Colleges in Alabama all have a code of conduct that they expect students to follow. If they do not follow those rules, students can face a disciplinary violation. Contrary to popular belief, though, these violations are not small matters. They can drastically impact your college life, as well as your professional future.
Having a lawyer serving as your advisor throughout the disciplinary process can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case, and can help you protect your interests and future.
Codes of Conduct and Disciplinary Violations
There are a handful of acts that every school in Alabama frowns upon, so even though each college in the state has its own code of conduct, there are several similarities that go past an individual university. These form a small group of common disciplinary violations, some of which can be quite severe.
Sexual Misconduct
Perhaps the most severe disciplinary violation that you can be accused of committing is sexual misconduct. This encapsulates a lot of different kinds of acts, including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and even stalking.
Unfortunately, if you are alleged to have committed sexual misconduct, it can trigger more than just your college's code of conduct. It can also implicate the federal anti-discrimination law, Title IX. Title IX ties a school's federal funding to how rigorously it enforces its code of conduct's provisions against sexual discrimination, so you can expect your college to come down hard on your to preserve its funding.
Hazing and Endangering Other Students
Initiating new recruits into a student organization, sports team, or fraternity is an integral part of campus culture and the college experience. However, recent events have put these procedures into a harsh light, and colleges in Alabama have been forced to tighten its rules and regulations against hazing to prohibit conduct that demeans or endangers other students. The disciplinary violation that this can entail if you were behind an initiation process that stepped over the line, can be significant.
Academic Misconduct in Alabama
Academic misconduct is a code of conduct violation that can happen in a huge variety of ways, from plagiarizing someone else's work or ideas, to cheating on a test, to paying someone else to take an exam for you, to forging your transcript. Each one of these can lead to a serious disciplinary violation that can even end with expulsion from school.
Underage Drinking
Likely the most common disciplinary violation in the state of Alabama, a disciplinary violation for underage drinking is not a trivial matter. Not only can it force you to live off campus and strain your ability to stay in school; the blemish it can put on your academic record can be seen by potential employers even after you graduate.
Alabama's Disciplinary Violation Advisor
Joseph D. Lento is a student discipline defense lawyer who you can hire to serve as your disciplinary violation advisor. With his help and input, you can rest assured that you are protecting your rights and your future. Contact him online or by phone at 888-535-3686.
Alabama colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's disciplinary violation advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Alabama A & M University
- Alabama Southern Community College
- Alabama State University
- Amridge University
- Auburn University
- Auburn University at Montgomery
- Bevill State Community College
- Birmingham Southern College
- Bishop State Community College
- Brown Mackie College Birmingham
- Central Alabama Community College
- Chattahoochee Valley Community College
- Columbia Southern University
- Concordia College Selma
- Enterprise State Community College
- Faulkner University
- Fortis College Mobile
- Fortis College Montgomery
- Gadsden State Community College
- George C Wallace State Community College Dothan
- George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville
- George C Wallace State Community College Selma
- H Councill Trenholm State Technical College
- Heritage Christian University
- Herzing University Birmingham
- Huntingdon College
- Huntsville Bible College
- ITT Technical Institute Bessemer
- ITT Technical Institute Madison
- ITT Technical Institute Mobile
- J F Drake State Technical College
- Jacksonville State University
- James H Faulkner State Community College
- Jefferson Davis Community College
- Jefferson State Community College
- John C Calhoun State Community College
- Judson College
- Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus
- Lurleen B Wallace Community College
- Marion Military Institute
- Miles College
- Northeast Alabama Community College
- Northwest Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals
- Oakwood University
- Prince Institute of Professional Studies Inc
- Reid State Technical College
- Remington College Mobile Campus
- Samford University
- Selma University
- Shelton State Community College
- Snead State Community College
- South University Montgomery
- Southeastern Bible College
- Southern Union State Community College
- Spring Hill College
- Stillman College
- Talladega College
- The University of Alabama
- Tri State Institute
- Troy University
- Tuskegee University
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Alabama at Huntsville
- University of Mobile
- University of Montevallo
- University of North Alabama
- University of Phoenix Birmingham Campus
- University of South Alabama
- University of West Alabama
- Virginia College Birmingham
- Virginia College Huntsville
- Virginia College Mobile
- Virginia College Montgomery
College disciplinary violations can impact an accused student's life if not defended against properly and as early as possible during the disciplinary process, and Joseph D. Lento has a decade of experience passionately fighting for the future of his clients at colleges and universities throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead, prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a student advisor and educational consultant to students facing disciplinary cases in Alabama and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact student defense attorney Joseph D. Lento today.