If you're a student or the parent of a student at a college or university in Tennessee, and you or your child is charged with a code of conduct or disciplinary violation, you should not take the matter lightly. Do not make the mistake of believing what some schools would describe as an educational opportunity.
A code of conduct or disciplinary case can have serious potential consequences with respect to academic goals, including internships and graduate school, and professional goals, including employment opportunities. Regardless of when you first learn of the allegations, whether it's from the Office of Student Conduct or from a professor, an athletic coach, the campus police, respectfully declining to discuss the case before taking the necessary precautions is often critical.
You must understand how your school will investigate and adjudicate the case. To do so, you must familiarize yourself with the applicable policies and procedures. All schools will conduct an investigation. Regardless of whether your school will decide responsibility based solely on the investigation, or will do so at a hearing, it is critical to present the strongest possible defense and response.
Notice is an issue at many schools, so you must clearly define the allegations. After doing so, you must present your version of events and support it through all available means including relevant evidence, supporting witnesses, and anything else that would be appropriate to the circumstances.
At schools that decide responsibility at a hearing, you would need to prepare for the hearing which in part would include preparing an opening statement, relevant questions for the parties and witnesses, and closing statement, and so forth.
It's also important to bear in mind that schools are not mindful of an accused student's rights and interests and ensuring a fair process is critical to achieving a favorable outcome. You'd not want to find yourself in a position of having to appeal an adverse outcome and sanctions because you failed to take effective steps through the process.
An experienced attorney advisor will be your best ally to help you understand and navigate the code of conduct disciplinary process at your college or university in Tennessee. They should be involved from as early as possible in the case.
Tennessee colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's code of conduct disciplinary violation advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- American Baptist College
- Aquinas College
- Argosy University Nashville
- Austin Peay State University
- Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences
- Belmont University
- Bethel University
- Bryan College
- Carson Newman College
- Chattanooga College Medical Dental and Technical Careers
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Christian Brothers University
- Cleveland State Community College
- Columbia State Community College
- Cumberland University
- Daymar Institute Clarksville
- Daymar Institute Murfreesboro
- Daymar Institute Nashville
- DeVry University Tennessee
- Dyersburg State Community College
- East Tennessee State University
- Fisk University
- Fortis Institute
- Fortis Institute Nashville
- Fountainhead College of Technology
- Free Will Baptist Bible College
- Freed Hardeman University
- Hiwassee College
- International Academy of Design and Technology Nashville
- ITT Technical Institute Chattanooga
- ITT Technical Institute Cordova
- ITT Technical Institute Johnson City
- ITT Technical Institute Knoxville
- ITT Technical Institute Nashville
- Jackson State Community College
- John A Gupton College
- Johnson University
- King College
- Lane College
- Le Moyne Owen College
- Lee University
- Lincoln Memorial University
- Lipscomb University
- L'Ecole Culinaire
- Martin Methodist College
- Maryville College
- Memphis College of Art
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga
- Miller Motte Technical College Clarksville
- Miller Motte Technical College Madison
- Milligan College
- Motlow State Community College
- Nashville State Community College
- National College of Business and Technology Nashville
- Northeast State Community College
- Nossi College of Art
- O'More College of Design
- Pellissippi State Community College
- Remington College Memphis Campus
- Remington College Nashville Campus
- Rhodes College
- Roane State Community College
- Sewanee The University of the South
- South College
- Southern Adventist University
- Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Technological University
- Tennessee Temple University
- Tennessee Wesleyan College
- The Art Institute of Tennessee Nashville
- The University of Tennessee
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- The University of Tennessee Martin
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Tusculum College
- Union University
- University of Memphis
- University of Phoenix Chattanooga Campus
- University of Phoenix Knoxville
- University of Phoenix Memphis Campus
- University of Phoenix Nashville Campus
- Vanderbilt University
- Vatterott Career College Memphis Appling Farms
- Vatterott Career College Memphis Dividend Drive
- Victory University
- Virginia College School of Business and Health
- Visible Music College
- Volunteer State Community College
- Walters State Community College
- Watkins College of Art Design & Film
- William Moore College of Technology
- Williamson Christian College
Tennessee Student Code of Conduct Disciplinary Advisor
Mounting the strongest possible defense to college and university code of conduct and disciplinary violations is critical because the stakes are high for an accused student, and the necessary steps must taken as early as possible and throughout the code of conduct disciplinary process. A finding of responsibility and any sanctions can have incredibly serious consequences for an accused student's academic and professional goals, and Joseph D. Lento has unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the future of his clients at schools in Tennessee and throughout the nation. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania, 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 a code of conduct disciplinary advisor to students facing disciplinary cases in Tennessee and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Student Defense Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686.
