Remember how in high school, you could never really get into too much trouble? A low grade wasn't all that big a deal. Heck, you could toilet paper the school, and the worst thing that might happen to you was suspension for a week. You see, the government requires secondary schools to give you an education. They had to let you back in, no matter what.
When it comes to college? Not so much. There are dozens of reasons Palm Beach State College can dismiss you. Low grades? Yep. Cheating? For sure. Starting a food fight in the cafeteria? Most definitely.
You're a good student and an upstanding member of your campus community. You don't have to worry about dismissal, right? You might be surprised. Things happen. False accusations happen. Any one of us can wind up in trouble at any time despite our best intentions.
What do you do if it happens to you?
You contact the Lento Law Firm. The team at the Lento Law Firm is dedicated to helping students get fair treatment from their colleges and universities. They know the law; they know the Palm Beach State College System, and they're ready to put what they know to work for you.
Reasons for Dismissal at Palm Beach State College
First things first: just what is it that can get you dismissed from PBSC? Remember how we said there were dozens of different reasons the college might dismiss you? There are actually too many to list them all here. However, most can be grouped into four categories. These are the things you have to worry about most.
- Academic Deficiencies: You're a student, and that means the college expects you to go to class and study. To make sure you do that, PBSC requires you to earn a minimum grade point average based on how many hours you've completed. If your GPA should fall below that number, you're placed on Academic Probation. If it should continue to fall, you can find yourself dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: PBSC also expects you to earn your degree honestly. Cheating, plagiarism, and the use of AI to write your papers are all expressly forbidden by the school's Academic Dishonesty policy. A first offense might result in a lower grade on the assignment or a lower grade in the course. Additional offenses, though, are often punished with dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your behavior outside of class is governed by PBSC's Code of Conduct. Arson, property damage, hazing, and a long list of other offenses can get you into serious trouble. Any violation can potentially result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses at PBSC are almost always punished with dismissal. Most sexual misconduct is subject to Title IX, a federal law. Schools are required to investigate all credible allegations, and light sanctions can actually put their federal funding in jeopardy. As a result, you can expect your school to take complaints extremely seriously.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
When it comes to misconduct charges, Palm Beach State gives you the right to due process. The school conducts an investigation into allegations and offers you the chance to defend yourself at a formal hearing. Here's how that process typically works.
- Cases begin with a formal complaint made either to the Dean of Student Services or, in the case of Title IX sexual misconduct accusations, the Title IX Coordinator.
- Any time you are under investigation, the school must provide you with Notice of the Charges. This notice should detail the allegations against you and apprise you of your rights.
- One of your most important rights is the right to an advisor, and this advisor can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm can accompany you to all meetings and proceedings.
- You can expect investigators to invite you to meet with them and give your side of the story. Of course, they'll also meet with the Complainant, talk with any other witnesses, and collect any physical evidence.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators compile their findings into a written report. Once they've submitted this, the school sets a time and date for the hearing and forms a hearing panel to preside over the case.
- At the hearing, you may offer evidence and call witnesses to help support your innocence. In addition, you may ask questions of any witnesses against you. Of course, the Complainant in the case (your accuser) will present their full case against you as well.
- A campus hearing is not the same as a criminal trial. One of the most important differences is in how cases are decided. The hearing panel doesn't have to find you guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Instead, they are required to find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- Finally, you can appeal the hearing outcome, but only on certain very specific grounds:
- Procedural error
- New evidence
- Disproportionate sanction
- Conflict of interest on the part of a hearing panel member
While this general outline applies to all misconduct cases, procedures can differ depending on the specific nature of the charges against you. In academic and disciplinary cases, for example, the hearing panel asks all questions of witnesses. In Title IX cases, advisors must conduct examination and cross-examination.
No matter what the charges, though, you can expect the team at the Lento Law Firm to be well-versed in all rules and procedures. They can not only help you navigate the process but make sure you take advantage of all your due process rights.
Academic Dismissals
When it comes to dismissal, academic dismissals are the outliers at Palm Beach State. Unlike misconduct accusations, a low GPA isn't really subject to debate. The school doesn't need to conduct an investigation, and there are no hearings.
However, even in these cases, the professionals at the Lento Law Firm know how to protect you from dismissal. For example,
- If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can try appealing to the Dean for more time to improve.
- If you should discover you have a learning disability, you can ask the school to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake courses with accommodations in place.
- If you should suffer any classroom mistreatment, you can file a grievance and appeal your grades.
Here again, you can count on the Lento Law Firm to help you come up with the best plan for your particular situation and to work with you to put that plan into action.
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.
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. We know how to negotiate with faculty and administrators; we know how to interview witnesses; we know how to put together water-tight appeals. To find out more about exactly what the Lento Law Firm can do for you, contact us today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
