All colleges and universities – including those in Alabama – have to take their academic reputation seriously. To do this, they enforce their code of academic conduct vigorously to ensure that students only get credit for their own work and skills.
Unfortunately, innocent students get accused of academic misconduct all the time. Having a lawyer serving as your advisor in this difficult time can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.
Academic Misconduct in Alabama
There is no one set of rules dealing with academic misconduct for all of Alabama. Instead, each school has its own laws and regulations about what students can do in the classroom and in the academic field.
Despite the lack of uniformity, all schools follow the same basic themes. These prohibit the following conduct:
- Cheating. Making use of items and notes that have been prohibited during an exam would give students an advantage over others, so colleges in Alabama have to vigorously prosecute anyone caught cheating on a test. However, lots of perfectly innocent behavior gets misinterpreted as cheating, putting students into trouble.
- Plagiarism. Taking credit for the work or ideas of others also violates the codes of academic conduct in place at most Alabama schools.
- Complicity in misconduct. Being complicit in someone else's misconduct – whether by failing to report the misconduct or by actively trying to hide it – can lead to misconduct charges even though you were not a part of the initial act.
- Misconduct with academic materials. You can also be accused of academic misconduct if you alter or destroy official school papers, like your transcript or other documents, or if you distribute exams or answer keys.
Unfortunately, because schools want to be able to prosecute novel ways of gaining an unfair advantage in class, these rules are vaguely written. You can face misconduct accusations that require a significant stretch of the rules, as they are written. Nevertheless, the possibility of being penalized is not small.
Penalties for Academic Misconduct
If you are found to have committed an act of academic misconduct, you can be expelled, if the allegation is very serious, or receive as slight a punishment as a written warning. However, even a written warning for misconduct on your academic record can be a huge obstacle once you graduate. Potential employers look for reasons to reject job applicants for competitive positions. A blemish on your record for academic misconduct can be enough to keep you from getting an offer at the job of your dreams.
Alabama's Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento
If you have been accused of academic misconduct in the state of Alabama, you need a lawyer as your advisor to help guide you through the difficult road you will face. With student discipline defense lawyer Joseph D. Lento at your side, you can see how to best defend your rights and professional future, preventing your school from stretching too far in their attempts to protect their reputation. Reach out to attorney Lento by contacting him online.
Alabama colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's academic misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Alabama A & M University
- Alabama Southern Community College
- Alabama State University
- Amridge University
- Auburn University
- Auburn University at Montgomery
- Bevill State Community College
- Birmingham Southern College
- Bishop State Community College
- Brown Mackie College Birmingham
- Central Alabama Community College
- Chattahoochee Valley Community College
- Columbia Southern University
- Concordia College Selma
- Enterprise State Community College
- Faulkner University
- Fortis College Mobile
- Fortis College Montgomery
- Gadsden State Community College
- George C Wallace State Community College Dothan
- George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville
- George C Wallace State Community College Selma
- H Councill Trenholm State Technical College
- Heritage Christian University
- Herzing University Birmingham
- Huntingdon College
- Huntsville Bible College
- ITT Technical Institute Bessemer
- ITT Technical Institute Madison
- ITT Technical Institute Mobile
- J F Drake State Technical College
- Jacksonville State University
- James H Faulkner State Community College
- Jefferson Davis Community College
- Jefferson State Community College
- John C Calhoun State Community College
- Judson College
- Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus
- Lurleen B Wallace Community College
- Marion Military Institute
- Miles College
- Northeast Alabama Community College
- Northwest Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals
- Oakwood University
- Prince Institute of Professional Studies Inc
- Reid State Technical College
- Remington College Mobile Campus
- Samford University
- Selma University
- Shelton State Community College
- Snead State Community College
- South University Montgomery
- Southeastern Bible College
- Southern Union State Community College
- Spring Hill College
- Stillman College
- Talladega College
- The University of Alabama
- Tri State Institute
- Troy University
- Tuskegee University
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Alabama at Huntsville
- University of Mobile
- University of Montevallo
- University of North Alabama
- University of Phoenix Birmingham Campus
- University of South Alabama
- University of West Alabama
- Virginia College Birmingham
- Virginia College Huntsville
- Virginia College Mobile
- Virginia College Montgomery
It is an unfortunate reality that academic misconduct charges can upend an accused student's life if not properly addressed, and Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the future of his clients at colleges and universities in Alabama 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 for students facing disciplinary cases in Alabama and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
