The majority of colleges and universities in Pennsylvania have their own code of conduct that likely references academic integrity to some degree. Clearly, these rules vary from school to school, but at the core of each policy, schools promote honesty and responsibility in all scholarly endeavors. This means actions like cheating plagiarism are forbidden and therefore punishable.
When a faculty member speculates that you have somehow violated its academic integrity policy, you will be required to undergo the disciplinary process. This process generally entails an investigation and/or hearing to determine if you are “responsible” for committing the misconduct you were accused of.
If your school happens to determine that you're responsible for academic misconduct, here's some good news: you always are granted the right to appeal. I've provided all the information you need to know about academic appeals and the appeals process. If you have further questions, don't wait to contact the LLF Law Firm today. The firm was founded in Pennsylvania, so they are familiar with a lot of the college's rules and regulations pertaining to academic misconduct and the disciplinary process.
What is an Academic Appeal?
An appeal is a letter that challenges the validity of a school's adverse disciplinary decision. When an appeal is filed, a panel is responsible for reviewing the initial decision and your reason for why this decision is unjust or unwarranted. Then they will conduct a hearing to ultimately decide if there is a valid reason to affirm your appeal and reverse or reform the decision.
When is it Appropriate to Appeal?
You should appeal if you truly believe that you didn't do what you were accused of. We've taken on the role of an appeal advisor for a number of students, and we can attest to the fact that a minor misunderstanding or misjudgment can turn into a serious problem for students. From faulty plagiarism detection software to group projects gone wrong, we can assure you that innocent students get accused of academic misconduct all the time. You shouldn't be labeled a cheater for something you didn't do. This is why the appeals process exists.
Another reason to appeal is if you feel your sanction is too harsh. The severity of a sanction should be proportionate to the action you committed.
You should not appeal if you have admitted guilt in any capacity to the school. If your reason for appealing is to give the panel an explanation as to why you committed academic misconduct, you're wasting your time. Being unhappy with a determination isn't enough to justify an appeal in the eyes of an appeals panel. An element of injustice must be involved.
Here are some other reasons for appealing that won't be relevant to the panel:
- You were under stress when the incident occurred
- You did not realize you were violating your school's policies
- Other students did what you did, but didn't get caught
- Your professor didn't tell you it was against school policy
The bottom line is that the appeals process only concerns whether the violation occurred, not why it occurred.
Filing an appeal means writing a letter to your professor or faculty member's dean to explain why you have been falsely accused. This letter should be clear, concise and very detailed. During this point in the process, an attorney-appeal advisor can prove to be useful, especially if you don't feel your writing skills are up to par. An advisor can help you draft a letter that is convincing enough for a panel to grant your appeal.
Pennsylvania Academic Appeal Advisor
Being falsely accused of academic misconduct can throw a wrench in your plans to graduate. When your college or university makes a decision that hinders your academic progress, you have every right to appeal. The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team has successfully helped a wide range of students in all stages of their educational journey prevail in the appeals process. Contact them today at 888-535-3686 to get back on track.
- Albright College
- Allegheny College
- Arcadia University
- Bryn Mawr College
- Bloomsburg University
- Bucknell University
- Cabrini University
- Cairn University
- California University of Pennsylvania
- Carlow University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Cedar Crest College
- Central Penn College
- Chatham University
- Chestnut Hill College
- Cheyney University
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania
- Delaware Valley University
- DeSales University
- Dickinson College
- Drexel University
- Duquesne University
- East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
- Eastern University
- Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
- Elizabethtown College
- Franklin & Marshall College
- Gannon University
- Geneva College
- Gettysburg College
- Grove City College
- Gwynedd Mercy University
- Harcum College
- Haverford College
- Holy Family University
- Immaculata University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Juniata College
- Keystone College
- King's College
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
- Lackawanna College
- Lafayette College
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- La Roche College
- La Salle University
- Lebanon Valley College
- Lehigh University
- Lincoln University
- Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
- Lycoming College
- Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
- Marywood University
- Mercyhurst University
- Messiah College
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania
- Misericordia University
- Moravian College
- Mount Aloysius College
- Muhlenberg College
- Neumann University
- Peirce College
- Pennsylvania State University
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Philadelphia University
- Point Park University
- Robert Morris University
- Rosemont College
- Saint Francis University
- Saint Joseph's University
- Saint Vincent College
- Seton Hill University
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
- Susquehanna University
- Swarthmore College
- Temple University
- Thiel College
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh
- University Of The Arts
- University of the Sciences
- University of Scranton
- Ursinus College
- Valley Forge Military Academy
- Villanova University
- Washington & Jefferson College
- Waynesburg University
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Westminster College
- Widener University
- Wilkes University
- York College of Pennsylvania
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 as 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 is necessary to appeal an adverse outcome, and the LLF Law Firm has unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the futures of their clients at universities and colleges in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. They do not settle for the easiest outcome and instead prioritize their clients' needs and well-being. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected at all stages of the academic misconduct disciplinary process, including the appeal stage - Contact the National Academic Misconduct Advisors at the LLF Law Firm at 888-535-3686.