If you're like most students at Columbia, you're hyper-focused on your grades. Makes sense. Columbia's a tough school, with demanding courses taught by elite faculty. The thing is, it doesn't particularly matter how high your GPA is if you should wind up accused of some form of disciplinary misconduct. You'll face the same sanctions as any other student, including the possibility of suspension and dismissal.
Maybe you're entirely innocent and assume that will become obvious to investigators at some point. Don't count on it. Maybe you genuinely did make a mistake but are sure the sanction will be manageable. Don't count on that either. Universities take all misconduct seriously these days. There are no "minor" offenses and no "light" punishments.
No matter what your situation, you can count on the Lento Law Firm to protect you. Our Student Defense Team is dedicated to getting students fair treatment. We'll ensure you know what to expect at all stages of the judicial process. We'll help you prepare your case and coach you on how to present it. No one gives you a better chance of successfully defending yourself than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm.
How can we help you? Contact the Lento Law Firm today to find out. Call 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Columbia University Standards of Conduct
Columbia's Student Conduct and Community Standards policy is truly an A to Z list of rules and regulations. Well, almost. It begins with “Access/ Egress, Unauthorized” and ends with “Weapons.” In between, you'll find obvious rules against things like
- Illegal drugs
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Hazing
- Unauthorized photography/ surveillance.
You'll also find a few less obvious rules dealing with subjects like
- Unauthorized copying/ distribution
- Endangerment to animals
You'll find a couple of regulations that seem a bit circular, like the policy that you "follow university policies."
Keep in mind that you can be charged for violations of state and federal law, even if prosecutors decide not to pursue charges against you.
Note, too, the statement "Policy violations include, but are not limited to..." which appears just before all the other items on the list. Earlier, the policy notes, "All students are expected to uphold the highest standards of respect, integrity, and civility." Ultimately, you can be charged with misconduct even if your specific offense doesn't actually appear among the other community standards.
Finally, you should be aware that sanctions can be severe. Columbia lists warnings as a possible punishment, for example, but most offenses garner far more serious penalties like loss of privileges, suspension, dismissal, and even revocation of degree. And even a warning can be a serious sanction if it should appear in your permanent record. You can probably survive a low grade or two at Columbia. Those happen to everyone. A disciplinary misconduct offense, though, can make potential employers think twice about hiring you.
Mounting A Defense to Misconduct Accusations
A misconduct charge does not have to lead to a sanction, though. Columbia can't simply punish you without clear evidence. You're entitled to a presumption of innocence (“Not Responsible”) and to defend yourself from all allegations. Here's how the process generally works.
- Cases usually begin when someone lodges a complaint about you with the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS). There are a number of possible resolution options, but if a serious offense is involved and a serious sanction is a possibility, you have the right to an investigation and hearing.
- You will be supplied with a Notice of the Charges. This notice should explain the allegations and include a list of all your due process rights, such as the right to review evidence and the right to advance notice of all meetings and proceedings.
- Columbia then conducts an investigation into the allegations. You have the right to give your side of the story, to submit evidence, and to suggest witnesses.
- Once they've completed their work, investigators submit a written report to the SCCS. That office then sets a time and date for a hearing before at least two Hearing Officers.
- At the hearing, you may introduce evidence, call witnesses to testify, and raise questions for any witnesses against you. The other side, in this case, gets the opportunity to do the same.
- Hearing Officers are required to employ a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence" when deciding your case. This standard requires them to find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome. You must have grounds, though—for some reason, you feel you were treated unfairly by the process, such as a procedural error, new evidence, or an unfair sanction.
Columbia allows you to select an advisor to help you with your case. However, this advisor must be someone from the university community. Very few schools allow students legal representation during campus investigations and hearings, but the Lento Law Firm regards Columbia's extreme position as a violation of your due process rights.
You need to know, though, that no one at Columbia can deny you the right to consult with a Lento Law Firm attorney about your case, and that's the more crucial factor in your defense. Your attorney can help you uncover evidence and will help you come up with the strongest lines of argument based on this evidence. They'll work with you to raise questions about the prosecution's evidence. They can coach you in responding to investigative interviews, suggest questions for witnesses, and draft documents on your behalf. They'll coach you in every aspect of presenting your case to the Hearing Officers.
As all of this suggests, their most important concern is getting you the justice you deserve, and they'll monitor all phases of your case to make sure you're treated fairly.
Fighting for Your Future
Don't risk your academic future by trying to handle a disciplinary misconduct charge yourself. Processes and procedures are complex and difficult to navigate. 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 university charges. The Lento 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 to 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 Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.
