If you've found your way to this page, you're likely stressed, frustrated, and tired. It's bad enough to find yourself accused of misconduct. Then, you had to prepare a defense, and as you went through the process, you discovered that justice at Purdue isn't quite as straightforward as it seems. For example,
- Officially, you're presumed innocent (“Not Responsible”) until proven guilty (“Responsible”). The reality is that the same institution that has accused you is now judging you. If the university accused you of an offense, why wouldn't it have a vested interest in finding you Responsible for that offense?
- The university isn't required to find you guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” If decision-makers are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt, that's enough.
- There's lots of room for error in the system. The case wasn't in the hands of a learned judge. A handful of faculty, administrators, and students decided everything about how the hearing unfolded.
So you lost your case, and now you're stressed, frustrated, and tired.
We get it. At the Lento Law Firm, we've represented hundreds of students, just like you, helping defend them against all types of charges. We know how difficult it can be to navigate campus judicial systems and how unfair those systems can sometimes seem.
You don't have to go through this process alone, though. You may have tried to handle your case on your own, but the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can work with you to file your appeal. We know the system, and we know how to use it to your best benefit.
To find out more about how we can help, call 888-535-3686 or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your case. Don't wait, though. Purdue gives you just fourteen business days to file. After that, it assumes you accept the hearing outcome.
The Appeals Process at Purdue
An appeal is not a hearing. The process is entirely different. That's because the purpose is entirely different.
The purpose of an investigation and hearing is to determine whether or not you are "Responsible for" (guilty of) violating school policy. At the beginning of the investigation and throughout the hearing, you were treated as Not Responsible. At this point, however, you've been found Responsible, and that changes the entire equation.
The "burden" is now on you. Before, the university had the burden of proving you were guilty. You were presumed innocent until they could come up with evidence compelling enough to demonstrate you were guilty. Now, the roles are reversed. You're trying to prove the university made a mistake. The assumption is you were treated fairly. You have the burden of proving otherwise.
“Fairness” in an appeal isn't about whether or not decision-makers are right about your guilt. In fact, innocence and guilt don't even come into appeal. Instead, you need sufficient "grounds" to file your appeal. Grounds are reasons that you didn't get a fair hearing. At Purdue, there are only three possible grounds.
- New information has arisen that was not available at the time of the hearing, and that could have a potential impact on the outcome of the case.
- The university failed to follow established procedures in your case.
- You've been given a sanction that is clearly disproportionate to the nature of your offense.
Finally, an appeal is a check on the system. As such, Purdue doesn't feel like it needs to be a long, complex affair.
- Several decision-makers likely determined the outcome of your hearing. Now, you're subject to the decision of a single individual, the university provost or their designee.
- You will not have the opportunity to present your case in person or to communicate with the provost outside the contents of your written appeal.
- Unless new evidence has come to light, your entire case must rest on the record of the hearing.
- “Winning” your appeal does not mean winning your case. It means the appeals officer agrees that you deserve another chance to defend yourself at a hearing.
What's at Stake
If the process of appeal at Purdue sounds challenging, that's because it is. At this point, you are at a distinct disadvantage, and it will take hard work to overcome those disadvantages.
Ultimately, though, you cannot afford to walk away at this point.
If you've been dismissed from Purdue it means you lose all the progress—not to mention money—you've put into your education up to this point. You can, of course, apply to other schools, but you'll be starting over. More importantly, you may find it difficult to get other colleges and universities to accept you. Your transcript from Purdue will carry a record of your offense, and most schools are reluctant to admit students who've been dismissed elsewhere.
If, instead, you're facing suspension, you can return to Purdue once you've served your suspension. It can be difficult to resume your studies, though, after being away. You may also have to begin paying back your student loans in the meantime. And even if you should manage to complete your degree, you'll still have to deal with a transcript notation about your offense. That can hurt your job prospects out of college. In fact, it could follow you throughout your career.
It is no exaggeration to say that your entire future rests on the outcome of your case.
Fight For Your Future
Here's the good news: you don't have to keep fighting alone. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can help you with every aspect of your appeal. They'll start by reviewing the record of the hearing and identifying places where the university may have made mistakes. They'll work with you to come up with sufficient grounds for appeal. They'll help you draft a compelling document that makes your case clear. And, should you win your appeal, they'll stay beside you as you go through the process of a new hearing.
Whatever may have happened during the investigation and hearing, whatever your reasons for deciding to handle your case on your own, the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is committed to helping you get the justice you deserve. We're on your side and ready to fight with you as long as it takes.
We said it before, though: you cannot afford to wait. The window for filing your appeal at Purdue is just fourteen days. Get started now. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
