Filing an appeal isn’t exactly option A when it comes to defending yourself from disciplinary misconduct charges. Ideally, you want to win your case during the hearing or, even better, have the case dismissed before it reaches the hearing stage. The appeals process exists for a reason, though: colleges and universities make mistakes when dispensing justice, and you shouldn’t suffer a serious sanction because of a mistake.

Just because you lost your hearing doesn’t mean you should give up. In fact, there’s really too much at stake at this point to give up. You can file and appeal, and you can convince the university to give you another shot at defending yourself.

You’re going to need help, though. Appeals can be tricky. The LLF National Law Firm knows exactly what you’re up against, and we’re familiar with CUNY-Hunter’s processes and procedures. Most importantly, we’re always on your side, whatever your particular situation. We’re committed to protecting your rights and defending your interests.

It’s important you contact us quickly, though. CUNY-Hunter allows you just fifteen days from the end of your hearing to file your appeal. Call the LLF National Law Firm today at 888-535-3686, or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your situation.

The CUNY-Hunter Appeals Process

Filing an appeal at CUNY-Hunter is much simpler than mounting a defense at a hearing.

  • First things first: you must write the appeal itself, explaining why you believe you deserve a new hearing and offering evidence to support your arguments.
  • Appeals are filed in writing with the college president’s office.
  • The other side in the case then has fifteen days to respond in writing to your appeal.
  • Finally, the president has up to fifteen days to make a final determination in the case.

The thing is, these steps can actually seem deceptively simple. The real challenge is in formulating your argument. That requires no less than a complete reorientation in your thinking.

Writing the Appeal

Before you go any further, it’s important that you recognize that your situation has changed dramatically since you were first charged. While it may seem obvious, you’ve been found guilty of (responsible for) an offense. An appeal is not a chance to reargue your case, to offer more evidence of your innocence, or make your points more strongly than you made them before. Any questions about your innocence have been decided.

So what are you arguing, then? Appeals have to do with issues of fairness. The central question is whether you were allowed a fair opportunity to present your defense. In this context, there are essentially only three possibilities.

  • The university committed a procedural error, and that error was significant enough to have altered the hearing outcome.
  • A new piece of evidence has arisen, evidence powerful enough to potentially alter the case.
  • The Student-Faculty Disciplinary Committee applied a sanction that is grossly disproportionate to the nature of your offense.

In addition to a shift in your argument, appeals also demand that you approach your case differently. You’re no longer facing a committee of decision-makers. A single university official—the Hunter College president—has sole authority to decide your fate. This official won’t hold a hearing. You won’t get a chance to argue your points in person, explain your evidence, or cross-examine witnesses.

More importantly, the “burden” in the case has shifted. When you were initially charged, the college was obligated to treat you as innocent (“not responsible”) until such time as it could provide a “preponderance of evidence” to overcome that presumption. This time around, you’re the one making the allegation—that the college denied you your rights in some way. CUNY-Hunter has the presumption of innocence, and you’re the one who must come up with enough compelling evidence to overcome that presumption. This is always the more difficult position.

Again, colleges and universities aren’t great at dispensing justice, and they tend to get things wrong more often than they get things right. Any mistake the Committee makes is reasonable grounds for a new hearing, and you shouldn’t be shy about calling attention to those mistakes.

Plus, you have a secret weapon this time around—a LLF National Law Firm attorney on your side. We know what to expect from the appeals process. After all, we’ve helped hundreds of students defend themselves over the years. We know what counts as the best evidence, and we know what makes for the strongest arguments.

Negotiating an Alternative Solution

An appeal is the most straightforward approach to overturning a university’s disciplinary decision, but it isn’t the only option. It is also possible to negotiate directly with the CUNY-Hunter College administration. It’s no easy task convincing presidents and provosts to negotiate, though, and you need someone in your corner to help make it happen.

Once again, it pays to work with an LLF National Law Firm attorney. Unlike most other attorneys, we maintain relationships with Offices of General Counsel around the country. These are attorneys retained by colleges and universities to offer legal advice. As you might imagine, their opinions carry enormous weight. We are sometimes able to leverage our relationships with these officials to convince a school to talk directly with our clients.

In fact, in the past, we’ve been able to get sanctions lessened or offenses removed from transcripts. We’ve even managed to get responsible verdicts entirely overturned. We are the only law firm out there that can offer this service, though. We’re the only law firm dedicated to helping students defend themselves, and we know how to use a college’s system that no one else does.

What Can We Do For You?

Whether you’re entirely innocent or simply looking to get fair treatment from CUNY-Hunter College, you owe it to yourself to continue the fight. We’re here and ready to help. We’ll guide you through the entire appeals process, make sure you put forward your very strongest arguments, and guarantee the university respects your rights.

As we said in the beginning, though, you cannot afford to wait. There are deadlines for filing your appeal. Get started now. Contact the LLF National Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.

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