Most students prefer not to think about the possibility of dismissal. They live from semester to semester, simply hoping that it won't happen to them. The thing is, there's a long list of reasons the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee might dismiss you—everything from a low GPA to stalking to plagiarism. No one is immune from an accusation, and defending yourself is never an easy proposition.
It is better to think about it now so you'll be prepared if trouble should come looking for you.
Below, you'll find information about the most important rules at UWM. We'll also discuss how to defend yourself if you should find yourself charged. More important than anything else, though, you need to know that you're not alone. If your school should initiate dismissal proceedings against you, the Lento Law Firm is here to help. We know the UWM system and how it works. We also know your rights and how to protect them. We believe in your future, and we're always ready to stand beside you and help you protect it.
Reasons for Dismissal at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
There are actually so many reasons UWM can dismiss you that we can't list them all here. What we can do, though, is provide you with a set of four basic categories of offenses. Know these, and you should be prepared to handle virtually any problem that might come your way.
- Academic Performance: First and foremost, you can be dismissed for failing to meet UWM's academic standing policy. That policy requires you to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. The good news is, you won't be dismissed for a single F or even two or three. First, the university places you on Probation and gives you a chance to improve. However, if you continue to struggle, you can ultimately be dropped.
- Academic Misconduct: UWM also maintains a strict policy against Academic Misconduct. Cheating, plagiarism, and any other behavior that might tend to give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework are expressly forbidden. Again, one mistake probably won't get you dismissed. Break the rules more than once, though, and dismissal becomes a distinct possibility.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Where the Academic Misconduct policy governs your classroom behavior, the school's Code of Student Conduct governs your general campus behavior. The Code contains strictures against everything from underage drinking to public urination. Any violation can lead to dismissal, depending on the seriousness of the offense.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are almost always punished with dismissal. All forms of sexual misconduct are prohibited under Title IX, a federal law. The government requires all colleges and universities to investigate credible accusations and encourages schools to implement harsh sanctions.
Misconduct Procedures
You may think a misconduct allegation could never be leveled at you. The fact is mistakes happen, misunderstandings happen, and false allegations happen. You need to know how to defend yourself, even if you're sure you'll never wind up in trouble.
At UWM, all misconduct allegations are subject to an investigation and hearing. This is to your advantage. It means you get a chance to prove your innocence. In addition, UWM provides you with several important due process rights, such as the right to be presumed Not Responsible (innocent) until proven Responsible (guilty).
In brief, here's how the process works.
- Cases begin when someone lodges a complaint against you. This person is usually referred to as the Complainant. As the accused, you're referred to as the Respondent.
- If the school determines the complaint is both credible and actionable, it will assign an Investigate Officer to uncover the facts in the case.
- One of your most important rights is the right to an advisor. This advisor can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm can accompany you to any investigative meetings and advise you on how to respond to questions.
- Investigative officers normally start by interviewing both sides of the case. They'll also collect any physical evidence and talk with relevant witnesses.
- Once the investigation has concluded, Investigative Officers submit their report to the university. The university then sets a time and date for a hearing and assigns one or more decision-makers to preside over the proceedings.
- The hearing gives you the opportunity to lay out your entire case. You're allowed to make opening and closing statements. You may offer evidence and call witnesses to testify. You are also allowed to raise questions of any witnesses against you.
- Hearings are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, decision-makers must find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced that you committed an offense.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but only under certain circumstances. These include
- A finding that does not fit the facts of the case
- A procedural error
- A decision that violates state law in some way
While this general outline applies to all types of misconduct cases, you should know that procedures can differ in small but important ways depending on the specific nature of the charges against you. For example, your advisor conducts all cross-examination in Title IX sexual misconduct cases. In other kinds of cases, decision-makers ask all questions, though you are allowed to submit questions to be asked.
Luckily, the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm is well-versed in all of UWM's judicial processes and procedures. They can help guide you through the investigation and hearing from start to finish. They also know your rights and, more importantly, how to use those rights to your best advantage.
Academic Dismissal Cases
If you're facing dismissal from UWM for academic cause, you need to know that the university offers a process for immediate reinstatement. To qualify, you must prove that some extenuating circumstance led to your deficiencies and/or that you have made a good-faith effort to improve. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you draft your appeal and gather evidence. They know exactly what readmission committees look for and how to show you in your very best light.
There are other ways to protect yourself from academic dismissal as well. For example,
- If you should discover you have a learning disability, you can ask the university to drop low grades from your GPA and allow you to retake those courses with appropriate accommodations in place.
- You can try negotiating with faculty directly. For example, you might ask for extra credit or makeup assignments, especially if your grade is borderline.
- Classroom mistreatment always entitles you to appeal your grade. If you feel an instructor is treating you unfairly, you should bring that to the attention of your instructor's department head.
Here again, having someone from the Lento Law Firm at your side will help ensure you pick the very best approach to defending yourself, and that is key to protecting your future.
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.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. The firm's Student Defense Team has 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 the Lento Law Firm can do for you, contact the firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
