Going back to school is not for the faint of heart. You must figure out how to juggle classes and family life, children, your regular job, or all the above. But for determined students, there is no other option than to pursue their dreams, hoping to expand their education and career prospects.
Purdue University continuing education department values integrity, honesty, and humility above all else. As such, they expect their students to behave, both professionally and academically, in a way that reflects these values. But sometimes, the stress of juggling all the responsibilities in your life can become overwhelming, forcing you to behave in ways you normally would not. When this happens, you might be asked to attend a disciplinary hearing. Disciplinary hearings can have long-lasting effects on your future and should not be taken lightly.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm are here to help you navigate these proceedings, guaranteeing you the best possible outcome for your case. Call today.
Academics at Purdue
Purdue University offers loads of programs for adult learners looking to fulfill continuing education credits, complete certificate programs to develop their professional skills, or earn undergraduate and graduate degrees. Some of these programs include:
- African American Studies
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Digital Signal Processing
- Environmental Policy
- Gerontology
- History of the English Language
- Strategic Communication Management
- Aquatic Pest Management
- Hemp Essentials
- Certified Ethical Hacker
- Digital Forensics
- Bachelor of Science in Education in Early Childhood
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Business Administration
Degree and Certificate Programs
Like all schools, Purdue University requires students to take certain courses, and achieve certain grades, in order to receive their certificates, undergraduate, or graduate degrees.
For instance, the Master of Science in Nursing-DNP Path is specifically for students with bachelor's degrees in nursing looking to move from the Master of Science program to the Doctor of Nursing Practice and have completed their bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 2.5. But in the Certified Financial Planner program, there are no admissions requirements other than the fees associated with the course. There are no attendance expectations, and the university just hopes you learn something for the program so that you are well prepared when you take the CFP exam.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Most colleges require their students to progress through their programs in a timely manner. This ensures that no one is spending twenty years getting a degree and then going out into the workforce with limited knowledge because of the breadth of time between classes. Purdue has maximum time frames for students to complete their programs or certificates.
Certificate programs are different from undergraduate or graduate continuing education because you pay for a set series of courses, which tend to be completed consecutively. As such, Purdue has not published any particular parameters for their maximum time frame. But undergraduate and graduate programs need to be completed in under seven years after taking your first class. You also need to make sure you have at least a 2.0 GPA (for undergraduates) or a 3.0 GPA (for graduate students) by the time you get two-thirds of the way through your program.
When the university notices a student's GPA has fallen below this minimum, they will typically put them on academic probation. Academic probation lasts for a certain period, and when it ends you must have an approved satisfactory academic progress on your file, or the school will dismiss you.
Now, academic probation can be appealed if you can prove that extenuating circumstances made it impossible for you to reach satisfactory academic progress. These requests are reviewed by the Academic Dean's Office.
If the idea of defending yourself from dismissal seems overwhelming, an attorney-advisor will be able to ease that burden.
Attendance Policies
Students are expected to attend every scheduled class meeting as they can. Purdue University makes specific exceptions for grief absences, jury duty, medical excuses, military absences, and parental leave. They also understand that there are other situations which can be out of the student's control and ask instructors to work with the student to find a way for them to make up the lectures or other missed work.
Academic Dishonesty
Like most colleges and universities, Purdue University expects students to behave in ways that ensure academic honesty is upheld. As such, they lay out what types of conduct violate academic honesty. Examples of academic dishonesty include:
- Taking an exam for another student
- Taking a course for another student
- Giving or receiving the answers to an exam by using signals during the test.
- Plagiarizing lab reports, published material, or class assignments.
- Getting a test from the exam site, taking it and submitting it later.
- Altering grade records.
- Fabricating data.
- Destroying another student's work.
- Using illegal cribs
- Padding the bibliography page of a research paper.
- Copying someone else's exam answers.
- Submitting a document written by someone else but acting as if it were yours.
- Failing to cite a quote correctly.
To combat academic dishonesty, Purdue University suggests the following tips:
- Not looking around the room during an exam.
- Not leaving copies of assignments in computer labs.
- Keeping rough drafts of papers and assignments where other students cannot access them.
- Making sure you do not collaborate with other students on take-home tests.
- Never loan your student identification card to anyone.
- Do not share current or former assignments, projects, or papers with anyone.
- Make sure your instructor is okay with you turning in a paper or assignment you already turned in to another class for grading.
- Protect your computer passwords.
It is important to remember that although Purdue suggests these tips, the list is not exhaustive, and mistakes happen. An attorney-advisor will ensure you are not being punished for simple mistakes like leaving your paper in a printer on campus or having your computer passwords stolen.
Academics: What Could Go Wrong?
Getting accused of academic dishonesty can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. At Purdue, students who are accused will be interviewed to discuss the facts surrounding the instructor's suspicions. If the instructor decides the student is guilty, they will lower their grades on the assignment. They will then refer the case to the Office of the Dean of Students.
The Dean of Students will review the matter and determine whether a more serious sanction is appropriate. If the student is found guilty of academic dishonesty, they could be punished with a warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion.
It is important to reach out to an attorney-advisor from the moment you learn of this academic dishonesty accusation. Attorney-advisors understand how much pressure you are under and how important these proceedings are to your education and professional reputation. They will be able to help you create a strategic defense and mitigate any unnecessary consequences you might experience.
You might feel overwhelmed and scared when you are accused of academic dishonesty, but a skilled attorney-advisor can help protect you.
Disciplinary Misconduct
Successful colleges understand how important safety is to their education ability. If students feel unsafe, they are less likely to come to class or participate in campus activities. To ensure their campus is safe, colleges will install security cameras, offer sober drivers, and hand out rape whistles. In addition to these actions, Purdue University understands that their students can become involved in other disciplinary issues. Thus, Purdue students are expected to refrain from the following behaviors:
- Altering university documents.
- Obstructing or disrupting university activities.
- Physically abusing another person.
- Hazing or misusing authority while in a leadership role.
- Paddling, beating, or striking another person.
- Preventing a student from attending a class.
- Forcing someone to participate in a forced physical activity or exercise.
- Stealing from another person or the university.
- Entering or accessing unauthorized areas without permission.
- Using, manufacturing, possessing, or providing illegal drugs, controlled substances, narcotics, or prescription drugs.
- Organizing or hosting a party or event where underage drinking is encouraged.
- Possessing, using, or distributing explosives or guns.
- Sexual Misconduct
- Title IX violations
- Failing to report instances of conduct violations after seeing it planned or witnessing it happen.
This code of conduct at Purdue University encompasses continuing education and adult learners in online classrooms as well. In fact, online class meetings and web conferences are supposed to be treated the same way you would an in-person meeting. This means that if you are accused of disrupting class or harassing another student during a web conference, you will be subject to the same hearing process as if you were on campus exhibiting the same behavior.
Student Conduct Procedures
Complaints about student behavior can be made by anyone, whether they are a member of the university community or not. Complaints are supposed to be made to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR). The Conduct Officer will review the initial complaint and decide if there is enough information to proceed with a disciplinary action.
Before the Conduct Officer makes their official decision, they can conduct a preliminary investigation to see if any other information can be found that would make a disciplinary proceeding appropriate. They will also meet with the accused student to discuss the complaint and hear their side of the story.
If the Conduct Officer decides to pursue a disciplinary proceeding, they can either oversee the hearing themselves or hand it over to the Purdue University Community Standards Board (CSB). The accused student will be notified immediately of the Conduct Officer's decision. It should be noted that proceedings will continue no matter what, even if the student does not respond to the charges or show up to the hearing to defend themselves. The school will simply make a decision without them.
It is important to present a strong defense at your hearing. The effectiveness of your defense can have a strong effect on the level of sanctions you might receive if you are found responsible for the alleged conduct. Working with an attorney-advisor will ensure you receive the best possible defense for your case.
After you have presented your defense and any evidence and relevant witness testimony, the CSB or the Conduct Officer will review the information and make a determination on your responsibility. The decision will be sent to you as soon as possible, including instructions for how to appeal it.
Appeals can be made on three grounds:
- If there is new information present now that was not available before, and will likely have had an impact on the outcome of the matter if it had been available then.
- The University failed to follow its own procedures.
- The sanction assigned is far harsher than the conduct being punished.
The appeals officer will review the appeal and determine whether the decision should be amended, revoked, or upheld. Most of these decisions are final and cannot be appealed further. The only exception is for decisions that involve degree revocations. Those can be appealed to the Board of Trustees for further review.
How an Attorney-Advisor Can Help
Violating Purdue University's code of conduct can mean leaving your program before you are finished and not being allowed back to continue. Dismissals and sanctions can cause all sorts of issues for you later on. For instance, many employers pay for their students to attend professional development programs or continuing education programs and may sanction the employee for being dismissed or punished for their conduct on campus.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm are highly experienced, knowledgeable attorneys who understand how much time and effort you have put into your continuing education. They will work meticulously to gather relevant evidence and witness testimony to help you create a strong defense that will help preserve your future. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
