In order to keep the quality of learning high in educational settings, academic integrity must be preserved in all endeavors and feats. This is why colleges and universities enforce rules that maintain these guidelines. If students fail to comply with these rules, the consequences may be severe, affecting a student's college career as well as their professional future.
It's important for students accused of academic misconduct to seek the help of an attorney advisor. An experienced legal professional can help you clear your name, and avoid getting you a record for employers and outside institutions to see.
What is Academic Misconduct?
Colleges and universities in Maine enforce guidelines for purposes of maintaining academic integrity. These rules are intended to keep students accountable and transparent when it comes to the creation of their own individual academic works, and respecting the work of others. Any actions that break these rules constitutes academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct Violations
There are various forms of academic misconduct. Here are some common definitions and examples of academic misconduct that may be punishable at your school:
Cheating: displaying fraud, deceit, or dishonesty for academic merit.
- Using unauthorized materials, prepared answers, written notes, or concealed information to complete an exam or project
- Allowing another person to write a paper for you
- Sharing answers from a take-home exam unless specifically authorized by an instructor
- Having a stand-in take an exam for you, or standing in for someone else
- Copying from others during an exam
Plagiarism: using intellectual material authored 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 referred to as citing the source. Citing must be done properly, and credit must be given for every direct quote, any paraphrased ideas, summaries, or information that isn't considered common knowledge
Fabrication/Falsification: inventing or altering information in an academic exercise.
- Creating or altering citations for a paper
- Making up events, people, interactions, or discussions to complete an assignment
Complicity: intentionally helping or attempting to help another student perform academically dishonest acts.
- Letting another student use your identification to access a restricted part of campus
- Allowing another student to copy your homework, exam, or project
It's important to note that this is a general list that isn't meant to be restrictive or exhaustive. For a more detailed list of definitions and examples please see your institution's code of conduct.
Maine 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.
Maine 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:
- Bates College
- Bowdoin College
- Central Maine Community College
- Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professions
- Colby College
- College of the Atlantic
- Eastern Maine Community College
- Husson University
- Kaplan University Maine Campus
- Kennebec Valley Community College
- Landing School of Boat Building and Design
- Maine College of Art
- Maine Maritime Academy
- New England School of Communications
- Northern Maine Community College
- Saint Joseph's College of Maine
- Southern Maine Community College
- Thomas College
- Unity College
- University of Maine
- University of Maine at Augusta
- University of Maine at Farmington
- University of Maine at Fort Kent
- University of Maine at Machias
- University of Maine at Presque Isle
- University of New England
- University of Southern Maine
- Washington County Community College
- York County Community College
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 Maine 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 Maine 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.
