You’re wholly committed not only to earning your degree but to keeping your GPA as high as possible. That’s the fastest track to a good job out of college. Keep in mind, though, that you can’t earn a degree at Tarleton State University if you’ve been dismissed for disciplinary misconduct.

Whether you actually made a mistake or you’re the victim of some sort of misunderstanding, you cannot afford to take any allegation of misconduct lightly. The moment you’re charged, you need to find out everything you can about your offense and everything you can about how TSU’s disciplinary misconduct system operates.

Taking your situation seriously also means getting the best help you possibly can. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We know exactly how TSU’s processes and procedures work, and this isn’t exactly our first rodeo. We’ve worked with hundreds of students just like you, protecting them from all types of charges. Whatever your situation, we’ll help you build the strongest possible defense and ensure that the university treats you fairly.

Before we can do any of that, though, you have to contact us. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out how we can help with your case, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.

Navigating the Code of Conduct

What exactly is the Code of Conduct? We run into students all the time who never even knew their school had one until they wound up accused of some offense. The TSU Code contains all the rules and regulations that govern your behavior as a student. Most offenses have to do with your campus behavior, but you can also be charged for some off-campus incidents.

As you might imagine, it’s a long list. Here’s a shorter list, including the offenses that can get you into the most trouble. You want to avoid these five at all costs.

  • Physical Abuse: To one degree or another, all the offenses on this list have to do with potential harm to others. The university has an obligation to protect everyone on campus. That starts with a ban on all physical abuse.
  • Weapons Possession: Texas law allows registered gun owners to carry a concealed handgun on campus. Otherwise, however, TSU prohibits all gun use and possession. This applies to firearms, explosives, and dangerous chemicals.
  • Sexual Misconduct: These types of offenses are actually governed by federal law—Title IX. The government requires schools to investigate all credible complaints. It also encourages colleges and universities to impose harsh sanctions in these cases.
  • Hazing: Hazing activities are already outlawed under other sections of the Code. TSU maintains a strict anti-hazing policy, though, to remind students that harming others is always an offense, even if it’s related to an initiation activity and even if you’ve convinced pledges to sign waivers.
  • Drug Use and Possession: TSU forbids the use, possession, manufacture, and distribution of illegal drugs. You can also be charged for misuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, and for simple possession of drug-related paraphernalia.

The minimum penalty for these offenses is usually suspension. You can also face dismissal. It’s also true, though, that any offense, no matter how minor, can affect your future well beyond college. If a warning for misuse of computer resources shows up on your transcript, it can cost you scholarships, graduate school opportunities, and even job interviews.

Because we work so extensively in the field of student defense, the LLF National Law Firm understands what’s at stake in ways other attorneys just don’t. You can count on us to begin work on your defense the moment you call us, and we’ll fight hard to protect your future until your very last appeal is filed.

The TSU Disciplinary Process

The Code includes lots of rules and some pretty stiff penalties. There is good news, though: if you’ve been accused of an offense, you’re entitled to full due process. That starts with a presumption of innocence. TSU can’t just accuse you and punish you. It must have concrete evidence. Furthermore, it must give you a chance to respond to any evidence against you.

  • Any time you’re accused of an offense, TSU assigns your case to a Student Conduct Administrator.
  • This Administrator’s first responsibility is to contact you and let you know that you’ve been accused. This notice should include an explanation of the allegations and a complete list of your due process rights. At no point during the process should you be blind.
  • The Administrator will also conduct an investigation into the matter. That includes interviewing you, at which point you can explain your side of the story and present any evidence you may have. Throughout the investigation, the Administrator must also keep you apprised of any evidence they uncover related to your case.
  • Ultimately, your case outcome is decided at a Student Conduct Conference, a hearing before the Administrator. This affords you a formal opportunity to argue for your innocence and to present evidence, including witness testimony. You also have the right to raise questions about evidence, including witness testimony.
  • The standard of “responsibility” (guilt) isn’t “beyond a reasonable doubt,” but rather “the preponderance of the evidence.” Basically, you are guilty if it seems “more likely than not” that you committed the offense.
  • Even a “responsible” outcome doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your case. You have the right to appeal if you can show that you were denied a fair right to make your case in any way.

Due process is supposed to give you a fair chance at justice. Keep in mind, though, that a university investigation and hearing aren’t the same as a police investigation and criminal justice trial. The standard of guilt is less strict, and there are many inherent conflicts of interest in the TSU system. The person who investigates you, for example, should never be the same as the person who presides over your hearing.

You never want to take the university on alone. You don’t have to. The LLF National Law Firm’s only interest is in your success. You can be sure we’ll use every resource at our disposal to ensure you’re treated fairly and that you get the best possible resolution to your case.

Trust the LLF National Law Firm

Handling your own disciplinary misconduct case puts your entire future at risk. Make sure you have a professional on your side, someone who not only knows how to construct a strong defense but who has experience helping student clients defend themselves from college charges. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team will make sure you’re fully prepared to defend yourself. They’ll protect your rights. They’ll help you get the very best possible resolution to your case.

Sometimes, you have to fight for your educational future. We can help. To find out more, contact the LLF National Law Firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.

 

Texas

Tell About Your Case

When the School Becomes the Problem: What UNC’s Botched Investigation Teaches Every Student

A University of North Carolina (UNC) student lost his scholarship and was permanently expelled from the entire UNC system after the school found him responsible for sexual misconduct. Years of federal litigation followed. And then, quietly, UNC settled. The former student, identified in court records as Jacob Doe, argued that […]

How a Cell Phone Policy Violation Can Escalate Into a Serious Disciplinary Issue

The cell phone bans sweeping the country’s K-12 schools in the last few years may sound good on paper—and educators overwhelmingly support them—but what do you do if what began as confiscation of your child’s phone has escalated into significant disciplinary action? The Student Defense Team at the LLF National […]

Taking a School District in WA to Court to Protect Students’ Title IX Rights

The LLF National Law Firm’s Education Law Team will be suing a school district in Washington state for its failure to meet its Title IX reporting obligations in the case of an elementary school student who claims they were bullied and sexually assaulted. The student, a third grader, now suffers […]

Questions About AI Use at One University Reflect Broader Concerns

A report from Montreal’s Concordia University that looks at student AI use over the 2025–2026 school year shows us a microcosm of the broader trends at work not just in Canada, but in the U.S. as well. Here’s what we’re seeing in the report: Students are using AI in their schoolwork — […]