A healthy, thriving academic environment is established by maintaining academic integrity. This is why colleges and universities are adamant about enforcing rules that require all members of the campus community - students, staff, and faculty - to live up to integrity standards in all of their academic feats and endeavors. But for students especially, the stakes are very high.
This is why it's important for students accused of academic misconduct to seek the help of an experienced attorney advisor. A legal professional understands what it takes to clear your name, salvage your reputation, and avoid tarnishing your academic record.
What is Academic Misconduct?
In Iowa colleges and universities, there are guidelines imposed that specifically address student accountability and transparency when it comes to authoring their respective scholastic words, and the intellectual property of others. Academic misconduct occurs when a student fails to comply with guidelines.
Academic Misconduct Violations
There are various forms of academic misconduct. Here are some of the common definitions and examples of academic misconduct that may be punishable at your school:
Cheating: using fraudulent, deceitful, or dishonest tactics to gain academic merit.
- Having a stand-in take an exam for you, or standing in for someone else
- Sharing answers from a take-home exam unless specifically authorized by an instructor)
- Copying from others during an exam
- Allowing another person to write a paper for you
- Using materials, prepared answers, written notes, or concealed information that isn't allowed to complete a project, homework, or an exam
Plagiarism: using intellectual material created by another person in your academic work without crediting the source.
- Passing of the concepts, ideas, or words of another person as your own
- Using the work of another in your academic work without giving them the proper credit. This is known as citing the source. To properly cite the source, one must give credit for every direct quote, summary, paraphrased idea, or information that isn't considered common knowledge
Fabrication/Falsification: inventing or altering information in an academic exercise.
- Creating or modifying citations for a paper
- Making up interactions, dialogue, people, or events to complete an assignment
Complicity: aiding or attempting to aid another student in performing academically dishonest acts.
- Allowing another student to copy your homework, project, or exam
- Letting another student borrow your identification to access a restricted area of campus
It's important to note that this is a general list that isn't intended to be exhaustive or restrictive. For a more detailed list of actions that could constitute academic misconduct at your school, see your institution's code of conduct.
Consequences
Administrators consider academic misconduct to be one of the most reprehensible actions a student can commit in a college setting. Therefore, the repercussions for failing to comply with these rules are almost always harsh. Depending on the circumstances, students subject to sanctions have found themselves with a failing course grade, booted from degree programs, suspension, or even expulsion from the institution.
The consequences that come with acquiring an academic misconduct violation may extend far beyond college sanctions. Some students have learned the hard way that a violation may haunt them in their professional life. Jobs with access to an academic record may deny a student employment because of this violation.
Iowa 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.
Iowa 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:
- AIB College of Business
- Allen College
- Briar Cliff University
- Brown Mackie College Quad Cities
- Buena Vista University
- Central College
- Clarke University
- Coe College
- Cornell College
- Des Moines Area Community College
- Divine Word College
- Dordt College
- Drake University
- Eastern Iowa Community College District
- Ellsworth Community College
- Emmaus Bible College
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
- Graceland University Lamoni
- Grand View University
- Grinnell College
- Hamilton Technical College
- Hawkeye Community College
- Indian Hills Community College
- Iowa Central Community College
- Iowa Lakes Community College
- Iowa State University
- Iowa Wesleyan College
- Iowa Western Community College
- ITT Technical Institute Cedar Rapids
- ITT Technical Institute Clive
- Kaplan University Cedar Falls Campus
- Kaplan University Cedar Rapids Campus
- Kaplan University Council Bluffs Campus
- Kaplan University Davenport Campus
- Kaplan University Des Moines Campus
- Kaplan University Mason City Campus
- Kirkwood Community College
- Loras College
- Luther College
- Maharishi University of Management
- Marshalltown Community College
- Mercy College of Health Sciences
- Morningside College
- Mount Mercy University
- North Iowa Area Community College
- Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar
- Northwest Iowa Community College
- Northwestern College
- Palmer College of Chiropractic Davenport
- Saint Ambrose University
- Simpson College
- Southeastern Community College
- Southwestern Community College
- St Luke's College
- University of Dubuque
- University of Iowa
- University of Northern Iowa
- University of Phoenix Des Moines Campus
- Upper Iowa University
- Vatterott College Des Moines
- Waldorf College
- Wartburg College
- Western Iowa Tech Community College
- William Penn 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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.
