A single disciplinary misconduct accusation has the power to entirely disrupt your academic career. It doesn't matter how high your GPA might be or how many times your name has appeared on the Dean's List, if you're a student at Wake Forest, you're vulnerable to a disciplinary charge.
Maybe you're entirely innocent of any accusations. Misunderstandings happen all the time at college. False allegations happen as well. Or maybe you did make a mistake, but now the university is trying to impose a sanction that far outweighs the nature of your offense.
Whatever your situation, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights, and we take that obligation seriously. We know the law, and we're seasoned litigators. We also know how WFU judicial processes work, though, and we're as comfortable in front of a faculty panel as we are in front of judges and juries.
What can we do for 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 Wake Forest University
Like all colleges and universities, Wake Forest University maintains an extensive Student Code of Conduct. The list of rules and regulations is long—too long to include them all here. We recommend reading it and familiarizing yourself with all of your responsibilities. For now, though, let's focus on the major offenses. You know, the ones that can get you suspended or dismissed.
- Harm to Others: All universities—all communities—have an obligation to protect their members from harm. WFU policy is fairly circumspect in this regard. It bars only activities that harm, attempt to harm, or recklessly harm others, and it only applies to physical harm. Note, however, that elsewhere, the Code also prohibits all forms of bullying and cyberbullying.
- Weapons Possession: WFU prohibits all weapons on campus, including firearms, whether carried openly or concealed. This includes arrows, machetes, nunchucks, throwing stars, axes, and knives.
- Hazing: WFU's anti-hazing policy is among the strictest in the nation, outlawing not just physical harm you might do to others during initiation activities but activities that might lead to mental harm or even the disruption of a pledge's academic, professional, or personal obligations.
- Sexual Misconduct: This is among the most serious offenses with which a student can be charged. Investigation and adjudication guidelines are actually set by Title IX, a federal law.
- Drug Use and Possession: WFU actually places authority for drug and alcohol policies in the hands of individual university colleges. However, all schools prohibit drug use, possession, manufacture, and sale, and many go so far as to bar possession of drug paraphernalia.
If you are found responsible for (guilty of) a misconduct offense, the university can punish you with a wide variety of sanctions, including simple warnings, restitution, restriction of privileges, suspension, and expulsion. Keep in mind, though, that any responsible finding and any sanction can have serious long-term consequences. If a record of a disciplinary infraction appears on your transcript, it can interfere with scholarships, internships, graduate school applications, and even your career prospects. You cannot afford to take any allegations lightly.
Mounting A Defense to Misconduct Accusations
WFU does provide all accused students (respondents) with important due process rights. You are innocent (not responsible), for instance, until proven guilty (responsible), just as you would be in the criminal justice system. WFU must conduct an investigation, and it must give you the chance to defend yourself at a hearing.
Here's what you can expect.
- Ordinarily, disciplinary matters are in the hands of the Dean of Students. This official receives all allegations and makes decisions about which ones should be pursued.
- If the Dean decides to issue formal charges against you, they will provide you with notice of those charges. This notice should contain a description of the allegation and a list of your due process rights.
- Investigators generally start by meeting separately with the respondent (the accused, you) and the complainant (your accuser or alleged victim). They'll also talk to any witnesses and collect all physical evidence associated with the case.
- The length of an investigation can vary depending on the complexity of the case. Once they've completed their work, though, investigators turn their findings over to the Dean, who sets a time and date for a “formal resolution meeting.”
- Resolution meetings can take place before a single “conduct officer” or a “meeting panel.” In either case, you have the right to present any evidence in defense of your innocence or to explain your actions. You may call witnesses to testify, and you may raise questions for anyone testifying against you.
- Ultimately, the decision-makers in the case apply a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, they must find you guilty if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome should you lose. You must have grounds for an appeal though, such as a procedural error, new evidence to present, or a disproportionate sanction.
Unfortunately, Wake Forest does not allow you to bring an attorney with you to meetings or other proceedings. The Lento Law Firm regards this as a serious violation of your due process rights and a threat to the integrity of the university's judicial system.
However, that rule cannot prevent you from consulting with the Lento Law Firm attorney, and we can play an enormous role in preparing your defense. We can help you to gather evidence, for example, coach you on how to answer investigative questions, suggest questions for witnesses, and give you practice in presenting your arguments. We'll also keep a close eye on how your case proceeds to ensure WFU doesn't threaten any of your other rights.
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.
