You know how important a college degree is and what an enormous difference it can make to your career prospects. It's why you decided to enroll at UCLA in the first place. Enrolling, though, doesn't equal a degree. Getting that piece of paper takes hard work and discipline, and there are plenty of ways your academic career can go wrong along the way. Lose focus on your coursework for a semester, threaten your ex's new partner, get a DUI—any of these could easily get you dismissed from school.
The good news is, whatever problem you might be facing as a student at UCLA, there's help out there. National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento has dedicated his career to helping students deal with the typical—and sometimes not-so-typical—issues that can come up in school. He knows how to protect your rights, and he knows the strategies that can help get your education back on track.
Reasons for Dismissal at UCLA
There are lots of reasons why UCLA might decide to dismiss you. Generally speaking, though, they can all be collected into four basic categories.
- Academic Performance: First, you can be dismissed for failing to meet academic expectations. That makes sense, right? After all, you're at UCLA to get a degree. Should your term or overall GPA fall below 2.0, you're automatically placed on Academic Probation. Should it fall below 1.5, or should you fail to bring it above 2.0 after being placed on probation, you become Subject to Dismissal (STD) for at least a year. While you can apply for readmission, your return is not guaranteed.
- Academic Misconduct: You're required to get good grades, but you're also required to get them honestly. UCLA's Student Code of Conduct includes a section on Academic Integrity that bars you specifically from cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and any other action that might give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework. Repeat or especially egregious violations are often punished with dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You can also be dismissed from UCLA for actions that have nothing to do with the classroom. The Student Code of Conduct also has strict rules against everything from loud music in the dorms to misuse of campus computer equipment. Some violations, like drug possession, hazing, and physical assault, can definitely get you expelled. You can also be dismissed for conduct that happens off campus. Breaking the law—any law—is also a violation of the Code.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexual misconduct isn't just subject to university policy; it's a matter of federal law. Under Title IX, UCLA and all other colleges and universities are required to investigate any credible allegation. The minimum penalty in such cases is usually suspension. The more common penalty is expulsion.
The Adjudication Process
How you go about defending yourself from dismissal at UCLA depends on what type of dismissal you're facing.
- If you've been charged with either academic or disciplinary misconduct, you are entitled to defend yourself at a formal hearing before a Student Conduct Committee panel of three to five, made up of students, faculty, and staff. You have the right to present evidence and call witnesses and suggest questions to be asked of witnesses by the panel. In addition, you have the right to be accompanied by an advisor, who may be an attorney.
- Sexual misconduct cases work similarly to other kinds of misconduct cases. However, because procedures are mandated by federal law, they are dealt with by specially trained Title IX personnel. Again, however, you have the right to a hearing before a Hearing Officer, to present evidence, to call witnesses, and to have an advisor of your choosing.
- There are no procedures in place for protesting academic standing dismissals. That's because these are generally a matter of numbers and not subject to review. If your GPA is too low, it's too low. There are, however, ways to raise your GPA if you are facing dismissal. It is sometimes possible, for instance, to negotiate with instructors for higher scores on coursework. In other situations, you may be able to convince a professor to give you an Incomplete and allow you to finish bonus assignments or outstanding makeup work.
An experienced attorney-advisor like Joseph D. Lento—someone who regularly works with students—will know the best options for defending yourself from whatever dismissal charges you might be facing. They'll know how to negotiate with faculty and administrators, and they'll be skilled at handling all campus judicial procedures.
Appeals Process
Should you lose your hearing, you have the right to appeal that loss. In all cases at UCLA, you are entitled to a Notice of the Outcome once the hearing is over. You then have between seven and ten days—depending on the nature of the charges—to file an appeal.
Not every case is subject to appeal, however. Grounds for academic and disciplinary misconduct appeals are limited to
- New evidence
- Procedural errors
- Disproportionate sanctions
Grounds for sexual misconduct appeals are similarly limited to
- New evidence
- Procedural errors
- Bias on the part of a Title IX official
- Outcome that doesn't match the evidence
- Disproportionate sanctions
In addition, it's worth noting that appeals do not involve live hearings. Instead, both sides submit written arguments and supporting evidence, and decision-makers determine the outcome based solely on these documents.
Fighting for Your Future
It's not easy fighting a dismissal from your university. Procedures are often complex and difficult to navigate. You face the entire weight of your school. This leads many students to simply give up and accept expulsion.
Yet, while defending yourself can be an arduous task, you have to remember: your future is at stake. Lose your case, and you're no worse off. Fight and win, though, and you can salvage your reputation and your chance at a degree.
More importantly, you don't have to take on this fight alone. Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students just like you handle all types of charges. He's dealt with everything from plagiarism allegations to rape charges. No matter what problem you're facing, Joseph D. Lento is on your side and will do everything in his power to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.
If you or your child is facing dismissal or have already been dismissed, Joseph D. Lento may be able to help. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
