If you're facing dismissal from the University of Louisville, you need to know: the situation is serious. You aren't just dealing with the possible disruption of your studies. Your entire academic career hangs in the balance. Lose your case, and you'll be separated from UL, but you'll also find it difficult, if not impossible, to find another school that will accept you. Colleges and universities aren't anxious to admit students with dismissals on their record. Add to this the fact that processes and procedures can be tricky to navigate, and you can see that this situation is nothing to take lightly.
What does taking it seriously mean, though?
It means you need to educate yourself about all the many rules at the University of Louisville. You can't hope to defend yourself if you don't understand the charges against you. You also need to find out everything can about the school's judicial procedures, so you'll know what to expect at each stage along the way.
Finally, though, you don't want to try to take on your school all on your own. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know the law, and they know how the University of Louisville operates. Having them on your side won't just make the process go more smoothly: it will give you your very best chance to salvage your academic career.
Reasons for Dismissal at the University of Louisville
First things first: what is it exactly that can get you dismissed from UL? There are essentially four categories of problems that can arise.
- Academic Failure: First, you could simply struggle academically. The university requires that you maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and that you meet GPA expectations for your particular program. If you aren't doing this, you can be placed on probation, suspended, and, ultimately, dismissed entirely.
- Academic Misconduct: Next, you need to make sure you don't violate any academic integrity rules: you don't cheat, you don't plagiarize, and you don't do anything else that might give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework. Minor violations can result in lower grades. Major and repeat violations, though, can get you expelled.
- Disciplinary misconduct: There are plenty of rules beyond the classroom as well. The Code of Student Conduct prohibits “destruction of property,” for example, and “public intoxication.” Any violation of the Code can garner dismissal.
- Sexual misconduct: Sexually-based offenses technically fall under disciplinary misconduct, but they're treated as a separate category of violation in the school's sexual misconduct policy. Most violations are handled under regulations set by the federal government under Title IX. You should also know that most offenses are punished with dismissal.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
Generally speaking, you have the right to defend yourself from any misconduct charges, and the University of Louisville gives you a number of additional due process rights. Cases can vary based on the specific allegations. For instance, sexual misconduct is usually handled by the school's Title IX Coordinator, while disciplinary misconduct is under the purview of the Dean of Students, and each college or school has its own process for dealing with academic misconduct accusations.
However, the basic outline of procedures is the same in all cases.
- If your school has opened a case against you, it means someone has lodged a complaint and that the charges have been deemed “credible.” The school should provide you with an official “Notice of the Charges.”
- You are entitled to an advisor, and that advisor can be an attorney. In other words, someone from the Lento Law Firm Team can accompany you to all meetings and procedures.
- As part of the investigation, you're invited to give your side of the story, submit evidence, and suggest any potential witnesses. Of course, investigators will speak with the Complainant as well and conduct their own process of discovery.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a written report detailing their findings. Administrators then set a date and time for a hearing and select one or more decision-makers to preside over the case.
- The hearing provides you with a formal opportunity to argue your side of the case. Again, you may submit evidence, suggest witnesses, and cross-examine any witnesses against you.
- When the hearing has finished, decision-makers deliberate as to whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) a violation. They use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Less strict than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” this standard requires they find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- You cannot appeal the verdict just because you disagree with it, but you can appeal if
- A procedural error was committed
- New evidence is discovered
- The sanction is disproportionate to the offense
- The evidence doesn't sustain the finding
Whatever type of case you're dealing with, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have the background and experience to guide you through it from the moment you're charged through the final appeal.
Academic Dismissal Cases
The University of Louisville doesn't offer any formal means of challenging an academic dismissal. Such decisions are based on objective fact—your GPA—and the school doesn't consider that to be a debatable issue.
That doesn't mean, though, that there aren't ways to respond to the threat of academic dismissal. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know a number of strategies for protecting your academic career. For example,
- A learning disability may be grounds to drop low grades from your GPA and retake courses without penalty.
- Extenuating circumstances sometimes warrant more time to bring your grades up.
- Some faculty are open to grade negotiation, especially if you have a strong argument as to why you deserve higher scores.
As with misconduct issues, Joseph D. Lento and his Team can work with you to find a solution that's tailored to your particular situation and help you to implement that solution.
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 Joseph D. Lento Law Firm was built on helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct 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 exactly what Joseph D. Lento and his Team can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
