Texas A&M is a serious university. You wouldn't have gotten in here if you weren't smart and hardworking. Of all the students at Texas A&M, you don't have to worry about disciplinary misconduct charges, right? You're way too busy writing papers and studying for your exams to get into trouble.
Unfortunately, that's just not true. In the first place, anyone can wind up with a misconduct charge, even hardworking students who don't have time to get into trouble. Universities get things wrong sometimes, and they wind up accusing innocent students. Other students get jealous and lodge false accusations. Misunderstandings happen. Maybe you actually do make some kind of mistake. None of us is perfect.
What do you do?
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team wants to make sure that a disciplinary misconduct charge doesn't derail your academic—and professional—future. We're committed to making sure Texas A&M treats you fairly. We back up that commitment with a deep knowledge of A&M administrative and judicial policies and past experience helping hundreds of other students defend themselves. Whatever your situation, we're on your side and ready to bring every resource at our disposal to bear to get you the best possible resolution to your case.
To find out more about what we can do for you, call 888-535-3686 or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Standards of Conduct at Texas A&M University
First things first: how do you stay out of trouble at Texas A&M. Yes, all kinds of bad things can happen to you, but how do you make sure you don't get in your own way?
The answer? Find out everything you can about the university's Student Conduct Code. This is the Bible as far as non-academic rules and regulations go. In fact, there's no way for us to summarize the entire Code here. We can, however, point to some of the most serious offenses students can wind up accused of at A&M.
- Firearms Possession: This rule is complicated, both by the fact that A&M has a history that's tied to the military and the fact that Texas takes gun rights seriously. However, the Code explicitly prohibits the unauthorized and illegal use or storage of weapons and the use of legal weapons to harm others.
- Drug Possession: The university bars the "using, possessing, being under the influence of, manufacturing, or distributing" of illegal drugs and the misuse of legally obtained drugs. Note that the possession of "drug paraphernalia" can also result in serious sanctions.
- Hazing: Universities like Texas A&M have taken a far more aggressive approach in recent years to stamp out hazing. Hazing isn't just about the physical harm you might cause another student but also the mental harm you might cause them. In addition, you can be charged with hazing even if nothing goes wrong during an initiation event. Simply creating the conditions where harm could occur is enough.
- Physical Abuse: Texas A&M defines this violation as “Any attempt to cause injury or inflict pain, or causing injury or inflicting pain.” In addition, the Code goes on to include any physical contact that might be deemed “offensive or provocative.”
Beyond this list, there are numerous other kinds of offenses, from trespassing and theft to unauthorized recording and misuse of computer resources. And while these offenses are generally “less serious” than something like weapons possession, they can still result in sanctions.
What kinds of sanctions does Texas A&M impose? That depends on the nature of the offense and the context in which it occurs. Minor offenses can result in anything from a warning to probation to loss of privileges. More serious offenses can garner suspension and even dismissal. In fact, the university has the power to revoke your degree long after you graduate if it discovers you committed an offense while you were a student.
Keep in mind, too, that even a minor sanction can have long-term repercussions on your career. A warning for disorderly conduct can be a serious red flag to employers. You must take every disciplinary misconduct allegation seriously, no matter what the proposed sanction might be.
Mounting A Defense to Misconduct Accusations
The rules at Texas A&M are strict, and sanctions can be life-altering. There is good news, though. The university cannot simply accuse you of an offense and impose a punishment. You have the right to “due process.” You are "innocent until proven guilty," for instance, and A&M must have concrete evidence to find you responsible for (guilty of" an offense. Further, you have the right to challenge any evidence the university uncovers.
Here's a rough outline of what you can expect.
- Cases begin with a complaint lodged with the Student Conduct Office. This office must then make a preliminary decision as to whether the complaint is credible.
- Should the university issue charges against you, it will supply you with official notice of those charges. This notice should outline the allegations and explain all of your due process rights.
- The Student Conduct Office then conducts a full investigation. As part of this investigation, you are invited to give your side of the story. Investigators also talk with any complainants (accusers) and interview potential witnesses, and they collect physical evidence associated with the case.
- Once the investigation is complete, the university sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside.
- At the hearing, you are allowed to offer evidence for your innocence, including witness testimony. You also have the right to raise questions about any evidence against you and cross-examine witnesses.
- Texas A&M applies the legal standard "preponderance of the evidence" to all misconduct cases. This standard holds that you are guilty if it seems "more likely than not" that you committed the offense.
- You can appeal a responsible finding. However, A&M sets strict limitations on your grounds for appeal. You must have a claim that your rights were denied in some way, such as through procedural error, overlooked evidence, or a disproportionate sanction.
In most cases, Texas A&M does not allow you to bring an attorney with you to investigative meetings and other proceedings. However, as the university's own policies make clear, you always have the right to consult with an attorney, and your Lento Law Firm attorney can play a crucial role in your defense even if they cannot “represent” you.
You can expect your attorney to work with you to uncover evidence and map out your strongest lines of argument. They'll coach you in answering investigative questions. They'll help you come up with questions for witnesses and give you practice in presenting your case. Most importantly, they'll ensure the university respects all of your rights and that you get a fair chance at a successful outcome.
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.
