All colleges, including those in Idaho, want a reputation of legitimacy. To ensure this, colleges have rules that deal with the issue of academic integrity and punish any misconduct that violates those rules. However, innocent students can get caught up in these investigations, putting their future into doubt.
If you are facing accusations of academic misconduct, one of the best ways to defend yourself is to appoint a lawyer as your misconduct advisor.
Academic Misconduct Allegations in Idaho
Universities in Idaho typically lay out the guidelines for academic integrity in their student handbooks, which they usually post online. Most of those guidelines, though, are deliberately left vague so the school has the ability to prosecute novel forms of academic misconduct that might fall outside strictly defined rules. Nevertheless, most misconduct falls into one of the following types:
- Cheating. One of the most obvious forms of academic misconduct is when a student brings prohibited materials or help into an exam, or when they hire someone else to take a test. However, innocent students in Idaho can be accused of cheating if they do something that might appear dishonest, or their professor is unclear about what can be brought into an exam.
- Plagiarism. Colleges in Idaho want students to get credit for their own work, but not anyone else's. This includes the ideas and information collected by someone else. Students who fail to acknowledge someone else's work can face allegations of plagiarism, though many of these situations are completely accidental oversights by the student being accused.
- Altering forms. Some instances of academic misconduct do not happen in the classroom. Altering official documents and forms from your school, like your transcript, can lead to allegations of academic misconduct.
- Destroying or distributing academic materials. Academic misconduct accusations can also happen if you destroy academic resources, like library books, or distribute materials like tests or answer keys.
- Complicity. Finally, students who have done nothing wrong, but who have either failed to report someone else's misconduct or tried to help cover it up, can face allegations of misconduct.
Consequences of Academic Misconduct
The penalties for a finding of academic misconduct span a wide range. In the most egregious cases, you can be expelled, while the least severe can lead to a warning. Even a warning, though, can put a blemish on your academic record that is enough to make potential employers doubt whether they should hire you for a job after you graduate. Whenever you face an allegation of academic misconduct, therefore, you should take it seriously.
Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento
Being accused of academic misconduct is not a small matter. Additionally, because each and every school handles them differently, appointing a lawyer who understands the process as your advisor can help you beat the charges against you and drastically reduce the stress you feel from having to navigate a dangerous and unfamiliar course.
Joseph D. Lento is a student discipline defense attorney who can help. Contact him online or by phone at 888-535-3686 if you have been accused of academic misconduct in Idaho.
Idaho 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:
- Boise Bible College
- Boise State University
- Brigham Young University Idaho
- Broadview University
- Brown Mackie College Boise
- College of Southern Idaho
- CollegeAmerica Stevens Henager College
- Eastern Idaho Technical College
- Idaho State University
- ITT Technical Institute Boise
- Lewis Clark State College
- North Idaho College
- Northwest Nazarene University
- Stevens Henager College
- The College of Idaho
- University of Idaho
- University of Phoenix Idaho Campus
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 Idaho 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 Idaho 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.
