North Carolina now boasts over 130 colleges, universities, and other postsecondary educational institutions with over 354,000 students attending on a full-time basis. One basic commonality these institutions share is a pledge to maintain academic integrity and honor. Campus administrations have developed written procedures for how disciplinary actions are handled when students violate rules of conduct such as by cheating. The accused student will have an opportunity to defend themselves in a disciplinary hearing. When the findings are unfavorable, often filing an appeal is the lone method of recourse. The Lento Law Firm aggressively represents students in the many aspects of student disciplinary defense who are facing difficult sanctions.
Understanding Academic Misconduct
The Code of Student Conduct at North Carolina State University classifies conduct such as actions of cheating and plagiarism as “attacks of the very foundation of academic life”. Other actions deemed as academic misconduct include “aiding or abetting” others in cheating or plagiarizing and intentionally destroying or otherwise removing academic material.
Common Sanctions and Penalties
- Student receives a failing grade for the exam, assignment, or for the entire course
- Student is dismissed from an honors, professional or graduate program
- A disciplinary probation period may be required
- A suspension from the school may be imposed
- Expulsion from the school may be imposed
Appealing a Ruling
Each school has their own process for students to appeal a ruling. The majority of institutions have very similar elements. Students must first understand that the time frame for bringing an appeal is short. Most schools require receipt of your written appeal in less than 14 days. The policies and procedures will generally specify a short list of acceptable grounds for an appeal.
Evidence of Misconduct on Records and Transcripts
Often the most damaging aspect of a violation of misconduct is the presence of the details contained in student records. This may be a potential hindrance in the ability to transfer to another school or be admitted to a graduate school program. Those with these concerns are strongly encouraged to consider discussing a potential appeal with an experienced attorney.
Having Legal Representation for an Appeal
Students often underestimate the potentially damaging consequences of violations when they first are informed of the allegations. Ideally, legal representation should be retained at this stage. Students who have already had a ruling and penalties imposed have a very limited amount of time to appeal. Your attorney will assist you in drafting a document that is impactful and substantiates your appeal. A lawyer will likely reexamine the information and process from the initial ruling. Often an independent third-party is better able to recognize where there was noncompliance in procedure or that the accused's rights were violated. An attorney may conduct negotiations throughout the disciplinary process that could resolve the matter in a way that is mutually acceptable to all parties.
Lawyer Represents Students as an Academic Appeal Advisor in North Carolina
Joseph D. Lento is an attorney with significant experience in defending students at colleges and universities in North Carolina who are facing sanctions for misconduct. You will have a limited time to appeal a disciplinary action, so contact the office today at (888) 535-3686.
- Alamance Community College
- Apex School of Theology
- Appalachian State University
- Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College
- Barton College
- Beaufort County Community College
- Belmont Abbey College
- Bennett College for Women
- Bladen Community College
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Brevard College
- Brunswick Community College
- Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
- Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
- Campbell University
- Cape Fear Community College
- Carolina Bible College
- Carolina Christian College
- Carteret Community College
- Catawba College
- Catawba Valley Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Chowan University
- Cleveland Community College
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- College of the Albemarle
- Craven Community College
- Davidson College
- Davidson County Community College
- DeVry University North Carolina
- Duke University
- Durham Technical Community College
- East Carolina University
- Edgecombe Community College
- Elizabeth City State University
- Elon University
- Fayetteville State University
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Forsyth Technical Community College
- Gardner Webb University
- Gaston College
- Grace College of Divinity
- Greensboro College
- Guilford College
- Guilford Technical Community College
- Halifax Community College
- Harrison College
- Haywood Community College
- Heritage Bible College
- Isothermal Community College
- ITT Technical Institute Cary
- ITT Technical Institute Charlotte North
- ITT Technical Institute Charlotte South
- ITT Technical Institute Durham
- ITT Technical Institute High Point
- James Sprunt Community College
- Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
- Johnson C Smith University
- Johnston Community College
- King's College
- Laurel University
- Lees McRae College
- Lenoir Community College
- Lenoir Rhyne University
- Living Arts College
- Livingstone College
- Louisburg College
- Mars Hill University
- Martin Community College
- Mayland Community College
- McDowell Technical Community College
- Meredith College
- Methodist University
- Mid Atlantic Christian University
- Miller Motte College
- Miller Motte College Cary
- Miller Motte College Fayetteville
- Miller Motte College Greenville
- Miller Motte College Raleigh
- Miller Motte College Wilmington
- Mitchell Community College
- Montgomery Community College
- Montreat College
- Mount Olive College
- Nash Community College
- New Life Theological Seminary
- North Carolina A & T State University
- North Carolina Central University
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- North Carolina Wesleyan College
- Pamlico Community College
- Pfeiffer University
- Piedmont Community College
- Piedmont International University
- Pitt Community College
- Queens University of Charlotte
- Randolph Community College
- Richmond Community College
- Roanoke Chowan Community College
- Robeson Community College
- Rockingham Community College
- Rowan Cabarrus Community College
- Saint Augustines College
- Salem College
- Sampson Community College
- Sandhills Community College
- Shaw University
- Shepherds Theological Seminary
- South College Asheville
- South Piedmont Community College
- Southeastern Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- St. Andrews University
- Stanly Community College
- Surry Community College
- The Art Institute of Charlotte
- The Art Institute of Raleigh Durham
- Tri County Community College
- University of North Carolina at Asheville
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts
- University of Phoenix Charlotte Campus
- University of Phoenix Raleigh Campus
- Vance Granville Community College
- Wake Forest University
- Wake Technical Community College
- Warren Wilson College
- Wayne Community College
- Western Carolina University
- Western Piedmont Community College
- Wilkes Community College
- William Peace University
- Wilson Community College
- Wingate University
- Winston Salem State University
Regrettably, an academic misconduct finding of responsibility can derail an accused student's academic and professional goals and some students and parents do not recognize this concern until it may be too late. If a student is found responsible for academic misconduct charges, in addition to the short-term consequences such academic and disciplinary sanctions, there will be long-term consequences. Internships, graduate school opportunities, and employment opportunities can all be adversely impacted by a finding of responsibility.
For these reasons and more, it is critical to properly address such concerns as early as possible in the disciplinary process. There are times, however, that it necessary to appeal an adverse outcome, and Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at universities and colleges in North Carolina 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 to students facing disciplinary cases in North Carolina and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected at all stages of the academic misconduct disciplinary process, including the appeal stage - Contact National Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
