Colleges and universities take everything extremely seriously these days. It isn't just that your professors will be demanding and your courses challenging. Your behavior outside of class is under just as much scrutiny. You shouldn't be surprised, then, to learn that the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, dismisses dozens of students every semester.
How do you avoid becoming one of them? First and foremost, you learn the rules. You find out exactly what can get you dismissed, and you make sure you stay out of trouble. Of course, sometimes trouble finds you anyway. So, you also want to make sure you know how to defend yourself if you need to. Last but not least, you also want to know how to get help if you have to defend yourself. Taking on your school is a daunting prospect. You don't want to do it alone.
If you're in trouble and facing dismissal, who can you turn to? National Student Defense Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento built his career making sure college and university students are treated fairly and get all the rights they deserve. He and his Education Law Team know the system at UMN, Twin Cities, and they know how to use it to your advantage.
Reasons for Dismissal at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
There are a whole host of reasons why UMN, Twin Cities might dismiss you, far too many, in fact, to list here. However, for the most part, they can all be gathered into four basic categories.
- Academic Performance: Your job as a student is to learn, and UMN, Twin Cities, will hold you to that. The school maintains an academic standing policy that requires you to keep a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Otherwise, you face probation. Should you continue to struggle while on probation, you then face suspension or dismissal.
Beyond monitoring your academic progress, UMN Twin Cities also holds you to high standards of personal and professional behavior. These are addressed in the University of Minnesota Board of Regents Student Code of Conduct, which identifies three types of misconduct.
- Academic Misconduct: This has to do with your activities as a student and includes prohibitions against things like cheating, plagiarism, and unauthorized collaboration. Minor infractions are typically dealt with by faculty using academic sanctions. However, serious and repeat violations are subject to dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: This type of offense has to do with your activities outside the classroom, including things like underage drinking, trespassing, and property damage. Again, serious and repeat offenses are often punished with dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are almost always punished with dismissal. In addition, such offenses are subject to regulation under federal law. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination and harassment on college campuses, and as a result, you can expect UMN, Twin Cities to be zealous in investigating allegations and severe in punishing violations.
Misconduct Procedures
You have the right to defend yourself from any and all misconduct charges at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. For the most part, the process for doing that is the same, no matter the specific charge.
- Complaints originate either in the Office of Community Standards or with the school's designated Title IX Coordinator.
- You have a right to an advisor to help you through the entire process. This advisor may be an attorney. Rules as to your advisor's role vary depending on the particular type of case, but in all cases, they may accompany you to meetings and hearings and offer advice as necessary.
- Once a complaint has been filed, the university undertakes some form of investigation. In academic misconduct cases, that may be as simple as interviewing both sides and collecting any documentary evidence. Sexual misconduct cases, on the other hand, can be extremely complex and take weeks to complete.
- The investigation findings become the foundation for a formal hearing into the matter.
- At the hearing, both sides are allowed to make statements, present evidence, and call witnesses.
- In the end, a panel of decision-makers decides whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) a violation, using a legal standard known as “preponderance of evidence.” In simple terms, they must find you Responsible if they are more than 50 percent convinced you committed an offense.
- You have the right to appeal the hearing outcome. However, you must file your appeal within five days, and the grounds are limited to
- New evidence
- Procedural error
- The rule at issues was misapplied
- A disproportionate sanction
- An outcome not based on the evidence
There are, of course, some differences in how various misconduct charges are treated at the university. Joseph D. Lento knows how all the procedures work and can advise you on how best to proceed, depending on your specific situation.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Dismissal decisions that involve academic deficiencies aren't normally subject to review. This is largely because they have to do with objective facts—your GPA—facts that aren't open to debate.
However, Joseph D. Lento knows several informal options for dealing with the threat of academic dismissal. If, for instance, your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can try appealing directly to the dean of your school or college. Alternatively, you may be able to negotiate with some faculty for higher scores. And, should you wind up dismissed, you can appeal for readmission after one year away from the university.
No matter what your specific situation is, Joseph D. Lento can help you come up with a plan for fighting these types of dismissals and can help you put that plan into action.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you should have a clear sense of why you need the help of an attorney-advisor 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.
Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. He and his Education Law Team have 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. Most importantly, no matter what problem you're facing, they are on your side and will do everything in their 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.
