Facing disciplinary action for alleged misconduct by administrators at East Carolina University (ESU) Continuing and Professional Education Department can be frightening. Your education and the career you are building could be at risk, especially if the University threatens possible suspension or expulsion. Don't enter into this fight on your own.
Luckily, ESU allows students to retain legal representation to guide them through the disciplinary process. If ESU administrators have notified you of a complaint that carries potential sanctions, you need a strong defense lawyer on your side. The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm has years of experience representing continuing education students like you to achieve the best possible outcome when facing these accusations.
Academics at East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public research university in Greeneville, North Carolina, and the fourth-largest University in the state. Founded in 1907 as a teacher training school, East Carolina University now spreads across 1,600 acres. ECU's Continuing and Professional Education Department also offers a variety of courses for personal enrichment and professional development to assist in updating skills, discovering new talents, or charting new career paths. University faculty and experts in each related field develop and teach These courses and programs. The Department of Continuing and Professional Education partners with CLS by Barbri to provide 11 Legal Career Training courses and ed2go to offer more than 100 Advanced Career Training courses.
Degree Certificate Requirements
ECU awards 87 bachelor's degrees, including nursing, management, and biology, and 180 baccalaureate certificates, post-baccalaureate certificates, master's degrees, post-masters certificates, doctoral degrees, post-doctorate certificates, and professional degrees, including medical degrees, master's in business administration, master's in public health, and doctorates in educational learning.
Doctoral Degrees
Research doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DrPH) students must demonstrate an ability to undertake scholarly research by passing a series of written and oral candidacy exams in their field of specialization and related areas of knowledge, writing a dissertation reporting the results of an original investigation, and successfully defending their dissertation. Professional doctoral students are expected to emphasize didactic and clinical studies and complete a basic structure of coursework and qualifying experiences, including written and oral candidacy exams and a discipline content area research project, dissertation, or other capstone experience. Both research and professional doctoral degree students must attain candidacy for the degree within six calendar years and complete all degree requirements within 10 calendar years.
Master's Degrees
Master's degree students must obtain a well-rounded and in-depth understanding of the subject matter they are pursuing. These programs are typically 30-60 credits with wide variation in program requirements, including graduate core course requirements and electives. In some cases, internship, clinical work, or other practical experience is required. Master's programs offer a thesis option, which requires additional thesis course credits, the production of a thesis document, and a thesis defense. Several master's degree programs lead to licensure in a field.
Intermediate Programs/Recognition
Intermediate programs require at least 30 credits of coursework beyond the master's degree, and applicants must hold an appropriate master's degree from an accredited institution. ECU offers an educational specialist (EdS) program in educational administration and supervision and a certificate of advanced study (CAS) in school psychology.
Teacher Licensure
Licensure requirements for teachers may exceed degree requirements and are subject to change at any time by the North Carolina General Assembly or State Board of Education and may include licensure exams, performance assessments, field experiences, or internships. ECU's programs are approved by the state and accredited by CAEP, but the state makes the final decision to issue a license. Some programs require the candidate to hold or be eligible for a valid North Carolina teaching license.
Graduate Certificates
Post-baccalaureate, post-masters, and post-doctoral certificates are a collection of courses that represent a focused area of specific knowledge within a discipline. Some certificates must be completed concurrently with a degree program and cannot be earned otherwise.
ECU does not award degrees solely based on a student successfully completing the required courses. If a student violates the Student Code of Conduct, including both academic and nonacademic violations, it may result in the University not awarding a degree to a student. For example, the ECU may withhold or delay the awarding of a degree to a student with disciplinary charges pending.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
All East Carolina University students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) according to the ECU Office of Financial Aid Policy's standards and federal regulations in order to receive and remain eligible for financial aid. ECU Office of Student Financial Aid's SAP Policy consists of the following three elements:
- Minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Minimum cumulative course completion (attempted hours versus earned hours)
- Maximum timeframe in which to complete a degree within a maximum number of credit hours
SAP status varies by student type. For example, undergraduate students must have a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA, while graduate and professional students must have a 3.0 minimum GPA. Failure to maintain these standards may result in a warning and, if the student doesn't make improvements, a suspension. Students placed on suspension are not entitled to receive financial aid for the term in which they are suspended. Once readmitted following the term of suspension, the student will need to file an SAP appeal for the next term they plan to enroll. The University may still require students who are readmitted to file an SAP Appeal for the next term in which they plan to enroll.
If you received an SAP warning or suspension and your degree or certification is in jeopardy, you need the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm on your side. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you build a strong case in your defense for the best possible outcome.
Attendance Policies
Like other universities, East Carolina University expects its students to punctually attend all lectures, laboratory sessions, and field experiences. They are also expected to participate in course assignments and activities. The University also expects students to participate in course assignments and activities. An instructor may consider a student's class attendance when determining a student's final grade in a course provided the instructor provides a written statement of such in the course syllabus.
Instructors may establish penalties against students with excessive absences that hinder the course's achievement. It is the instructor's discretion as to how they handle absences. If a student believes that they have been treated unfairly concerning absences or that they were misinformed by the instructor regarding the instructor's absence policy, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the chairperson of the instructor's department. If the parties cannot reach a satisfactory resolution, the academic dean makes the final decision.
Academic Misconduct
ECU has high Academic Integrity standards for students to ensure they derive optimal benefits from their educational experience and their pursuit of knowledge. ECU sees violations of this principle as a stain on the reputation of the entire University that undermines its mission and diminishes the value of the degrees earned at the University in the eyes of the public. Faculty are expected to instill in students to maintain the University's standards of academic integrity and provide students with strategies to help them avoid intentional or unintentional violation of this standard. Examples of violations of ECU's academic integrity principle include:
- Cheating: Unauthorized assistance or the giving or receiving of unfair advantage on any form of academic work.
- Plagiarism: Copying language, structure, ideas, or thoughts of another person and passing it off as original work.
- Falsification/fabrication: Any statement of untruth related to academic work.
- Multiple submissions: Submitting the same work or portions of the same work without authorization from faculty.
- Violation assistance: Knowingly helping or attempting to help someone else in an act that violates academic integrity.
- Violation attempts: Attempting any act that would constitute a violation of academic integrity.
Furthermore, instructors at East Carolina University may remove from a course any student who does not demonstrate reasonable standards of behavior in the classroom or other academic settings. Students removed from a course for this reason will receive a grade of "W," for withdrawal by university policy and are eligible for a tuition refund.
Student Code of Conduct Violations
All ECU students are required to follow the Student Code of Conduct and may face immediate disciplinary action and sanctions by East Carolina University's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) for violating any conduction regulation on or off campus for the following conduct:
- Possessing, consuming, having consumed, or providing alcohol to those under the legal drinking age or being intoxicated in public regardless of age.
- Possessing, using, distributing, buying, or selling illicit or illegally obtained substances.
- Acting in a manner that endangers others.
- Harassment.
- Hazing.
- Possessing weapons.
- Disruptive or disorderly behavior that interferes with the function of the University.
- Stealing or attempting to steal.
- Vandalism.
- Trespassing.
- Giving false information.
- Gambling.
- Violating University Policies.
If someone accuses you or your child of violating East Carolina University's Student Code of Conduct and possible disciplinary action, you need to act immediately to build a strong defense. Contact the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm today.
Possible Sanctions for Violating ECU's Student Code of Conduct
If East Carolina University's OSRR finds a student in violation of the Student Code of Conduct, they will issue educational and/or disciplinary sanctions. ESU enforces no sanctions until all reviews have been exhausted unless administrative actions are needed to protect the ECU community. The range of possible sanctions includes:
- Warning
- Probation
- Deferred Suspension
- Suspension
- Expulsion
- Revocation of Degree
- No Contact Ban
- Restricted Privileges
- Restitution
- Service hours
- Educational Task
- Counseling
- Failure to Comply with Sanctions
OSRR and University administrators may take Immediate Administrative Actions pending the resolution of a conduct case if they deem it necessary to preserve the safety and well-being of the ECU community and its members. These actions may include the following:
- Counseling assessment and/or treatment
- Restriction of access or privileges
- No-contact ban or removal from classes
- Administrative suspension
Administrative suspension is the immediate separation of the student from enrollment at the University. It becomes effective immediately whenever there is information that the continued presence of the student on ECU property poses a substantial threat, such as threatening the safety of any person, significantly harming or attempting to harm someone, threatening to cause or causing significant property damage, and interfering with the stability and continuance of university functions.
The Disciplinary Process at ECU
The disciplinary process at East Carolina University is as follows:
- OSRR reviews all complaints regarding the Student Code of Conduct to determine if the reported behavior is a violation of the student code.
- If OSRR deems the complaint is worth investigating, the administrator will invite the student to a pre-hearing to gather information. The student has two days to request, in writing, a new meeting date, if necessary.
- After the initial meeting, the administrator will determine whether or not to formally charge the student with a conduction violation. If the administrator charges the student, the student will receive written notice with a brief summary of the factual allegations supporting the charge, a referral to a hearing with the conduct administrator or board, the hearing date and time, and possible sanctions. If the alleged violation may result in suspension or expulsion, the administrator refers the case to the Conduct Board.
- If the student fails to meet with the administrator or board after being properly notified, the case will be decided based on the information at hand.
- If the administrator believes no violation occurred or there is insufficient evidence to make a determination, the case will be closed.
- A hearing panel of three students, one faculty member, and one staff member of the Student Conduct Board will conduct the hearing, during which they review all available, relevant information, and the board will vote on its decision. These hearings are closed to the public.
- The student may request an appeal of the board's decision.
Students facing disciplinary action have the right to be represented by an attorney or non-attorney advocate in accordance with the North Carolina System Policy Manual. If you or your child is facing possible sanctions for alleged misconduct, the sooner you retain a defense attorney, the sooner they can begin building a strong case. Contact the Student Defense Team at Lento Law Firm today.
Continuing Education Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team
If you are an East Carolina University continuing education student facing disciplinary action, you must build a strong case in your defense. Don't do this on your own. The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm understands the time and effort you put into your professional education. They can help guide you through the disciplinary process, gather evidence and witness testimony, and build a strong defense to help protect your future. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule an online consultation.
