You got into Binghamton University SUNY. Great. You should know, though, that getting in doesn't guarantee you'll graduate. You have to keep your grades up; you have to maintain the highest standards of personal conduct and professionalism; and the slightest misstep can put all your hard work in jeopardy. In fact, Binghamton University dismisses dozens of students every year for everything from low GPAs to plagiarism, trespass, and stalking.
How do you protect yourself from becoming one of them? First, you find out exactly what the rules are and how to avoid making mistakes. Next, you research Binghamton's judicial processes and procedures, so you'll know how to defend yourself if, despite your best efforts, trouble should come looking for you.
Most importantly, though, you learn how to get help when you need it. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have years of experience defending student clients from all types of charges. They know the law, and they know how your school operates. You should always fight dismissal—after all, what have you got to lose? Taking on your university is no easy task, though, and it's not one you should ever take on by yourself.
Reasons for Dismissal at Binghamton University SUNY
If you want to avoid dismissal, you need to know exactly what can get you dismissed. It turns out that's a long list. To simplify things, we've grouped all those reasons into four basic categories.
- Academic Performance: A student's job is to learn. When you're not doing that, the school can take action to remove you. According to Binghmaton's academic standing policy, you must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Should you fall below that standard, you risk probation. Should you continue to struggle while on probation, you can be dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: You can also be dismissed for taking shortcuts to get your degree. Binghamton's Academic Honesty Code specifically prohibits cheating, plagiarism, forgery, bribery, sabotage, multiple submissions, unauthorized collaboration, and fabrication, but any action that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework is a violation. Repeated and serious violations can get you dismissed.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You can also be dismissed for conduct that occurs outside the classroom. The Student Code of Conduct contains a long list of potential violations, everything from disorderly conduct to hazing. Any of these can potentially get you expelled.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexual misconduct is almost always punished with expulsion. Such allegations are among the most serious charges a university student can face. They are also a matter not just of school policy but of federal law (Title IX).
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
Knowing how to stay out of trouble is a good first step to avoiding dismissal. You can't always predict when you might be charged with misconduct, though, even if you're entirely innocent. As a result, it's always a good idea to know exactly how your school's judicial processes work so you'll have some sense of how to defend yourself.
Procedures differ somewhat based on the specific charge. Academic misconduct, for example, is handled by your school or college academic honesty committee; disciplinary misconduct is handled by the Office of Student Conduct; Title IX allegations are handled by the university's designated Title IX Coordinator. However, all cases follow the same general outline.
- Most cases begin with an allegation made by a Complainant, or accuser. The accused student is referred to as the Respondent.
- The appropriate office then initiates an investigation. You can expect that the Investigator will interview you and give you an opportunity to give your side of the story. The Complainant will have the same opportunity. In addition, the investigator will gather any physical evidence and talk to any potential witnesses.
- Throughout the process, you have the right to be accompanied by an advisor of your choice. In other words, this advisor can be an attorney. However, your advisor does not represent you. They are simply present in an advisory capacity and may not participate in proceedings directly.
- Following the investigation, you'll have a chance to defend yourself formally at a full hearing. You may make arguments, submit evidence, and suggest witnesses to be called. In addition, you may ask questions of witnesses, either through the hearing panel (academic and disciplinary misconduct cases) or through your advisor (Title IX cases)
- Once both sides have made their cases, the hearing panel deliberates as to your level of Responsibility (guilt). They don't use the typical “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard, but instead a lesser known standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” In simple terms, they must find you Responsible if they believe you “more likely than not” committed an offense.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but only under very specific conditions, including the discovery of new evidence, procedural irregularities, and disproportionate sanctions.
Academic Dismissal Cases
So far, we haven't mentioned how to deal with dismissals for academic causes. That's because they can often be much trickier than dealing with misconduct cases. For instance, there's no formal process for defending yourself from this type of dismissal. There's no investigation, and there's no hearing. Instead, your GPA is all the evidence the school feels it needs to dismiss you.
The good news is that you don't have to just accept this outcome. There are a number of informal ways to respond to the threat of academic dismissal. For example, if your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, like a family emergency, you can try appealing directly to the dean of your school or college. Or, you can try negotiating with your instructors for higher grades. Many are open to compelling arguments. For instance, maybe your final exam score demonstrates you mastered the course material better than your course grade suggests.
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team know all the options available to you. They've dealt with every possible situation, and they know exactly which strategies will work and which won't. They can help you put together a plan tailored to your specific needs that gives you the best possible chance at success.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you should have a clear sense of why you need the help of an attorney-advisor to fight dismissal decisions. Campus judicial procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and the full weight of your school will likely be against you. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line. You know what happens to people who go into the workforce with no college degree.
You need someone watching over your shoulder, making certain you're treated fairly and that you get the justice you deserve.
The Joseph D. Lento law firm was built on helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have dealt with every sort of charge. They know how to negotiate with faculty and administrators; they know how to interview witnesses; they know how to put together water-tight appeals. To find out more about what Joseph D. Lento and his Team can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
