Western Governors University is a unique educational experience. Its Competency-based Education model allows you to take courses at your own pace. There's no stress about completing courses in a certain time frame, and you are allowed to keep working on a subject until you have mastered it. This model may very well be the reason you decided to enroll at WGU in the first place.
It's important you know, though, that flexibility only goes so far. You can be dismissed from Western Governors University. In fact, many students are every semester.
How do you protect yourself from this possibility?
- You start by knowing the rules. What is it that can get you into trouble, and how can you avoid making serious mistakes?
- Next, you find out how WGU's judicial processes work. If you should wind up accused of breaking a rule, how do you go about defending yourself?
- Finally, and most importantly, you learn how to get help when you need it. Taking on your school is serious business, and you don't want to do it alone.
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Teamwork, specifically in the field of education law. They know your school's rules, its judicial procedures, and how to protect your rights in all circumstances. If you're facing dismissal for any reason, you owe it to your to contact the Lento Law Firm and find out what Joseph D. Lento and his team can do to help salvage your academic career.
Reasons for Dismissal at Western Governor's University
There are dozens of reasons why WGU might try to dismiss you; too many to list here. However, there are basically only three categories of misconduct you need to know about.
- Academic Misconduct: Like any college or university, Western Governors expects you to earn your degree honestly. The school maintains what it refers to as an “Authenticity Policy.” In essence, this policy states that all of your coursework should be your own. It prohibits all forms of plagiarism as well as the use of any unauthorized resources in completing your course assessments. Violations are subject to “sanctions up to and including expulsion from the university.”
- Disciplinary misconduct: You're not just a student at WGU, though. You're also a member of the campus community. Like any other community, this one has rules to make sure everyone gets along, and things run smoothly. The Student Code of Conduct outlines all the various prohibitions, including the illegal use of alcohol, theft, and weapons possession. Here again, any violation can potentially result in dismissal.
- Sexual misconduct: Finally, you are specifically barred from all forms of sexual misconduct, from simple verbal harassment to stalking, dating violence, and rape. Such offenses are subject to federal law under Title IX, and as a result, almost all violations are punished with dismissal.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
Western Governors University can't simply dismiss you over a misconduct allegation. You have some important due process rights. Among these, you're entitled to a full investigation and to defend yourself at a formal hearing. Here's a brief outline of how those processes work.
- In most circumstances, cases begin with an official complaint against you, lodged with the appropriate administrative office. This office must then determine whether or not the charges are credible.
- If the school decides to move forward with the case, it will issue you a Notice of the Charges. This offers a useful starting point for building your defense since it outlines the details of the accusation.
- Importantly, you have the right to an advisor, someone to accompany you to all meetings and proceedings.
- The first phase of the case is an investigation. Typically, investigators meet separately with both sides of the case. In addition, they collect physical evidence and interview any witnesses.
- Ultimately, investigators compile their findings into a written report. This serves as the foundation for the next phase of the case—a hearing.
- The hearing offers you an opportunity to make your full case before a panel of trained decision-makers. You may offer arguments, submit evidence, and suggest witnesses. You may also submit questions for both the Complainant (your accuser) and any witnesses against you.
- Once both sides have made their cases, decision-makers deliberate, using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Less strict than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” this standard requires they find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- Should you lose your case, you have a limited right to appeal the outcome. Grounds for appeal are restricted to
- Procedural fairness
- Insufficient evidence for the decision
- A sanction disproportionate to the offense
- The discovery of new evidence
There are some small but important differences in how different cases proceed, especially when it comes to Title IX sexual misconduct cases. Perhaps the most important of these is that in Title IX cases, you have the right to choose an attorney as your advisor. In all other cases, your advisor must be someone from the university community.
However, you are not barred from consulting an attorney, and in fact, it's always in your best interests to do so. An attorney from the Lento Law Firm may not be able to go with you to your academic and disciplinary misconduct hearings, but they can work with you to develop your defense strategy, assist you in gathering evidence, help you come up with questions for witnesses, and even coach you in your presentation.
A Note About SAP
Because of its unique educational approach, WGU doesn't dismiss students for academic deficiencies. You can continue at the university as long as you want without worrying about grades or grade point averages.
However, if you receive financial aid, you should know that the school does have a strict Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Such policies are mandated by the federal government as a way to ensure no individual is allowed to abuse the financial aid system.
If you fail to complete at least two-thirds of the courses you attempt or you take more than 150 percent of the courses required to complete your degree, the school automatically discontinues your aid. While this isn't the same as dismissal, many students find it hard to continue if they have to pay their tuition out-of-pocket.
You can appeal this decision if you feel your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances. A successful appeal means an additional probationary semester of funding to give you a chance to improve. However, the process is rigorous. You need solid evidence of your circumstances, and you need a well-written, well-argued appeal. Here again, Joseph D. Lento and his team can be an invaluable resource in helping to ensure you don't lose your funding.
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 Joseph D. Lento law firm is 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.
