Academic integrity is essential in collegiate settings. This is why higher education institutions enforce numerous rules to protect and maintain integrity in all academic endeavors. If students fail to comply with these regulations, the consequences can be dire, affecting not only your college career but potentially your professional life as well.
This is why it's important for students accused of academic misconduct to seek the aid of an attorney advisor. An experienced legal professional understands what it takes to clear your name and to avoid getting this violation on your record for institutions and employers to see.
What is Academic Misconduct?
The vast majority of higher education institutions in Delaware enforce guidelines to uphold academic integrity in each student's academic endeavors. Students who fail to comply with these guidelines are partaking in what's known as academic dishonesty or misconduct. Any actions that could possibly constitute academic misconduct, like cheating for example, in these educational settings is prohibited by these rules.
Academic Misconduct Violations
There are many types of academic misconduct. Here are a few common examples and definitions of actions that could constitute academic misconduct at your school:
- Cheating: Using or attempting to use an unauthorized source or material to complete an academic exercise or examination. Using notes when they are prohibited and having someone else do your work are two examples of cheating behavior.
- Plagiarism: The act of misrepresenting someone else's work, concepts, words or ideas as one's own without proper acknowledgment of the source. The only time when a student doesn't have to acknowledge the source is when the information presented is common sense.
- Fabrication/Falsification: Inventing or altering information in an academic exercise.
- Abuse of materials: Destroying, stealing, damaging, or in any way obstructing access to the school library or other academic resources and records.
- Complicity: Aiding or attempting to aid another student in committing an act of academic dishonesty is referred to as complicity.
Consequences
Since colleges and universities are intended to be high-quality learning environments, administrators make academic misconduct a very big deal. The sanctions imposed for such a violation reflect the institution's firm stance against academic misconduct. Based on the circumstances, students who've been found “responsible” for academic misconduct via disciplinary hearing have been subjected to a wide range of sanctions. These include a failing test or project grade, a failing course grade, being booted from a degree program, suspension, and in extreme circumstances, expulsion.
It's important to note that the effects of the repercussions for an academic misconduct violation can extend outside of a student's education, and into their professional life. With evidence of this type of misconduct on your academic record, other institutions and jobs may question a student's integrity or morale. Government jobs, professions in law, and careers and academic are industries that have been known to disqualify applicants for academic misconduct mishaps.
Delaware Academic Misconduct Advisor
A finding of responsibility for academic misconduct can jeopardize the academic and professional goals you or your college student have set. If you value the investment you've made into your education and your professional future, contacting a skilled student defense attorney is a must. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped students who've acquired serious academic misconduct charges recover from these allegations, and he can do the same for you. Contact him today for more information.
Delaware 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:
- Delaware College of Art and Design
- Delaware State University
- Goldey–Beacom College
- University of Delaware
- Wesley College
- Widener University–Delaware Campus
- Wilmington University
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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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.
