It doesn't matter how disciplined you are or how many friends you have. It doesn't matter how well you did in calculus or how high your grade point might be. You may have been on the Dean's List so often that Howard is thinking about renaming it in your honor. One disciplinary misconduct allegation can ruin all your hard work.
Maybe you're innocent, and you're trying to fight the charges. Maybe you did make a mistake and you want to make sure you're treated fairly and don't wind up with an unreasonable sanction. Whatever your situation, the Lento Law Firm can help you to respond to allegations and get your academic career back on track.
Our Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We know Howard University policies, and we're familiar with campus judicial processes. We're committed to your future and ready to use every resource at our disposal to preserve it.
What can we do to help you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Standards of Conduct at Howard University
Dozens of students wind up charged with misconduct violations at Howard every semester. In part, that's because the university maintains so many rules and regulations. There are policies against everything from drinking in the dorms to forgery. We can't provide a list of every offense here. For that, you should consult the Student Code of Conduct. What we can do is mention some of the most serious offenses, the ones that typically carry the most serious penalties.
- Assault and Battery: Violence is outlawed on the Howard University campus the same as it is anywhere else. Whether you attack someone with your fists or a weapon, you can wind up in serious trouble. In addition, you can be charged simply for threatening to harm someone, whether or not you actually follow through.
- Weapons Possession: Battery covers violence and the threat of violence with a weapon. Simply possessing a firearm or explosive device is enough to garner a Code of Conduct charge, though. Among other things, this is contrary to D.C. law, and Howard can charge you with an offense for any violations of local, state, or federal statutes.
- Hazing: Most students think hazing has to do with causing physical harm to sorority or fraternity pledges. You can also be charged for “endangering” another student; causing emotional or psychological harm is just as serious; and any member of any campus organization can be accused.
- Sexual Misconduct: Again, Howard follows all local, state, and federal laws. Federal Title IX guidelines require all universities to maintain strict sexual misconduct policies, covering everything from simple verbal harassment to stalking, dating violence, and rape.
- Drug Use and Possession: In addition to drug use and possession, Howard prohibits the possession of drug paraphernalia.
Howard maintains a list of potential sanctions that range from warnings to outright dismissal. However, the last several years have seen a significant inflation in the severity of university punishments. Even minor offenses sometimes earn suspension and dismissal these days. You cannot afford to take any chances. The moment you're charged with an offense—any offense—it's vital that you contact the Lento Law Firm to fight on your behalf.
Mounting A Defense to Misconduct Accusations
For all its strict disciplinary policies, Howard University also grants you several important rights as a student. If you've been accused of an offense, the most important of these is the right to due process. In simple terms, you cannot be punished over an allegation. The university must conduct an investigation and prove those allegations with evidence, and it must provide you with the opportunity to challenge the charges at a hearing.
- All cases are handled by the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards. Any time this official receives a complaint about you, they must first determine if that complaint is credible and actionable.
- You have a right to notification any time you are charged with an offense. Such notification should apprise you of your due process rights and offer an explanation of the allegations against you. This material is important to building your defense.
- The university cannot punish you without first uncovering some evidence to substantiate the charges. As part of any investigation, you have the right to give your side of the story. In addition, you can examine any evidence that investigators uncover.
- Investigators are tasked with creating a full report of their findings. Once they turn this report over to the Director, the Director sets a time and date for a hearing on the matter.
- Minor offenses may be heard by a single administrative officer. Major offenses usually appear before an administrative panel. In either case, you have the opportunity to offer arguments in your defense and present evidence. You may call witnesses to testify, and you may raise questions for any witness testifying against you.
- Decision-makers then employ a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence." This standard is far less strict than "beyond a reasonable doubt" and requires decision-makers find you responsible (guilty) if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- The best outcome, of course, is a finding of not responsible. If you should be found responsible, you can appeal. You must have grounds for an appeal, though. These can include issues like a disproportionate sanction, a procedural error, or the discovery of new evidence.
Howard University bars attorneys from attending investigative meetings and hearings. However, as university policy makes clear, you always have the right to consult an attorney as you prepare your defense.
The Lento Law Firm attorney can build your entire defense for you and even coach you in presenting it. They'll make sure you're prepared for any investigative questions and outline your central arguments before your hearing. Most importantly, they'll make sure Howard treats you fairly. That's especially important any time a school wants to deny you a due process right like the right to counsel.
Fighting for Your Future
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 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.
