Academic integrity is at the crux of all thriving learning environments. This is why in colleges and university settings, each member of the campus community - students, staff, and faculty - is obliged to live up to integrity standards in all academic feats and endeavors.
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 Louisiana colleges and universities, there are guidelines imposed that specifically address student accountability and respect when it comes to the creation of their respective scholastic words, and the intellectual property of others. Academic misconduct occurs when a student fails to comply with the guidelines.
Academic Misconduct Violations
There are numerous 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 deceitful, fraudulent, or dishonest methods to gain academic merit.
- Copying from others during an exam
- 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)
- Allowing another person to write a paper for you
- Using materials, written notes, prepared answers, or concealed information that isn't allowed to complete a project or exam
Fabrication/Falsification: inventing or altering information in an academic exercise.
- Creating or modifying citations for a paper
- Making up discussions, interactions, people, or events to complete an assignment
Plagiarism: using intellectual material created by another person in your work without acknowledging the source.
- Passing off the ideas, words, or concepts of another person as your own
- Using the work of another in your academic work without giving them 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
Complicity: aiding or attempting to aid another student to perform academically dishonest acts.
- Allowing another student to copy your exam, homework, or project
- Letting another student use 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
Since administrators perceive academic misconduct as one of the most unspeakable acts committed in the classroom, the consequences of failing to comply with integrity in school settings are harsh. Depending on the circumstances, students subject to sanctions have found themselves with a failing course grade, booted from degree programs, suspended, or even expelled from the institution.
The repercussions that come with having academic misconduct on a student's record may also extend far beyond college sanctions, haunting them in their professional life. Jobs with access to an academic record may deny a student employment because of this violation.
Louisiana 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.
Louisiana 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:
- Acadiana Technical College Lafayette Campus
- Baton Rouge College
- Baton Rouge Community College
- Blue Cliff College Alexandria
- Blue Cliff College Houma
- Blue Cliff College Metairie
- Blue Cliff College Shreveport
- Bossier Parish Community College
- Capital Area Technical College Baton Rouge Campus
- Career Technical College Shreveport
- Centenary College of Louisiana
- Central Louisiana Technical College Alexandria Campus
- Court Reporting Institute of Louisiana
- Delgado Community College
- Delta School of Business and Technology
- Dillard University
- Grambling State University
- Herzing University Kenner
- ITT Technical Institute Baton Rouge
- ITT Technical Institute Saint Rose
- L E Fletcher Technical Community College
- Louisiana College
- Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe Campus
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Louisiana State University Eunice
- Louisiana State University Alexandria
- Louisiana State University Shreveport
- Louisiana Tech University
- Loyola University New Orleans
- McCann School of Business & Technology Monroe
- McNeese State University
- Medvance Institute Baton Rouge
- Nicholls State University
- Northeast Louisiana Technical College Delta Ouachita Campus
- Northshore Technical Community College
- Northwest Louisiana Technical College
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Nunez Community College
- Our Lady of Holy Cross College
- Our Lady of the Lake College
- Remington College Baton Rouge Campus
- Remington College Lafayette Campus
- Remington College Shreveport Campus
- River Parishes Community College
- Saint Joseph Seminary College
- South Central Louisiana Technical College Young Memorial Campus
- South Louisiana Community College
- Southeastern Louisiana University
- Southern University and A & M College
- Southern University at New Orleans
- Southern University at Shreveport
- Sowela Technical Community College
- Tulane University of Louisiana
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- University of Louisiana Monroe
- University of New Orleans
- University of Phoenix Baton Rouge
- University of Phoenix Lafayette
- University of Phoenix Louisiana Campus
- University of Phoenix Shreveport Bossier
- Virginia College
- Xavier University of Louisiana
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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.
