Title IX law is in constant flux, with new rules and legal challenges continuing to shape how schools, colleges, and other institutions handle sex-based misconduct and discrimination.  Our firm closely monitors these developments and is committed to providing the most current information available. Click here to learn about the current state of Title IX and how we can help if you are facing accusations or other Title IX issues.

Let’s talk frankly about dismissal. If you’re in trouble at Bowling Green (BGSU) and someone has mentioned the possibility you might be dismissed over it, you need to take the situation seriously. Dismissal can be traumatic in and of itself. Keep in mind, though, that it includes a transcript notation about the nature of your dismissal. That could very likely keep you from transferring to another school. You could be heading out onto the job market with no degree whatsoever.

The good news is that BGSU can’t simply dismiss you without giving you a chance to defend yourself. You can and should fight for your future. We can help. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team was created to protect student rights. We’ve handled hundreds of cases for students just like you. We know how Bowling Green operates. We know your rights under the law. And we’ll do everything we can to get you the best possible resolution to your case.

For more information, call 888-535-3686 or take a few minutes right now and fill out our online form.

Reasons for Dismissal from Bowling Green

Avoiding dismissal at Bowling Green starts with knowing the university’s rules and policies. Not only can this help keep you out of trouble, but if you should wind up accused, it’s a starting point for building your defense. You can’t hope to prove your innocence if you don’t know what you’ve been charged with doing.

  • Academic Standing: You’re a student, and that means your first priority is to go to class and study. To make sure you’re doing those things, BGSU maintains an academic standing policy. If your GPA falls low enough, the university issues you a warning or probation. If it continues to fall, you can also be dismissed.
  • Academic Misconduct: Cheating and plagiarism can also be grounds for dismissal. In fact, any sort of academic dishonesty can get you into trouble. First offenses are usually punished with in-course sanctions such as lowered grades. If you’re found Responsible for (guilty of) a second offense, though, it can result in dismissal.
  • Disciplinary Misconduct: Your general campus behavior is governed by yet another policy, the Code of Student Conduct. There, you’ll find rules against things like theft, misuse of computer resources, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. Any violation can potentially lead to dismissal. Some, such as hazing and drug possession, almost always lead to dismissal.
  • Sexual Misconduct: This is another serious offense that often results in dismissal. In fact, sexual misconduct isn’t just counter to school policy but is a violation of federal law. Schools are required to investigate virtually all offenses and are encouraged to institute harsh penalties.

Misconduct Defenses

How you deal with the threat of dismissal depends on the exact nature of the threat. If you’ve been charged with some form of misconduct—academic, disciplinary, or sexual—you’re entitled to an investigation and a hearing. In other words, you have the right to defend yourself. You also have some specific due process rights to protect you during the process.

  • Anyone can file a complaint against you. However, different offices deal with different types of complaints. The academic dean, for instance, handles academic misconduct allegations; disciplinary misconduct is under the purview of the Dean of Students; sexual misconduct is the responsibility of the university’s designated Title IX Coordinator.
  • In any case, you should be notified of the charges against you. That notice should include details of the allegations and a complete list of your due process rights.
  • You can expect some type of investigation. Even in academic misconduct cases, someone should collect examples of your work to help establish the charges. As part of the investigation, you have the right to give your version of events. Investigators may also talk to witnesses.
  • The findings of the investigation serve as the foundation of a hearing.
  • Depending on the charges, hearings may be overseen by a single official, or they may involve a panel of decision-makers.
  • During the hearing, you have the opportunity to make your full case. You may offer arguments, introduce evidence, and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions for any witnesses against you.
  • Decision-makers are required to use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” in rendering their decisions. This standard isn’t as strict as “beyond a reasonable doubt.” They must be convinced, though, that you “more likely than not” committed an offense before they can find you Responsible (guilty).
  • Finally, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome. However, grounds for appeal are limited. You must be able to establish one of the following:
    • A procedural error occurred during the hearing
    • Some new evidence has been discovered that could have a bearing on the case outcome
    • The assigned sanction is clearly disproportionate to the offense.

This basic outline applies to all cases at Bowling Green. However, cases can differ in small but significant ways based on the precise nature of the charges. In addition to the fact that different offices handle different types of cases, you may have more or fewer rights depending on the allegations against you. In Title IX sexual misconduct cases, for example, you have the right to cross-examine your accuser. Other types of cases don’t afford you that opportunity.

No matter what the charges, though, you can be sure that your LLF National Law Firm attorney is familiar with Bowling Green’s processes. They can help you navigate the system effectively and make sure you use all of your rights to your best advantage.

Academic Dismissal Cases

In misconduct cases, facts are in dispute. That’s not true of academic dismissal cases. These cases are based on your GPA, and that is well-established. As a result, you don’t get an investigation, and you don’t get the chance to defend yourself at a hearing.

That doesn’t mean you simply have to accept such dismissals. Your LLF National Law Firm attorney knows ways to handle these kinds of dismissals as well. For instance:

  • BGSU offers an appeals process for students with extenuating circumstances. Your attorney can help you gather evidence of your circumstances and will work with you to draft your appeal.
  • A previously undiagnosed learning disability can be grounds for dropping low grades from your GPA. You can then retake courses for replacement credit. Your LLF National Law Firm attorney can help you get tested and can even work with you to file a GPA petition with the university.
  • You always have the right to ask an instructor for extra credit or makeup work. If you’re nervous about doing this, your LLF National Law Firm attorney can coach you in the fine art of negotiating with professors.

Fighting for Your Future

By this point, it should be abundantly clear why trying to defend yourself from dismissal is always a dangerous proposition. It’s no easy task taking on a university, and the stakes are incredibly high. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone. The LLF National Law Firm was built to help students. Our Student Defense Team can be fierce when it comes to protecting our clients, and we’re not afraid of faculty and administrators.

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.

Ohio

Tell About Your Case

Students Who Claim Disabilities Aren’t Faking It — And By Law They’re Entitled to Accommodations

The popular notion that college and university students are faking disabilities in order to game the system to their advantage is a myth, the Chronicle of Higher Education says. Instead, the real problem is its opposite: students who need disability accommodations are struggling to get them, and that puts them […]

Bad News From College Board? We Can Help!

The College Board has just released the 2026 AP scores, and many students are now trying to figure out how their results fit into their higher-education plans. Checking AP results, however, is not always clear-cut. The College Board may raise concerns about your student’s score or testing conditions, forcing you […]

Department of Justice Sues UCLA: What Does It Mean for Students?

Questions about antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias continue to dog the University of California at Los Angeles. Now, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice is suing UCLA, claiming it doesn’t do enough to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment. Specifically: The DOJ claims UCLA has been out of compliance with […]

Charter Schools vs. Public Schools: Understanding Your Student’s Rights and Due Process

Charter schools operate differently from traditional public schools. As a result, understanding your students’ rights is often challenging. When school administrators push for severe discipline that can alter your student’s academic trajectory, you need a legal team that can help you negotiate with the school and push back. At the […]