The private Andrews University, located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, is the Seventh-Day Adventist Church's flagship educational institution. Andrews reports 2020 enrollment of 3,171 students, down from prior years before the pandemic, when the institution enrolled upwards of 4,000 students.
To carry out its mission to transform students through the pursuit of knowledge and affirmation of faith, Andrews University offers degrees in liberal arts, education, the humanities, health sciences, aviation, business, information technology, and a range of other fields. Those academic programs necessarily require academic standards of integrity.
Like other colleges and universities, Andrews University thus embeds within its Student Code of Conduct certain forms of prohibited academic misconduct, under which it pursues academic-misconduct charges. Academic misconduct, coming in many different types, has a long history, and raises significant concern throughout higher education, including at Andrews University. Read more here about college academic misconduct.
Read below how Andrews University defines academic misconduct and decides misconduct charges. Learn more about what you can do if you face academic-misconduct charges. The national academic-misconduct attorney and advisor Joseph D. Lento of the Lento Law Firm educates the public in the legal rights and personal interests surrounding academic-misconduct charges out of his most-fundamental professional commitments.
Academic Misconduct at Andrews University
Andrews University's Student Code of Conduct includes a long list of prohibited behaviors, only a few of which constitute traditional forms of academic misconduct. Under the heading acts of dishonesty, the Andrews University Student Code of Conduct prohibits fraud, cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. The Student Code of Conduct does not further define those terms or suggest what other forms of academic dishonesty the university prohibits. Those forms could potentially include any of the different types the Lento Law Firm has helped clients defend, such as:
- unauthorized collaboration;
- unauthorized assistance;
- deceitful educational software;
- blackmail or bribery;
- reusing assignments or exams;
- obtaining information in advance;
- forgery, fabrication, or falsification;
- failing to report violations by others;
- impersonation; and
- sabotage.
Other violations of Andrews University's Student Code of Conduct may arise relating to an instance of academic misconduct. The Andrews Student Code of Conduct lists these other misbehaviors that may relate to and supplement academic-misconduct charges:
- disruptive or dysfunctional behaviors, aberrant actions, or other conduct compromising the educational environment or health and safety of others;
- unauthorized use of university facilities for purposes or events inconsistent with the Code of Student Conduct or university values;
- obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other university activities;
- continual lack of serious effort to meet scholastic and citizenship requirements;
- attempted or actual vandalism or damage to individual or institutional property;
- removal of institutional property from its designated place;
- violation of university computer and resource policy including abuse of computer network and time;
- entering into a file, transferring a file, or using another's identification and password without authorization; and
- conduct adversely affecting student responsibility to model good citizenship in the university community or any other community.
Misconduct Procedures at Andrews University
The Andrews University Student Handbook includes Student Conduct Intervention (Disciplinary) Procedures governing violations of the Student Code of Conduct including its academic-misconduct provisions. The procedures permit students, faculty, and staff to report suspected academic misconduct to a Student Life administrator. That official or a designee meets with the accused student to notify of the complaint and associated rights and procedures. That official may resolve minor violations that the student admits. Major or disputed violations go to a Student Life Deans Council to evaluate and decide the charges.
The Andrews University procedures are not explicit about the form or conduct of the hearing to decide academic-misconduct charges. The procedures only state that the Student Life Deans Council serving as the conduct panel “deliberates to determine responsibility for serious violations of the Code of Student Conduct as well as any subsequent disciplinary actions, including warnings, citizenship probation, suspension and dismissal.” The procedures do not discuss investigation, statements, witnesses, testimony, or questioning, including cross-examination.
The procedures do provide that accused students who face suspension or dismissal may choose a Support Person from within the Andrews University faculty or staff. Support persons may accompany the student to any hearing but not question or otherwise address the Council. While the Andrews procedures recognize the accused student's interest in consulting an attorney advisor, the procedures do not permit that advisor's attendance or direct participation.
The Student Life Deans Council hearing and deciding academic-misconduct charges applies the lowest preponderance-of-the-evidence proof burden. The Council finds against the accused student any charge evidence for which makes the violation more likely than not. The Andrews University procedures offer an appeal to students found responsible for code violations.
Misconduct Sanctions at Andrews University
Andrews University treats academic misconduct seriously, as any institution must to preserve its reputation and the integrity of its degrees and programs. You should treat misconduct allegations seriously, too, based on the progressively severe sanctions the university may impose. The Andrews University student-misconduct procedures list these potential sanctions for violations of the Student Code of Conduct:
- conversation with the student to clarify issues and provide an opportunity for learning to take place;
- counsel, written or oral;
- warnings, written or oral;
- citizenship probation, involving loss of university privileges;
- suspension;
- participation in an educational experience such as attending educational classes and writing a reflective or research paper;
- participation in professional assessment or counseling sessions;
- participation in a support or counseling component;
- participation in a student-success plan or voluntary service;
- fines and restitution;
- separation from all classes and organized campus activities;
- separation from the campus property
- additional academic consequences, including dismissal.
An Attorney-Advisor's Role
Joseph D. Lento of the Lento Law Firm is a national academic-misconduct attorney and advisor with the skill and experience to successfully defend academic-misconduct charges at Andrews University. Andrews University may allow an attorney advisor only a limited direct role in its disciplinary proceedings. But Joseph D. Lento can help a student who faces academic-misconduct charges assess the allegations, identify evidence to present, identify how to challenge the complainant's evidence, and analyze and appeal adverse findings, to defeat false or exaggerated charges. Skilled advocacy exposes a frivolous misconduct case.
Don't underestimate the value of an experienced attorney advisor. Academic-misconduct violations affect reputation, education, and career. Thousands of college and university students nationwide have retained Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm to defend and defeat academic-misconduct allegations. Joseph D. Lento and his team have the expertise to help you navigate, defeat, or mitigate a misconduct charge at Andrews University. Call 888-535-3686 to schedule a consultation, or use the online service.
