This probably won't come as a surprise to you: not everyone who enrolls at Tulane finishes their degree. A lot drop out along the way, but a fair number are also dismissed. That makes sense if you think about it. Tulane is a tough school. It's not easy to succeed there academically. Beyond that, there are dozens of rules about everything from plagiarism to when it's OK to pull a fire alarm, and breaking any of them can get you into serious trouble.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team don't believe a mistake or two should cost you your chance at a Tulane education. They know just how rigid colleges and universities have become over the years. They understand that the current political climate has made schools intolerant of even the smallest transgressions. And they're ready to make sure your school treats you fairly and gives you every opportunity for success. If you're facing dismissal from Tulane for any reason, you owe it to yourself to find out what the Lento Law Firm can do for you.
Reasons for Dismissal at the University of Tulane University
There are actually dozens of reasons why Tulane might decide to dismiss you, too many, in fact, to list them all here. However, they can generally be grouped into four categories.
- Academic Performance: You knew coming in that Tulane would expect you to do well as a student. You might not have realized that it has an academic standing policy that punishes you when you don't. If you're struggling academically, you can be placed on probation, forced to take a leave of absence, or—in the most serious cases—dismissed entirely.
- Academic Misconduct: It's not enough to succeed as a student at Tulane. The university also expects you to do so honestly. The Tulane Academic Code of Conduct holds you accountable for anything you might do that could give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework. That includes cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized use of electronic devices, fabrication, and falsification. First offenses are usually handled through academic sanctions. Repeat and egregious offenses, though, can earn you dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: The expectations of your behavior at Tulane aren't confined to the classroom. The Student Code of Conduct governs all your behaviors, wherever you might happen to be on campus. In fact, you can even be punished for things you do off-campus. A DUI charge, for example, is enough grounds for dismissal, even if it happened in another state.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, Tulane also has a strong policy against sexual misconduct. Further, this category of offense isn't just a violation of school rules; under Title IX, it's also a violation of federal law. As a result, the minimum penalty for students found responsible for such offenses is usually suspension, and the most common penalty is dismissal.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
No matter what kind of misconduct you've been accused of committing, you have the right at Tulane to defend yourself. How you go about doing that depends on what you've been charged with doing. For example, academic misconduct allegations are usually handled through your specific college or school's Honor Board; disciplinary misconduct cases are dealt with by the university's Director of Student Conduct; and sexual misconduct is under the purview of the Title IX Coordinator.
However, for the most part, the procedures in these cases are essentially the same.
- Cases begin when a Complainant (accuser) makes an allegation to the appropriate university official. That official must then decide whether there is enough substantiating evidence to warrant a full investigation.
- Investigations can be simple. In academic misconduct cases, for instance, an investigator may simply gather any documentary evidence and then meet separately with both sides. However, investigations into serious matters, such as sexual misconduct, can take up to 180 days to complete.
- You have the right to an advisor. If you're facing sexual misconduct charges, this advisor can be an attorney. Otherwise, you must select a non-attorney from someone in the Tulane campus community. Even in these cases, though, you can always consult with an attorney before any meetings or proceedings.
- During the investigation, you have the right to submit evidence and suggest witnesses.
- In disciplinary misconduct cases, the Investigator makes a determination at the end of the investigation as to your level of responsibility and assigns any sanctions as necessary. In other types of cases, you are entitled to present your side of the case at a formal hearing.
- If you are allowed a hearing, you can submit evidence and call witnesses. The Complainant has the right to do the same.
- In all cases, decisions are based on a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, decision makers must find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- You can appeal any investigator's decision or hearing outcome, but only under limited conditions. These include the discovery of new evidence, an allegation of bias on the part of a decision maker, a procedural error, or a sanction that is disproportionate to the offense.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Unlike misconduct cases, dismissals for academic reasons aren't normally subject to challenge. Tulane feels that because these decisions are based on objective factors—your cumulative GPA and the number of courses you've completed—there's not normally any reason to review them.
However, there are ways of dealing with such a dismissal if you're facing one. They may not be listed in the Student Handbook, and your advisor may not know about them, but Joseph D. Lento and his team can help you decide on an appropriate strategy and work with you to implement it. Maybe it involves explaining to your school or college dean that extenuating circumstances caused your deficiencies. Maybe it requires some delicate grade negotiations with a professor. Whatever the case, Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his team are on your side and ready to do what it takes to safeguard your academic 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. Campus judicial 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. You know what happens to people who go into the workforce with no college degree.
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. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have dealt with every sort of charge. 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 what Attorney 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.
