The United States is home to some of the best higher educational institutions in the world. Hundreds of thousands of students attend school on a part-time or full-time basis. Each school has its own policies, and each school defines what constitutes prohibitive conduct and provides the consequences for the same. Prohibitive conduct includes both quasi-criminal and non-criminal behavior.
Quasi-criminal behavior can include things like:
- Assault
- Computer Crimes
- Cyberstalking
- Destruction of Property
- Domestic Abuse
- Drugs
- Fake IDs
- Falsification/fabrication
- Hazing
- Internet Threats
- Piracy
- Pornography
- Sexual Harassment
- Stalking
- Theft
- Threats
- Underage Drinking
- Title IX violations
- Trespassing
- Weapons.
Non-criminal but prohibitive behavior can include things like:
- Academic Misconduct
- Cheating
- Collaborative Cheating
- Noise Violation
- Plagiarism
- Residential Conduct & Standards
- Social Media Misuse.
Simply because a school is a top-tier school does not mean that prohibitive behavior like any of the above does not occur. On the contrary, it occurs more often than we may expect. Students are on their own for the first time. They are figuring out the world. And sometimes they get into trouble doing so. Plus, at these schools, they are no doubt under a lot of pressure to perform.
Some of these top U.S. schools include (academic misconduct policies follow in the links below):
- Amherst College
- Andrews University
- Boston University
- Bowdoin College
- Brown University
- California Institute of Technology
- Case Western Reserve University
- Claremont McKenna College
- College of William & Mary
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- Duke University
- Emory University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgetown University
- George Washington University
- Harvard University
- Harvey Mudd College
- Howard University
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- John Hopkins University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Michigan State University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
- New York University (NYU)
- North Carolina State University
- Northeastern University
- Northwestern University
- Pomona College
- Purdue University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
- Rice University
- Southern Methodist University
- Stanford University
- Stony Brook University
- Swarthmore College
- Tufts University
- Tulane University
- University of Arizona
- University at Buffalo
- University of California at Berkeley
- University of California at Davis
- University of California Irvine
- University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
- University of California San Diego
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of Chicago
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Georgia
- University of Florida
- University of Houston
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Maryland
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Oklahoma
- University of the Pacific
- University of San Francisco
- University of Southern California
- University of Texas, Austin
- University of Virginia
- University of Washington
- United States Naval Academy
- Vanderbilt University
- Wake Forest University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Williams College
- Yale University
The Student Disciplinary Process
From the western shores of California to the eastern shores of Maryland, students who find themselves in legal or academic trouble have the right to legal representation. The student disciplinary process is unique from school to school, but one thing that is true across the board is this: they are intimidating.
The student disciplinary process involves an investigation into the complaint, disciplinary hearings, and potential penalties and sanctions, the latter of which could involve:
- fines or other monetary penalties
- probation
- counseling
- community service
- loss of on-campus housing
- suspension
- expulsion.
These are very serious consequences to a disciplinary action. Fortunately, you have the right to appeal, and with the help of an experienced college student defense attorney, you can get aggressive, comprehensive representation.
You will also require legal representation if criminal charges have been filed against you. That process, too, is intimidating and will involve an investigation, hearings, and possibly trial.
The Importance of an Attorney Focusing on College Student Defense
The school disciplinary process is a unique process, similar yet very different from the criminal justice system. If the school's decision is not in your favor, it could have dire effects on your immediate educational experience and your future professional aspirations. Having an experienced college student defense attorney who has been committed to the defense of students for years can mean the difference between a negative outcome versus a positive one. And this is of particular importance because – again – it's your future at stake.
If you are facing allegations of misconduct at your school, contact the attorney who has the insight and knowledge to help you. Joseph D. Lento has a nationwide practice dedicated to resolving school-related issues and concerns aggressively defending clients accused of violating their school's code of conduct. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at (888) 535-3686.
