You're bright and hard-working, or you wouldn't be in Boston College's premed program. You're in class every day. You spend your time outside of class writing papers, studying for exams, prepping for the MCAT, and shadowing healthcare professionals. You're on the fast track to success.
One allegation of misconduct can derail all of that, though, and no one is immune. We all make mistakes, even premed students with bright futures. The truth is, though, that you don't have to make a mistake to find yourself accused. Misunderstandings happen. Unfortunately, false allegations sometimes happen. How do you protect yourself?
The moment you find yourself facing a disciplinary charge, you contact the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We know exactly what you're up against, and we know how to handle it. We're familiar with all Boston College administrative and judicial procedures, and we've helped hundreds of students defend themselves from all types of charges.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Boston College
When it comes to misconduct, what kinds of trouble do you need to avoid at BC? It turns out there are dozens of different rules and regulations involving everything from cheating on exams to abusing computer resources. You can keep most of them straight, though, by knowing the three main categories of offense:
- Academic Misconduct: This type of misconduct has to do with how you complete your coursework. As you might expect, cheating and plagiarism are explicitly prohibited. Any dishonesty, though, is likely to get you into trouble.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your behavior outside of class is under just as much scrutiny as your academic conduct, if not more. The Boston College Student Code focuses on your general campus behavior, things like theft, disorderly conduct, hazing, and underage drinking.
- Sexual Misconduct: These are among the most serious offenses a college student can be charged with committing. Under Title IX, a federal law, BC is required to investigate all credible allegations and is encouraged to issue serious sanctions. The minimum penalty for those found Responsible for (guilty of) sexual misconduct is usually suspension.
Keep in mind that no matter what offense you are charged with committing, your future is on the line. It doesn't matter if you've been accused of failing to cite a source, and the penalty you're facing is nothing more than a warning. If that warning should appear on your permanent record, it can cost you your shot at medical school.
No matter what the allegation, you must take it seriously. That means defending yourself, but you don't want to try to do that on your own. Judicial processes and procedures can be confusing and difficult to navigate. Having a Lento Law Firm attorney by your side vastly improves your chances of keeping your record clean.
Misconduct Procedures
Just what are Boston College's misconduct procedures like? That can depend on the specific nature of the charges against you. In general, though, here's what you can expect:
- Anyone can accuse you of an offense—faculty, staff, other students, university administrators—but the university will not proceed unless the accusations are both credible and actionable.
- If you are officially charged, BC will issue you a written Notice of the Charges. This notice should explain the allegations and provide you with a complete list of your due process rights.
- Among your rights, you are allowed to choose an advisor, and that advisor can be an attorney. Your Lento Law Firm attorney cannot speak for you during the investigation and hearing. They can be on hand, though, to help you answer questions and to make sure you're treated fairly.
- As part of the investigative process, investigators will ask you to give your side of the story. Of course, they'll also speak to the Complainant (your accuser) and any witnesses to the incident. In addition, they'll gather relevant physical evidence.
- Ultimately, investigators submit a record of their findings. This serves as the foundation for the next phase of the case, a formal hearing.
- At the hearing, you'll offer arguments for your innocence to one or more trained decision-makers. You may introduce evidence and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions for any witnesses against you.
- Once the hearing is complete, decision-makers deliberate as to your guilt or innocence ("Responsibility"). In doing so, they employ a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence." In simple terms, they must find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced that you committed an offense. Note that this is a much lower standard than "beyond a reasonable doubt."
- Should you lose your hearing, you can appeal. However, grounds for appeal are strictly limited. You must be able to show either that some procedural error occurred significant enough to have altered the hearing outcome, or you must present new evidence that wasn't available at the time of the hearing.
While this general outline applies to all cases, specific procedures can differ based on exactly what charges you're facing. For example, in Title IX sexual misconduct cases, both sides are allowed to question one another. These kinds of differences can significantly affect how you prepare your defense. You can count on your Lento Law Firm attorney, though, to be familiar with all Boston College processes. They'll make sure you're fully prepared for whatever you might face. They'll make sure you're clear on your rights, and they'll help you use those rights to your very best advantage.
Fighting for Your Future
Fighting a misconduct charge is never an easy proposition for anyone. As a pre-med student, though, you face special challenges. Beyond the complexities of the Boston College judicial system, you have to worry about whether sanctions are recorded on your record. You have to worry about who might find out about the allegations and whether those allegations might interfere with med school recommendation letters, even if they are proven false. You have to keep a close watch on social media and make sure your reputation doesn't suffer online. It's an enormous amount of work to have to deal with on your own.
That's why the minute you suspect you might be in trouble, it's vital that you contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. We can negotiate with faculty and administrators if that's what's called for, but we can also be fierce in defending our clients.
Let us help you fight for your academic future. To find out more, contact the firm today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.
