Rice University is one of the top schools in the country. Earn a degree here, and you're virtually assured of professional success.
That's the tricky part, though, isn't it: making it through four years of challenging courses and demanding professors. The fact is, few students survive entirely unscathed. Sooner or later, almost everyone runs into trouble of one kind or another.
The question is whether you're going to let that trouble define you. Lots of students leave Rice every year, never to return. Are you going to let that happen to you?
National Student Defense attorney-advisor, Joseph D. Lento, wants to make sure you don't. He believes in your future, and he's dedicated to making sure you get there. There are many reasons why Rice might dismiss you. Joseph D. Lento is experienced at handling all of them. He knows your school's many judicial processes. He's skilled at negotiating with faculty and administrators. Whatever problem you might be facing, you can trust Joseph D. Lento to help you overcome it.
Reasons for Dismissal at Rice University
If you're concerned about dismissal at Rice University, there are basically four areas you need to worry about.
- Academic Performance: First, you need to pay attention to your coursework. One of the easiest ways to wind up suspended or dismissed from Rice is simply to fail as a student. The university requires all students to earn at least a 1.67 GPA every semester and maintain at least a 1.67 cumulative GPA. Fail to meet this mark, and you can wind up on probation or worse.
- Academic Misconduct: While you're earning your degree, you're also expected to meet the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Rice has an all-inclusive Honor Code that requires students to pledge “in good conscience, that their work is their own and that they have neither witnessed nor suspect violations by others.” Violations of the code can be punished with anything from a lowered grade on the assignment in question to expulsion.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Outside of classes, Rice still expects you to live up to a strict disciplinary code. The Student Code of Conduct contains a long list of prohibitions having to do with everything from unauthorized entry into a campus building to tampering with university documents. Many of these strictures, such as drug possession, hazing, and assault, are serious enough that they are often punished with dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Though it is technically a form of disciplinary misconduct and is mentioned in the Student Code of Conduct, sexual misconduct is treated as its own type of violation. In part, this has to do with the fact that sexually-based offenses aren't just violations of school policy but of federal law. In such cases, dismissals aren't just possible but likely.
The Adjudication Process
You have the right to defend yourself from most types of dismissal at Rice University. However, how you go about defending yourself depends on the specific nature of the dismissal.
- Honor Code violations are handled by the Honor Council; a judicial body made up entirely of student representatives elected by the student body. Once you've been charged, you face a formal investigation followed by a hearing. Hearings take place before six members of the council. You have the opportunity to make opening and closing statements, present evidence, and call witnesses. Decisions are based on the legal standard known as “preponderance of evidence.”
- Disciplinary misconduct charges are dealt with through Rice's Student Judicial Programs (JPS) and typically involve an investigation and a hearing before either the University Court or the appropriate College Court. Here again, you have the right to make arguments, call witnesses, and present evidence. All members of a hearing panel are students, and decisions are based on “preponderance of evidence.”
- Finally, because they are governed by federal law—Title IX—sexual misconduct cases are subject to rules and procedures set forth in that law. Cases involve an investigation and hearing overseen by the Title IX Coordinator, a Title IX Investigator, and a Title IX Hearing Officer. In general, students have more rights in these cases. For example, you may be accompanied to all proceedings by an advisor, and this advisor may be an attorney. In addition, you have the right to cross-examine the Complainant and any other witnesses against you. Here, too, though, decisions are based on “preponderance of evidence.”
Appeals Process
Whatever the outcome of a dismissal hearing, you have some limited rights to appeal that outcome.
- Academic misconduct appeals are handled by an Appeals Panel appointed by Student Judicial Programs. These must be filed within five days of hearing of the hearing outcome.
- Disciplinary misconduct appeals should be directed first to the Director of SJP and, failing that, to the Dean of Undergraduates. You have ten days to file appeals in these cases.
- Likewise, you have to tend days to file an appeal in sexual misconduct cases. Appeals are heard by a Title IX Appellate Officer.
In all cases, grounds for appeal are strictly limited to
- The discovery of new evidence
- Procedural error or bias on the part of an investigator or decision maker.
Finally, you should know that appeals at Rice University don't involve live hearings. Appeals panels and officers decide cases based strictly on written statements and documentary evidence.
Dismissals for Academic Cause
There is no clear process for challenging a decision about dismissal based on academic cause. For the most part, such decisions are a matter of numbers—specifically term and cumulative GPAs—and thus not open to debate.
This doesn't mean that you have no options in such cases. For example, you may be able to appeal directly to an instructor and ask them to reconsider your work from the semester or to assign you extra credit assignments. Often, a single changed grade will be enough to raise your GPA and avoid dismissal.
Fighting for Your Future
Fighting dismissal from your university can be a daunting prospect. No matter what kind of case you're dealing with, you can expect that procedures will be complicated, developing your defense will be time-consuming, and ultimately you'll be taking on the full weight of the school's faculty and administration. Such challenges lead some students to simply give up and accept expulsion.
Your very future is at stake, though. A college degree is a difference-maker when it comes to your professional career, and a degree from Rice is especially valuable. Yes, fighting dismissal may be arduous, but the chance to salvage your reputation and finish your degree is more than worth the extra effort.
It's also important to remember that you don't have to take on this fight alone. Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students just like you handle all types of charges. He's dealt with everything from plagiarism allegations to rape charges. No matter what problem you're facing, the Lento Law Firm Team is on your side and will do everything in their power to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.
If you or your child is facing dismissal or have 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.
