While some people view attending college immediately after graduating from high school as the natural progression of life, others may not. Whether they encountered financial obstacles or felt unprepared for higher education, as time goes by, the decision to return to school could become increasingly challenging. This is why several colleges and universities across the country have developed continuing education programs for adult learners who wish to obtain a degree or improve their knowledge in a particular field.
Nonetheless, registering for a continuing education program as an adult can present additional struggles as it requires managing personal responsibilities such as work, family, coursework, and friendships. When students are unable to meet these mounting demands, it can cause significant stress and anxiety, which can force students to behave in ways they normally would not.
If you or a loved one has been accused of misconduct or are having a difficult time progressing through your program, Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team are ready to assist you. Contact the office today.
Academics at the University of Colorado - Denver
At the University of Colorado Denver, the continuing education program allows professionals to advance their careers or learn new skills by partaking in certificate programs in several of the colleges, including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, Design and Computing, the School of Public Affairs, and the School of Education & Human Development.
Different from other continuing education programs around the country, UC Denver only offers certificate programs and does not offer bachelor's or master's degree programs. To enter those programs, students will have to apply the old-fashioned way.
But some of the certificate programs individuals can pursue at UC Denver include:
- Biotechnology
- Executive Coaching for Equity
- Applied Statistics Undergraduate Certificate
- Prosocial Leader
- Cultural Diversity Studies Undergraduate Certificate
- Colorado Certified Public Manager Program
- Digital Studies
- Families and Social Welfare
- Environmental Stewardship of Indigenous Lands Undergraduate Certificate
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistical Modeling
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Measurement
- Graduate Certificate in Classroom Assessment
- Graduate Certificate in Construction Project Management
- Graduate Certificate in Culturally Responsive Methods
- Risk Management Insurance
- Sociology of Criminology Undergraduate Certificate
- Undergraduate Certificate in Victims and Victim Services
Degree and Certificate Programs
As UC Denver has a variety of certificate programs for different education and career levels, the academic requirements differ between them. For instance, the Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Statistics requires that entering students have a background in mathematics with a 3.0 GPA or better in Calculus 1, 2, and 3, as well as linear algebra. Additionally, these students are expected to pass 12 credits, split between probability, fundamental statistics, and an elective.
Alternatively, for the P-3 Leadership Certificate, which provides elementary and early learning leaders with skills to improve educational experiences for young children, students are expected to complete nine modules over the course of 11 months. The only admission requirement is a resume and statement of interest.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
All certificate programs at UC Denver, whether they are non-degree programs, undergraduate certificate programs, or graduate certificate programs, have different requirements that students must complete before being awarded their certificate.
Generally, though, undergraduate certificate students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA, while graduate certificate students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Additionally, all students must complete at least two-thirds of the course to remain in good standing and finish their certificates within a particular time frame.
If a student fails to meet one or both criteria, they may face dismissal. If you receive notification of an academic progress concern, Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team are available to assist you in negotiating with UC Denver.
Attendance Policies
Regular attendance is a requirement for all students enrolled in UC Denver's continuing education programs. Even missing one class can have a negative impact on your ability to succeed in the program. The program's particular attendance policy and what constitutes an excused absence will be specified in the syllabus. If a student misses more than a few days of class, fails to complete assignments, or disrupts the learning environment, they may be at risk of being suspended or expelled from the program. In such cases, Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team can help.
Academic Integrity
At UC Denver, academic integrity is vital for fostering a culture of learning, creativity, and intellectual honesty and for promoting individual growth and professional development. Thus, they have outlined the following behaviors which violate academic integrity:
- Plagiarism: Presenting someone else's work, ideas, or words as one's own without proper attribution.
- Cheating: Using unauthorized materials or methods to complete an assignment or exam.
- Fabrication: Inventing or falsifying data or information or submitting work that is not one's own.
- Facilitating academic misconduct: Assisting or aiding another student in engaging in academic misconduct.
- Misrepresentation: Misrepresenting one's academic qualifications, achievements, or credentials.
- Violating academic policies: Disregarding or violating university policies, procedures, or regulations related to academic conduct.
Any student, faculty member, or staff has the right to bring charges of academic misconduct. Initially, the faculty member will meet with the student and discuss the incident to determine the student's responsibility for the behavior. If there is a preponderance of information that the student is responsible for the behavior, the faculty member will punish them.
When an accused student denies the charges of academic misconduct or admits them and refuses to agree to the proposed punishment, the Academic Integrity Committee (AIC) will organize a hearing to review the matter. During the hearing, both the accused student and the faculty member will be able to present their cases, using evidence and witness testimony to bolster their arguments. In the end, they will be allowed to cross-examine the other side's evidence and witness testimony.
Once both sides have been fully heard, the AIC will review the information presented and determine, based on a preponderance of the evidence, whether the accused student is, in fact, responsible for violating academic integrity. If they are, the AIC will then impose sanctions on the student.
Academics: What Could Go Wrong?
It is very important to be fully prepared to defend yourself at these proceedings because charges of academic misconduct can create serious consequences, like suspension or expulsion. When students are sanctioned with suspension or expulsion, it is recorded on their transcripts, making it hard to get into a new college or pursue and graduate degree.
Working with an attorney-advisor is the best way to ensure you are not unjustly punished and forced to face such long-term consequences. Attorney Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team have helped hundreds of students across the country protect themselves from unnecessarily harsh sanctions.
Disciplinary Misconduct
Creating a safe and supportive environment for students, both academically and personally, is a crucial goal for colleges and universities. These institutions are dedicated to protecting the mental and physical well-being of their students, faculty, and staff by promoting a climate that is free from prejudice and injustice. When students feel insecure or uncertain about their social or educational standing, it can greatly impact their academic progress. When a student's academic progress falters, it affects the University overall, harming its reputation and decreasing its enrollment and overall revenue.
UC Denver requires all students to follow the Student Code of Conduct. This code specifies which behaviors are allowed and which are forbidden, including:
- Verbally abusing, intimidating, or coercing another person.
- Attempting to commit, aid, abet, or incite someone else to engage in a behavior that violates the code of conduct.
- Manufacturing, selling, or providing alcohol to someone under 21.
- Possessing or using alcohol while under 21.
- Using alcohol on campus.
- Attending classes or university functions under the influence of alcohol.
- Bullying or controlling another person.
- Cyberbullying another person.
- Engaging in acts that interfere with an emergency response, like resisting arrest, interfering with the police or fire department's duties, or failing to follow a police officer's directions.
- Seriously disrupting or interfering with classes or activities on campus or preventing the movement of students and other members of the university and their guests.
- Failing to report another student or individual's behavior that might violate local, state, and federal law, or university law or policy.
- Driving under the influence.
- Providing false or misleading information to the University.
- Assaulting another person or engaging in a fight or brawl.
- Intentionally or recklessly causing a fire.
- Hazing students, faculty, or staff.
- Manufacturing, selling, providing, using, or possessing illegal drugs other than marijuana.
- Manufacturing, selling, providing, using, or possessing marijuana without authorization under the age of 21.
- Attending classes or university functions under the influence of marijuana.
- Deliberately and publicly exposing intimate body parts.
- Rioting or inciting a riot or public disturbance.
- Stealing someone else's property.
- Threatening the health or safety of another person.
- Entering into or leaving buildings or vehicles without permission.
- Making an unauthorized audio or visual recording of another person.
- Violating any local, state, or federal law or policy.
- Possessing explosives, fireworks, firearms, ammunition, or other weapons on campus.
All students, faculty, and staff at UC Denver are charged with reporting student conduct violations if they witness or hear of one. The initial complaint is reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS), which will then determine if the alleged behavior violates the code of conduct. If it does, they will reach out to the student and either initiate an alternate dispute resolution, like restorative justice or mediation or initiate a conduct conference.
During the conduct conference, both the complaining party and the accused student will have an opportunity to present relevant evidence and witness testimony in support of their argument. In the end, they will have an opportunity to cross-examine the other side's evidence and testimony in the same fashion as an academic misconduct disciplinary hearing.
When the conduct conference ends, the Conduct Educator will review the information and decide whether the allegations are more than likely true based on the evidence the complainant presented. If the student is thus found responsible, they will be sanctioned with either an advocacy sanction, an educational sanction, or a disciplinary sanction. In general, disciplinary sanctions are meant to provide boundaries to the student to help them prevent such behavior in the future. These sanctions include suspension or expulsion.
Whatever sanction the Conduct Educator imposes on the accused student, it can be appealed. At UC Denver, appeals must be made within three working days of finding out the Conduct Educator's decision. Additionally, appeals can only be made for particular reasons, including:
- To determine if the conduct conference was conducted fairly;
- To determine whether the sanctions imposed were appropriate given the nature of the violation; or
- To consider new information that could change the outcome of the matter if that information was unavailable during the original hearing.
Once the appeal is submitted, the Appeal Reader will review it and determine if one of the grounds has been met. If they decide that none of the grounds were met, it will be denied, and the matter will be finished. If the appeal meets one or more of the grounds, the Appeal reader will review the information and decide whether to affirm the decision, return the matter to the Conduct Educator for further review, overturn the decision or adjust the sanctions.
The Appeal Reader's decision is generally final and cannot be appealed further.
How an Academic Attorney-Advisor Can Help
The Education Law Team at Lento Law Firm and Attorney Joseph D. Lento understand the difficulties that adult learners encounter when juggling their education and other responsibilities. They appreciate the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication required to pursue higher education and are thus committed to working tirelessly to obtain the best possible result for your situation. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
