International students in New Jersey are accused of academic misconduct far more often than students from America. There are several likely reasons for this discrepancy, none of which involves a true intent to gain an unfair advantage over other students.
Unfortunately, it often takes the help of an academic misconduct attorney like Joseph D. Lento to show that it was all a misunderstanding and that harsh penalties are not necessary.
What is Academic Misconduct?
Every school in New Jersey has its own definition of what it means to commit academic misconduct. However, they all prohibit the same kinds of actions, including:
- Cheating on a test by using prohibited materials
- Plagiarizing on a paper or claiming someone else's idea as their own
- Forging or altering official school documents
- Studying in groups for individual assignments
Misconduct Allegations Against International Students
International students, unfortunately, face allegations of academic misconduct more often than their U.S. counterparts because they are unfamiliar with the Western education system and the values that it holds most dear. Worse, the pressure that international students face can push them to make use of whatever means necessary to succeed.
A Heavy Pressure to Succeed
Many cultures, particularly from Asian countries, place such a high value on the educational and professional success that international students in college in New Jersey feel an extreme amount of pressure to succeed. When the challenges of studying in an unfamiliar culture, country, and language become apparent, cheating and other examples of academic misconduct become much more enticing. In many cases, they can even seem necessary to avoid what seems like an embarrassing failure.
Different Cultures in School
Perhaps worse is the vastly different culture that the rest of the world has to the education system. While schools in New Jersey value independent thinking and problem solving, many other parts of the world place value on memorization, rote learning, and creativity. These different values have important applications when it comes to issues like plagiarism. Other cultures can see parroting someone else's ideas without citing to the originator as a form of flattery. In New Jersey, though, it is a form of academic misconduct because it involves taking someone else's ideas and passing them off as your own.
The Problem of Language
Finally, international students in New Jersey who come from countries where English is not their first language face another difficulty in college – their writing is naturally stilted and awkward, as it is done in a language they did not grow up with. Instances of plagiarism, even accidental plagiarism, become much easier to detect in an international student's writing than it would be in an American's. What a native English speaker can get away with, an international student cannot.
Joseph D. Lento Represents International Students in New Jersey
International students who have been accused of violating their college's code of academic conduct in New Jersey can use the help of a student discipline defense attorney like Joseph D. Lento. Contact him online or call his law office at (888) 535-3686.
New Jersey colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your international student's academic misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Bloomfield College
- Caldwell University
- Centenary College
- The College of New Jersey
- College of Saint Elizabeth
- Drew University
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Felician University
- Georgian Court University
- Kean University
- Monmouth University
- Montclair State University
- New Jersey City University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Princeton University
- Ramapo College
- Rowan University
- Rider University
- Rutgers University
- Rutgers University-Camden
- Rutgers University-Newark
- Saint Peter's University
- Seton Hall University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Stockton University
- Thomas Edison State College
- William Paterson University
Regrettably, international students in New Jersey accused of academic misconduct face additional potential consequences including issues with their Visa and their ability to return to the United States if there is an adverse outcome in a college or university disciplinary case, Even without these additional major concerns, it is an unfortunate reality that academic misconduct charges can upend an accused student's life if not properly addressed, and Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the future of his clients at colleges and universities in New Jersey and throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as an academic misconduct advisor for students facing disciplinary cases in New Jersey and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
