You're here for just one reason. OU accused you of some misconduct offense. After an investigation and a hearing, the university found you Responsible (guilty). Now you're facing a serious sanction—we're guessing suspension or dismissal.
The answer to your most important question is, yes, you can still manage to salvage this situation. The University of Oklahoma affords all accused students certain due process rights, including the right to appeal. You're facing an uphill battle at this point, but a successful appeal would mean a brand new hearing and a chance to defend yourself with an attorney at your side.
It's crucial, though, that you make the right decisions moving forward. You cannot afford to make any more mistakes. The Lento Law Firm is the premier firm in the country when it comes to student defense. Our Student Defense Team has represented hundreds of students from every conceivable type of charge. We know the OU judicial system, including what's involved in filing appeals. And no matter what, we're always on your side.
You cannot afford to wait, though. From the moment you're notified of the hearing outcome, you have just five business days to file your appeal. That's not a lot of time to prepare your case. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686, or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your situation.
The Appeals Process at the University of Oklahoma
If we're talking about steps, an OU appeal seems like a relatively simple procedure. You write up the reasons why you think the original hearing panel got things wrong, submit your document to the University Vice President for Student Affairs, and wait for an appointed appeals official to make their decision.
By this point, though, you already know that nothing's as easy as all that. The fact is, an appeal isn't like anything else you've been through. It's not an investigation, and it's not a hearing, and if you don't fully understand what's involved, it can be over before it begins.
- First and foremost, you're now "guilty" of an offense. Doesn't matter if you know you're innocent. In the eyes of the OU justice system, you've been found guilty. That changes the playing field in some important ways. In the beginning, you were presumed "innocent." That came with certain privileges. For example, you didn't actually have to prove you were innocent. Instead, the university bore the burden of proving you guilty ("Responsible"). Now, the shoe is on the other foot. You are presumed guilty, and you bear the burden of proving otherwise. That's always the worst position to be in.
- You're also limited in terms of argument. You can use any reasonable argument to prove your innocence, or you can simply dispute the prosecution's arguments. You're not arguing over your innocence anymore. You're looking for "grounds," reasons why you deserve a second chance to argue your innocence. It's a subtle distinction, but it's important. At OU, there are just three possible arguments you can make:
- The university committed some procedural error that prevented a fair hearing.
- The university has imposed a sanction that is more severe than the nature of the offense deserves.
- Some new evidence has arisen that could potentially have altered the hearing outcome.
- You face additional hurdles. Your original hearing was decided by a panel of decision-makers. A majority of the panel had to find you Responsible in order to convict you. This time around, your fate rests in the hands of a single Appellate Officer.
- There are no hearings in appeals cases. You will not be invited to address the appellate officer, you will have no opportunity to submit new evidence, and you will not be allowed to call any witnesses. Your written document must make your entire case.
- You may present new evidence if you've discovered it within five days of the hearing, but otherwise, the only evidence you're allowed to offer is the hearing transcript.
- The Appellate Officer cannot find you “Not Responsible.” They can decide whether the hearing panel was right and whether you are responsible for the offense; they can decide whether you deserve a lighter sanction; or they can order a new hearing.
The moment you contact us, a Lento Law Firm attorney will go over your entire case with you. They'll comb through the hearing transcript, looking for any grounds for your appeal. They'll work with you to formulate your strongest arguments, and they'll draft the appeal itself.
What's at Stake
Plenty of students give up and walk away once they lose their misconduct hearings. We get it. You've already been through a lot. The system seems stacked against you. Why bother continuing the fight?
Here's why.
You're out of options. If you're facing dismissal from OU, there's no coming back. There's also no transferring somewhere else. You'll have a transcript notation explaining your offense, and other schools aren't interested in admitting students who've already been dismissed. If you've been suspended, the situation is a little better. You can return to the university to complete your degree. That can be tough, though. For starters, you may lose your financial aid, and it's never easy to pay for classes out of pocket. Just as important, your transcript will carry the same notation. At the end of four years, you may have a diploma, but you'll still have to explain your offense to prospective employers.
And here's a secret most students don't know: it's not as hard to win a university appeals case as you might think. The appeals process seems daunting. If you have sufficient grounds, though, it's designed to work in your favor. Hearing panels aren't made up of learned legal experts with law school credentials. Cases are decided by English professors and third-year physics students. It would be surprising if mistakes didn't happen.
And again, you aren't alone in your fight this time around. If there are grounds for an appeal, your Lento Law Firm attorney will find them. We'll do everything we can to ensure you get a fair and just resolution to your case.
Fight For Your Future
Whether you're entirely innocent or you're looking to get fair treatment from the University of Oklahoma, 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 OU 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 Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
