If you're facing dismissal from the University of Oregon, you're probably feeling pretty anxious right now. That's natural. Expulsion doesn't just mean an interruption in your studies. You'll likely have trouble finding another school to accept you with a dismissal on your transcript, and that could mean the end of your academic career altogether. You know how unkind the job market can be to applicants with no college degree.
Take a deep breath and exhale, though. You can get through this. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are on your side, and they're ready to help. They know the law, they know the administrative and judicial procedures at UO, and they're ready to put all of this knowledge to work for you.
Reasons for Dismissal at the University of Oregon
Let's start with the basics. Just what is it exactly that can get you dismissed from the University of Oregon? If you're going to successfully defend yourself, you're going to need to know exactly what you've been charged with doing.
The rules at UO can basically be divided into four categories. Three of these categories have to do with misconduct. One has to do with your academic performance.
- Disciplinary misconduct: The Student Conduct Code is your one-stop location for learning all you need to know about the dos and don'ts at the University of Oregon. First up, you'll find out about all the university's general behavior requirements. You need to know, for example, that gambling is expressly prohibited, as are underage drinking and public urination. Any violation of these rules can get you dismissed. Some, like drug possession and hazing, almost always result in dismissal.
- Academic Misconduct: Within the Student Code of Conduct, UO specifically singles out academic misconduct as of special concern. Academic misconduct has to do with all your classroom behaviors. As you might expect, you're not supposed to cheat or plagiarize. In fact, anything that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in your coursework is a policy violation. Minor violations usually result in lowered grades. Repeat and major offenses, though, can be punished with expulsion.
- Sexual misconduct: Sexual misconduct is also singled out in the Student Conduct Code for special concern. These offenses aren't just violations of school policy. They are prohibited at all universities and colleges under Title IX, a federal law. These are also the most likely offenses to get you dismissed from school.
- Academic Failure: Misconduct isn't the only reason for dismissal at UO. You can also be dismissed for academic deficiencies. The Academic Standing Policy requires you to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Anything lower than that, and you are placed on probation. If you can't improve while on probation, you are then dismissed entirely from the university.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
If you've been charged with any form of misconduct at the University of Oregon and you are facing dismissal, you have the right to defend yourself. In general, investigation and hearing procedures are the same in every case. Here's what you can expect.
- A case begins when someone makes a complaint against you, either to the Director of Community Standards or the Title IX Coordinator.
- Throughout the process, you have the right to a “Support Person,” and that can be an attorney. Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can't speak for you during proceedings, but they can sit beside you and offer important advice.
- The first part of any case is the investigation. The school appoints one or more Investigators to collect evidence. You can expect Investigators to interview both you and the Complainant (accuser) separately, to collect any physical evidence, and to identify any witnesses.
- Once the investigation is complete, Investigators submit a written summary of their findings. This summary becomes the foundation for the next phase of the case—a hearing/ administrative conference.
- At the hearing/ administrative conference, you present your case in full to one or more Decision Makers. You may make arguments, submit evidence, and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions about the testimony of any witness testifying against you.
- Once the hearing/ conference is complete, the Decision Makers meet to determine whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) an offense. They use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence,” which requires them to find you Responsible if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed a policy violation.
- Finally, you can appeal the hearing/ conference outcome, but only on certain limited grounds. These include the discovery of new evidence, a claim of procedural error, a finding not supported by the facts, or a sanction disproportionate to the offense.
There are some important differences in how investigations and hearings proceed based on the type of charge you face. For example, Title IX adjudications are referred to as “hearings,” while academic and disciplinary misconduct adjudications are called “administrative conferences.” In addition, cross-examination in Title IX cases is always conducted by advisors/ support persons. In other types of cases, decision-makers ask all the questions.
You can count on Joseph D. Lento and his team to know all the rules and procedures involved in all the different kinds of misconduct cases at the University of Oregon. They can help you formulate a defense strategy and guide you through the process from start to finish.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Unfortunately, there are no formal processes for challenging a dismissal for academic deficiencies. The University of Oregon treats these as a matter of fact—your GPA—and sees no reason for debate. You can appeal your dismissal to the school's Scholastic Review Committee, but readmission criteria are strict, and few appeals are successful.
Luckily, Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know a number of useful strategies to employ in this type of dismissal case. For example,
- If you discover you have a learning disability accommodations, even if you weren't diagnosed at the time you took a class, you may be able to drop a low grade and re-take the course with no penalty.
- If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances—a family crisis, for example—you can try appealing directly to your college or school dean for additional time to improve.
- You can also try asking faculty for extra credit or makeup assignments. Some will accommodate such a request, especially if your grade is borderline.
Here again, no matter what the situation, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can recommend a solution and help you put it into action.
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 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.
