up, you want to make sure you are doing it honestly. Kent State's Academic Misconduct policy is as strict as its standing policy. Cheating, plagiarism, and anything else that might give you an unfair advantage as a student are expressly forbidden. Again, one mistake probably isn't enough to get you dismissed. Two mistakes might be enough, though.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your general campus behavior is governed by a separate policy known as the Code of Student Conduct. The Code contains rules against things like disorderly conduct, misuse of computer resources, underage drinking, and weapons possession. Any violation can potentially result in dismissal, even a first violation.
- Sexual Misconduct: These offenses are almost always punished with dismissal. Sexual discrimination and harassment—including offenses ranging from stalking to rape—are regulated by the federal government under Title IX. Colleges and universities are required to investigate all credible complaints and encouraged to punish Responsible students with harsh sanctions.
Misconduct Procedures
Just because you've been charged with a dismissible offense doesn't necessarily mean you'll be dismissed. You do have the right to defend yourself. In the case of misconduct allegations, there are clear processes in place at Kent State for doing that.
- Cases typically begin with a complaint. Before the university charges you with an offense, it must first determine that the complaint is both credible and actionable.
- If the university does charge you, it must provide you with a written Notice of the Charges. This Notice should include details about the allegations and a list of all your due process rights.
- The university then conducts an investigation into the complaint. An investigation into a simple allegation of cheating might be as simple as a review of the documentary evidence. On the other hand, a Title IX investigation can take several months and involve the collection of physical evidence as well as witness testimony.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a written report summarizing their findings. This serves as the foundation for the hearing that follows. Once they receive the investigative report, university officials set a time and date for this hearing and appoint one or more decision-makers to preside over it.
- At the hearing, you may make opening and closing statements, submit evidence, call witnesses, and raise questions for any witnesses testifying against you. Of course, the other side in the case—a Complainant or the university itself—has the right to do the same.
- Cases are ultimately decided using a legal principle known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Less strict than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” preponderance of the evidence requires decision-makers to find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- Finally, you have the right to appeal the outcome of your hearing, but only on very strict grounds. These include
- A procedural error
- The discovery of new evidence
- Bias or a conflict of interest on the part of a decision-maker
- A sanction that is disproportionate to the offense
Kent State doesn't allow students to be represented at hearings by legal counsel. However, you are entitled to bring an advisor or support person with you to meetings and hearings, and this individual can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm can not only work with you to develop your defense and organize your evidence but can be on hand to offer advice at every stage of the process.
Academic Dismissal Cases
You may have noticed that there's been no mention of academic dismissals so far. That's because they work quite differently from misconduct dismissals. Ordinarily, they're based on objective fact—your GPA—and that's not a matter for investigation or adjudication.
Nevertheless, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can suggest strategies for dealing with these types of dismissals as well.
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, Kent State offers an appeals process. Your attorney can help guide you through this process.
- If you have a disability, you may be entitled to course modifications, like extra time to complete assignments or access to electronic equipment during exams. If you should discover you have a disability, you can ask the university to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses with appropriate modifications in place.
- It's always possible to negotiate directly with instructors. Perhaps the simplest way to do this is to ask for extra credit or makeup assignments. Instructors are also sometimes open to the possibility of more sophisticated arguments as well, though.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you should have a clear sense of why you need the help of an attorney to fight dismissal decisions. 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.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. The firm's Student Defense Team has dealt with everything from plagiarism allegations to rape 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. 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 Lento Law Firm can do for you, call 888-535-3686 or use the automated online form.
