College can be tough. A degree can make a world of difference to your future, but Nova Southeastern University doesn't just give them away. Don't believe us? Every year, the university dismisses dozens of students for everything from low grades to plagiarism to dating violence.
It doesn't have to happen to you, though. How do you keep yourself on track and avoid trouble?
- Start by knowing exactly what trouble means. What is it that can get you dismissed from NSU, and how do you avoid making mistakes?
- Of course, you can never tell when, despite your best efforts, trouble may come looking for you. So, in addition to knowing the rules at NSU, you also need some understanding of how judicial processes and procedures work. You know, just in case you wind up needing to defend yourself.
- Here's the thing, though: you can fight dismissal, and you absolutely should. After all, what do you have to lose? You don't want to take on that fight alone, though. You're facing the might of an institution. You can expect faculty and administration to line up against you. You need help—the best help you can find.
No one knows more about education law and university bureaucracy than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team is familiar with the NSU judicial system, and we know how to use that system to your benefit. For more information on how we can help, call 888-535-3686 or take a few minutes right now and fill out our online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from Nova Southeastern University
How hard is it to make it to graduation at NSU? There are actually so many dismissible offenses that we can't list them here. What we can do, though, is list the four categories of offense into which most violations fall. That should help you avoid most problems.
- Poor Academic Performance: First up—academics. You came to NSU to study, and NSU will hold you to that. Should your GPA fall below 2.0, you can find yourself on academic probation. Continue to struggle, and you can also wind up dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: NSU takes academic honesty just as seriously as it takes academic achievement. The academic misconduct policy (see the general Code of Conduct) prohibits cheating, plagiarism, and any other action that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework. Usually, a single violation results in classroom sanctions, like lower grades. Multiple violations, though, can lead to dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: As a student at NSU, you're part of a community. As with any community, the NSU community has its own set of rules. The Code of Conduct bars things like underage drinking, trespassing, and hazing, and any violation—even a first-time violation—can get you dismissed if it is serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: While sexual misconduct is technically a form of disciplinary misconduct, it's treated as its own type of offense. In addition to being one of the most serious offenses a college student can commit, it's a violation of federal law. Title IX requires schools to investigate all credible complaints, and it encourages schools to issue harsh sanctions. In fact, dismissal is the most common end result in these cases.
Misconduct Procedures
Here's the good news: you always have the right to defend yourself from misconduct charges at Nova Southeastern. You're entitled to an investigation, a hearing, and several due process protections. The bad news is that these procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate.
- Most cases begin with a complaint lodged with either the Dean of Students or, in the case of Title IX sexual misconduct, the Title IX Coordinator.
- Any time you are under investigation, NSU must provide you with a Notice of the Charges. This Notice should include a detailed explanation of the charges and a complete list of your due process rights.
- You have the right to an advisor during the disciplinary process, and that advisor can be an attorney. That means a Lento Law Firm attorney can be at your side from the moment you are charged until you've exhausted your last appeal.
- Investigators will invite you to provide them with an explanation of your side of the story. Of course, they'll do the same for the Complainant (your alleged victim). In addition, they'll collect any physical evidence and talk with any witnesses.
- The investigators' job is to assemble a summary of the facts in the case. They submit that summary to either the dean or the Title IX Coordinator, who then sets a time and date for a hearing.
- Your hearing takes place before one or more designated decision-makers. You're allowed to make opening and closing statements, to submit evidence, and to call witnesses to testify. In addition, you may raise questions for any witnesses against you.
- Decision-makers base their decisions on a legal principle known as "preponderance of the evidence." According to this standard, they must find you Responsible (guilty) if they are more than 50 percent convinced you committed an offense. Note that this is a much weaker standard than the better-known "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard.
- Should you lose your case, you have the right to appeal. However, grounds for appeal are limited to issues like the discovery of new evidence, an error in the judicial process, and a sanction that doesn't seem to fit the offense.
All misconduct cases at NSU follow this same general outline. However, cases can differ in subtle but important ways depending on the nature of the charge against you. For example, you're under no obligation to speak at most hearings. However, both sides have the right to cross-examine one another in Title IX sexual misconduct cases.
Whatever the charges against you, your Lento Law Firm attorney is well-versed in all Nova Southeastern judicial procedures. We can make sure your rights are protected and that you get the very best possible outcome for your case.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Academic dismissal cases are a bit different from misconduct dismissal cases, and you can understand why. You're not facing any allegations. The dismissal is based on your GPA, and that's not up for debate.
Even so, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of useful strategies for avoiding academic sanctions, including dismissal. For instance,
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, such as a serious bout of depression or a long-term illness, you can appeal to the dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies. You may be able to get more time to improve rather than be dismissed outright.
- If you should discover that you have a previously undiagnosed learning disability, you can ask the university to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake those courses with appropriate accommodations in place.
- You can always ask an instructor for extra credit or makeup work. Not every professor is open to this suggestion, but if they are, it can be an easy way to raise a borderline grade and, thus, your GPA.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, it should be abundantly clear why trying to defend yourself from dismissal is always a dangerous proposition. It's no easy task taking on a university, and the stakes are incredibly high. Luckily, you don't have to go it alone. The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. Our Student Defense Team can also be fierce when it comes to protecting our clients, and we're not afraid of faculty and administrators.
Let us help you fight for your academic future. To find out more, contact the firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.
