You're on a special path at Lehigh University. Not everyone is called to be a doctor, but you care about others and your community. You're also bright and hardworking, or you wouldn't have made it this far.
Just like any other undergraduate, though, you're subject to Lehigh's many rules and regulations. You can be accused of theft, or plagiarism, or stalking just like anyone else. In fact, if anything, you have more to worry about than most students because you have more at stake.
Whether you're a victim of a misunderstanding or you really did make some kind of mistake, you always deserve fair treatment and the very best possible resolution to your case. The LLF Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We don't believe anything should stand in the way of your future, and we're committed to making sure it doesn't. We know the law as it applies to education, and we know how Lehigh's administrative and judicial processes work. We're always on your side and ready to fight to make sure you get justice.
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 Lehigh University
Part of the problem of defending yourself from misconduct charges at Lehigh is that there are simply so many different rules. There are so many, in fact, that we couldn't possibly list them all here. The good news, though, is that almost all of them can be collected into three simple categories. Know these, and you'll have a much easier time keeping yourself out of trouble.
- Academic Misconduct: First up, you're expected to earn your degree honestly. The academic integrity policy explicitly prohibits cheating and plagiarism, but any action that could potentially give you an unfair advantage qualifies as an offense.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You aren't just a premed student at Lehigh. You're also a member of the campus community. As such, you're subject to the university's Student Code of Conduct. That document bars behaviors like trespassing, weapons possession, underage drinking, and violence.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, like all college and university students, you're required to abide by federal Title IX guidelines regarding sexual discrimination and harassment. Sexual misconduct is among the most serious offenses with which any student can be charged, and those found responsible at Lehigh are typically punished with dismissal.
Lehigh doesn't prescribe specific penalties for specific offenses. The university maintains a list of potential sanctions, including warnings, probation, deferred suspension, suspension, expulsion, and degree revocation. However, the sanction attached to your case will depend on the seriousness and context of the allegations.
The fact is, though, that as a premed student, you cannot afford to take any allegation lightly. Even a warning for cheating on an exam can cost you your chance at medical school. You can probably get away with a low grade or two. Most schools understand that we all have academic lapses every once in a while. If you've got a disciplinary black mark on your record, though, you can be sure they'll move on to the next candidate.
You need the very best help you can get. That means contacting the LLF Law Firm's Student Defense Team the very moment you think you might have a problem.
Misconduct Procedures
The good news is that you have some important rights any time you're accused of misconduct. Lehigh can't simply accuse you and slap you with a sanction. You are entitled to be treated as “Not Responsible” until proven “Responsible.” The university must have clear evidence of your guilt, and you must be given the opportunity to respond to that evidence.
- Anyone can lodge a complaint against you at Lehigh—other students, faculty, administrators, staff, and security personnel. However, the university must believe the complaint is credible before pursuing a formal charge.
- If you are charged, you'll receive an official Notice of the Charges. This notice should outline the allegations and explain your due process rights.
- Whatever the charges, the university must conduct some type of investigation. Again, it cannot proceed against you without evidence. As part of this process, you have the right to give your side of the story, to offer up evidence, and to suggest witnesses.
- The length of an investigation can vary. An academic misconduct charge might take a few days to investigate; a sexual misconduct allegation can last for several months. In any case, at the end of the investigation, investigators submit a written summary of their findings. The university then sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over it.
- At the hearing, both sides get to make their case using evidence and witness testimony. In addition, you can raise questions about any evidence against you and cross-examine the other side's witnesses.
- Campus hearings don't use the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard. Instead, decision-makers use a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence." If they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt, they must find you "Responsible" for the offense.
- Finally, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome, but you must have specific "grounds" for your appeal. Lehigh recognizes just three grounds:
- The discovery of new evidence
- A violation of university procedure
- An unfair sanction
Lehigh specifically bars attorneys from most campus judicial proceedings. The LLF Law Firm regards this as a clear violation of your due process rights.
You should know, however, that no one can prevent you from consulting with an attorney, and we can do far more than simply sit beside you during hearings. You can count on your LLF Law Firm attorney to help you uncover evidence, create lines or argument, draft documents, develop questions for witnesses, and prepare your presentation. More important than anything else, we'll make sure you're treated fairly from start to finish.
Fighting for Your Future
Fighting a misconduct charge is never an easy proposition for anyone. As a premed student, though, you face special challenges. Beyond the complexities of the Lehigh University judicial system, you have to worry about whether sanctions appear on your permanent record. Even if you are eventually cleared of wrongdoing, you have to worry about who might find out about the allegations and whether those allegations might interfere with med school recommendation letters. 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 LLF 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.
