If you're a student at the University of Chicago, you probably feel like you have the world by the tail. You're not just getting a degree; you're getting a degree from one of the most reputable schools in the country.
That also means, though, that you have an enormous amount to lose should the school decide to dismiss you for one reason or another. A dismissal isn't just an interruption in your academic career: if you should find yourself expelled, you'll find it difficult to enroll anywhere else. Certainly, you won't find another school like the University of Chicago to accept you. The employment market can be hard on those without a college degree, and if you've taken out any loans to pay for school, those will come due almost immediately.
If you're facing dismissal from the University of Chicago, you can't afford to try to handle the situation on your own. There's just too much at stake. National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento knows what you're up against and stands ready to help you defend yourself.
Reasons for Dismissal
A school can dismiss you for several reasons. As you might expect, the University of Chicago takes academic integrity quite seriously. Cheating, plagiarism, inventing sources: these can all get you dismissed. So, too, can disciplinary misconduct like physical assault, hazing, vandalism, or misuse of computer resources. One of the most serious offenses any college student can commit is sexual misconduct, and the minimum penalty in such cases is almost always expulsion. The fact is, though, you don't have to break a rule to be dismissed from the University of Chicago. The school maintains high academic standards. If your GPA should fall below 2.0 in any given semester, you'll find yourself on academic probation. Two semesters in a row will garner dismissal.
The Adjudication Process
The good news if you're facing dismissal is that, in most cases, the University of Chicago allows you the opportunity to defend yourself. The bad news is that procedures are never easy to navigate. For one thing, how you go about defending yourself varies depending on the particular reason why you're facing dismissal. A sexual misconduct allegation, for example, is subject to the school's University-Wide Disciplinary System and further governed by federal Title IX rules. Academic success, on the other hand, is dealt with by the Dean of Students. In other words, you don't need to just know one campus judicial system; you need to know multiple systems.
No matter what problem you're facing, the University of Chicago does provide you with some important due process rights. For instance, there are clear procedures if you've been accused of disciplinary misconduct.
- Complaints originate in the Office of the Dean of Students. If you've been accused of violating policy, this office should notify you and provide you with details of the allegation. You then have five days to schedule a meeting where you can offer your side of the story.
- The Dean of Students cannot simply remove you from school. Instead, they must conduct a full inquiry into the accusation. This inquiry provides you with an opportunity to offer evidence and suggest witnesses who may be able to testify to your innocence.
- If you are facing dismissal, you must be given a chance to defend yourself at a hearing before a Disciplinary Committee.
- At the hearing, you may make opening and closing statements. In addition, you may be accompanied by a “support person” who may be an attorney. This person cannot participate in the proceedings directly but may offer advice quietly throughout.
While these procedures provide you with some important rights, they aren't the same rights you would have in a court of law. Only someone like Joseph D. Lento, someone with experience handling student conduct cases, will know how to use your rights in cases like these to your advantage and how to make sure you are treated fairly.
Decision Authorities
Who decides your case may also be determined by what you've been accused of doing. Again, in the case of academic and disciplinary misconduct charges, you'll face a Disciplinary Committee. That committee is made up of three faculty members, the Dean of Students, a student, and a representative from Campus and Student Life. Sexual misconduct cases are handled by the Associate Provost for Equal Opportunity Programs & Title IX Coordinator and ultimately decided by a hearing before a disciplinary committee. Issues of academic standing are primarily in the hands of the Dean of Students, who handles any appeals administratively. However, if you receive financial aid, your academic standing is also subject to review by the school's SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) committee.
Appeals Process
Even if you are dismissed, you generally have the opportunity to appeal that dismissal. As with everything else about dismissal procedures, though, the appeals process at the University of Chicago will differ depending on what kind of dismissal you're facing. In misconduct cases, appeals are heard by a university review board. However, appeals are only granted in very limited circumstances, including
- Prescribed procedures were not followed in the case
- New evidence has been discovered
- The sanction—dismissal—is disproportionate to the offense
In addition, you should know that the review board doesn't hold hearings. Rather, it makes decisions in closed meetings based on documents and evidence you submit. It's important, then, that you have a professional help you in putting your materials together since you won't get to talk to the committee directly. Joseph D. Lento has filed hundreds of appeals on behalf of student clients. He knows the process, and he can help you put your best arguments forward.
Alternatives to Dismissal
It is always in your best interest to fight dismissal from your university. There are clear procedures in place to do so, and you should take advantage of them. Never try to take a case on by yourself, though. While there are procedures in place, they are complicated, and it's no easy matter knowing how to handle them.
Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students fight university dismissals. He's dealt with every kind of case, from cheating allegations to Title IX violations. He knows how school procedures work, and he's practiced in talking to faculty and administrators.
If you or your child is facing dismissal, or even if you've 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.
