Let's be clear: college is hard. You got into the University of Illinois, Chicago, and that's no small victory. It doesn't guarantee you'll graduate, though. UIC dismisses dozens of students every semester for a whole host of reasons, from low grades, to plagiarism, to drug possession.
If you're facing dismissal, you should know now: you're going to need help defending yourself. You're taking on the weight of the university. Administrative procedures and judicial processes can be difficult, if not impossible, to navigate. And, with everything on the line, you just can't afford to make any mistakes.
Below, you'll find information on all the reasons why the University of Illinois, Chicago might dismiss you, and descriptions of the various options you have for defending yourself. If you're in trouble, though, the very first thing to do is call National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. You can and should fight for your academic future, but you should never try to do it all on your own.
Reasons for Dismissal at UIC
While there are many reasons you can be dismissed from UIC, they can generally be grouped into four basic categories.
- Academic Performance: The University of Illinois, Chicago expects you to earn at least a 2.0 grade point average every semester. If you fail to do that, you are placed on academic probation. If you continue to struggle while on probation, you can be dismissed entirely from the university.
- Academic Misconduct: UIC also expects you to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity. In fact, the first entry in the university's Student Disciplinary Policy deals with cheating, plagiarism, grade tampering, and other forms of classroom dishonesty. The usual punishment for first offenses is a lowered grade on the assignment or a lowered grade for the course. Repeat offenses, though, and particularly egregious violations, can be punished with dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your behavior outside of class is subject to just as much scrutiny as your behavior in class. The Student Disciplinary Policy goes on to address non-academic misconduct like bullying, theft, and computer misuse. Violating any of these can lead to dismissal, and some offenses, like drug possession and hazing, almost always result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Another form of misconduct that almost always results in dismissal is sexual misconduct. Technically, this is a form of disciplinary misconduct, but because it is subject to federal law under Title IX, it is treated as its own form of offense.
Adjudication Processes at UIC
All forms of misconduct are dealt with under the UIC Student Disciplinary Policy, and all allegations are subject to the same basic processes, including an investigation, a hearing, and an appeal.
- Normally, cases begin with an accusation lodged by a Complainant (accuser) with the Office of the Dean of Students or the designated Title IX Coordinator.
- The Dean of Students or the Title IX Coordinator then initiates an investigation into the matter.
- As Respondent (accused/defendant), you have the right to an advisor who may accompany you to meetings and proceedings. This advisor may be an attorney. However, the advisor's role is generally restricted to offering advice. That is, in most cases, your advisor may not speak for you.
- When the investigation is complete, the investigator submits a written summary of their findings. This then becomes the foundation for the next phase of the case: a formal hearing.
- At the hearing, both sides get the chance to offer arguments, present evidence, and call witnesses.
- Once both sides have presented their cases, decision makers must determine whether or not you are “responsible for” (guilty of) an offense. To do so, they use a legal standard known as “preponderance of evidence,” which requires them to find you responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed a violation.
- Finally, if you're found Responsible, decision-makers must also assign an appropriate sanction.
Again, all misconduct cases follow these same basic procedures. However, there are some key differences in how cases are investigated and adjudicated, particularly when it comes to sexual misconduct allegations. Because these are subject to Title IX, you are afforded some due process rights you don't get in academic and disciplinary misconduct cases. For instance, you have the right to raise questions about the investigative report before it is used at the hearing. You also have the right—through your advisor—to cross-examine the Complainant and any other witnesses against you.
Joseph D. Lento is familiar with all the rules and procedures for all misconduct cases at UIC and can advise you on how to handle whatever situation you might be facing.
The Appeals Process
You have the right to appeal any hearing outcome at UIC, though there are certain restrictions on whether or not the school's Appeal Committee will actually hear your appeal.
First, you must file your appeal within five days of Notification of the Outcome. In addition, an appeal is not an opportunity to re-argue the case. Instead, appeals must be filed on very particular grounds:
- The argument that a procedural error occurred during the case
- The discovery of new evidence not available at the time of the hearing
- The argument that the sanction is disproportionate to the nature of the offense
- The argument that one or more officials in the process had an unfair bias against you (only in Title IX cases)
Academic Dismissal Cases
Dismissals for academic deficiencies are treated somewhat differently than dismissals for misconduct. The most important difference is that these cases aren't open to judicial review. That's because ordinarily, they are based on objective facts, specifically your semester GPA.
That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't ways to challenge such decisions. For instance, if you have extenuating circumstances that led to your deficiencies, you can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college. Alternatively, there are ways to approach faculty and negotiate for a better course grade. These kinds of approaches can be just as tricky as dealing with an investigation and hearing, though, and you should always consult with an attorney-advisor before pursuing one.
Fighting for Your Future
You probably already have a good sense of why you need an attorney-advisor if you're fighting dismissal from UIC. Everything's on the line, and the school is not going to make it easy to save yourself. The good news is, there's help available.
Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. He's dealt with everything from plagiarism allegations to rape charges. He knows how to negotiate with faculty and administrators; he knows how to interview witnesses; he knows how to put together a water-tight appeal. Most importantly, no matter what problem you're facing, Joseph D. Lento is on your side and will do everything in his power to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.
To find out more about what Joseph D. Lento can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
