If you're facing dismissal from the University of California, Riverside, the situation is serious. Dismissal is noted on your transcript, and that can make it difficult to find another college or university to take you. In other words, you're not just facing dismissal from UC Riverside; you're facing the end of your academic career. And you know what the job market is like for applicants who don't have a college degree.
The thing with a serious situation is you shouldn't try to handle it by yourself. Taking on your university can be a daunting proposition, and you need the best help you can get.
The best help is the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team has helped hundreds of students get the rights they deserve and salvage their academic futures. Whether you're struggling to keep your GPA up or you find yourself accused of stalking, we're on your side. For more information on how we can help with dismissal issues, call 888-535-3686 today or use our automated online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from the University of California, Riverside
Let's start with the basics: just what is it that can get you dismissed from UC Riverside? It turns out that's a long list, but most offenses can be grouped into one of four categories.
- Poor Academic Performance: It won't come as a surprise to you that you have to excel as a student at UC Riverside. After all, you came here to learn. To make sure you focus on your studies, the university maintains an Academic Standing policy. Let your GPA fall below 2.0, and you'll find yourself on probation. If it should drop further, you can also be dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: UCR expects you to earn your degree honestly. The Academic Integrity policy bars all forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism. First offenses usually garner in-class sanctions like lowered course grades. If the university finds you guilty of multiple offenses, though, dismissal is a real possibility.
- Social Misconduct: There is also a long list of offenses that have nothing to do with your coursework. These are known collectively as “social misconduct.” The university's Standards of Conduct include rules about things like hazing, drug possession, trespassing, and theft. Any offense can potentially result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: While it is technically a form of social misconduct, and mentioned in UCF Standards of Conduct, sexual misconduct is treated as its own form of misconduct with its own set of rules and procedures. In fact, this offense isn't just prohibited by university policy. It's also contrary to federal law under Title IX. The most common penalty in these cases is dismissal.
Misconduct Procedures
If your dismissal is related to misconduct—academic, social, or sexual—you have the right to defend yourself. UC Riverside gives all students facing dismissal a thorough investigation and a full hearing.
- Your case will likely begin with a Complaint lodged against you with either the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Programs (SCAIP) or the university's Title IX Coordinator.
- Any time you are under investigation, the university must provide you with a Notice of the Charges. This should include important details about the allegation and a list of your due process rights.
- Among your due process rights, you are allowed to select an advisor, and this advisor can be an attorney. This means someone from the Lento Law Firm can accompany you to all meetings and proceedings and offer advice throughout the process.
- As part of the investigation, investigators interview both sides of the case separately. In addition, they speak with witnesses and gather any physical evidence.
- Ultimately, investigators are responsible for compiling a report on their findings. They submit this report to the university, and it becomes the foundation for the hearing that follows.
- At the hearing, both sides get to make their full cases. You can offer arguments, submit evidence, call witnesses, and raise questions for any witnesses against you. Of course, the Complainant has the chance to do the same.
- Hearings are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Basically, decision-makers must find you Responsible if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- You can appeal the outcome of the hearing, but not simply because you disagree with that outcome. You must have grounds for an appeal. Possible grounds include,
- The discovery of new evidence
- A procedural error
- Errors in the interpretation of university rules
- An inappropriate sanction
While this general outline applies to all cases, there are minor differences in how different kinds of misconduct charges are handled. For example, in Title IX sexual misconduct cases—and only Title IX cases—you and the Complainant have the right to cross-examine one another.
Defending yourself from misconduct charges can be a complicated process. No matter what the particular allegation, though, you can count on the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team to help you navigate rules and procedures. We'll protect your rights, and we'll show you how to use the UC Riverside system to your best advantage.
Academic Dismissal Cases
If you're facing dismissal for academic deficiencies, the process is somewhat different than in misconduct cases. UC Riverside allows students to appeal these decisions if they can point to extenuating circumstances like a family emergency or a long-term illness.
What do you do, though, if you can't point to such a circumstance? Luckily, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know a number of other, less formal, strategies for protecting you from academic dismissal. For instance,
- If you should discover you have a previously undiagnosed disability, you can ask the university to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake those courses with accommodations in place.
- If an instructor is mistreating you, you may be entitled to a higher grade. You should report all such mistreatment to your instructor's department head.
- Some instructors are willing to assign makeup work and extra credit. An extra lab assignment or a paper rewrite can be enough to raise your GPA and save you from dismissal.
Here again, you can count on the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team to come up with a plan that's tailored to your specific needs and to work with you to implement that plan.
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.
To find out more about what the Lento Law Firm can do for you, contact the firm today at 888-535-3686. Or use our automated online form.
