If you're in trouble at Cal State Dominguez Hills and someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal, you need to know that you can't transfer your way out of this situation. Dismissal in and of itself is serious in that it means the end of your time at CSUDH, the end of your progress toward your degree. Dismissal also includes a transcript notation about the nature of your offense, though, and in almost every situation, that means the end of your shot at a college degree. Colleges and universities just aren't anxious to let in students who have already been dismissed elsewhere. You're almost certainly heading out onto the job market with no diploma at all.
With that much at stake, you can't afford to try to take on your university alone. You need the best help you can get—someone who knows the law, someone who understands CSUDH administrative and judicial processes, and someone with experience representing students in dismissal cases. You need someone from the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team.
We can help salvage your academic career, but first, you have to contact us. Call 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and fill out an online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from Cal State Dominguez Hills
CSUDH can't dismiss you without cause. If you're in trouble serious enough to warrant dismissal, it likely means you've been charged with one of the following four offenses.
- Academic Deficiencies: It could be that your GPA has simply fallen too low to continue at the university. This doesn't happen overnight. The first consequence for low grades is "academic notice." If you continue to struggle while on notice, though, you can also be dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: The fear of academic dismissal can be so powerful it leads some students to take shortcuts. However, academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarism can result in dismissal as quickly as low grades. Here again, a single offense probably isn't enough to put your spot at CSUDH in jeopardy, but a second offense is.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Students don't always realize that a general campus offense can actually get you into more trouble than an academic offense. If you're found Responsible for (guilty of) an offense like hazing, assault, theft, or drug possession, dismissal is definitely on the table.
- Sexual Misconduct: Dismissal isn't just on the table when it comes to sexual misconduct. Under Title IX, the federal government requires schools to police sexual discrimination and harassment and encourages the use of harsh sanctions. As a result, dismissal is actually the most common penalty in such cases.
Just because you've been charged with an offense doesn't mean you're guilty of committing it. Even if you have made a mistake, it doesn't mean you deserve to be dismissed. It's always in your best interest to fight allegations. The Lento Law Firm is here to help you do that.
Misconduct Defenses
Let's start with how to fight a misconduct allegation.
- Cases typically begin with a complaint. Anyone may file a complaint against you, including instructors, staff, administrators, and other students. The university must decide that the charges are credible and actionable, however, before proceeding.
- If CSUDH does decide to issue formal charges, it must provide you with written notice of those charges. That notice should identify your accuser and include details of the allegations. It should also contain a complete list of your several due process rights, including the right to be presumed "Not Responsible" (innocent) and the right to review all evidence against you.
- The university then conducts some form of investigation. An academic investigation can be as simple as gathering examples of your coursework. On the other hand, a Title IX sexual misconduct investigation can take several months and involve witness interviews and physical evidence such as texts, sign-in logs, and even clothing. In any case, investigators should give you the opportunity to give your side of the story.
- Ultimately, investigators are tasked with compiling their findings into a written report, which they then submit to the university. At this point, the university sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more trained decision-makers to preside over the case.
- A CSUDH hearing resembles a court case in that both sides have an opportunity to present arguments, introduce evidence, call witnesses to testify, and cross-examine witnesses.
- Likewise, at the end of the hearing, decision-makers deliberate as to your level of Responsibility (guilt). Unlike an actual court case, though, decision-makers don't have to find you guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Instead, they employ a lesser standard of evidence known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, you are guilty if decision-makers believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed the offense.
- Your final right as the accused is the right to appeal the hearing outcome. This right is not universal, however. You must have “grounds” for appeal. At CSUDH, possible grounds include
- A result that is not supported by the evidence
- The discovery of new evidence
- A procedural error in the case
- A sanction that is disproportionate to the nature of the offense
Finally, you should know that cases can differ from one another depending on the nature of the offense. Those differences can extend to whether or not you have the right to an attorney. In no case can an attorney speak for you. You must present your own defense. However, in some instances, a Lento Law Firm attorney can accompany you to meetings and hearings, observe, and offer advice.
Whether or not your Lento Law Firm attorney can sit beside you at hearings, though, is far less important than the help they can provide you in preparing your case. Your attorney will help you to come up with a strong defense strategy, and they'll work with you to refine your arguments. They'll help you to collect and organize evidence and suggest questions for witnesses. They'll even help you put your presentation together and give you practice in making your case. Most important of all, though, your attorney will monitor everything that happens and ensure you are treated fairly.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Fighting an academic dismissal can be a bit trickier than fighting a misconduct dismissal. The university doesn't have to prove you're struggling academically. It has your GPA to prove that fact.
That doesn't mean you should simply accept such dismissals. An academic dismissal can end your university career as quickly as a misconduct dismissal, and your Lento Law Firm attorney can suggest a number of strategies for avoiding the worst academic sanctions. For instance,
- Your academic deficiencies could be the result of extenuating circumstances. If you've been dealing with a family crisis, for instance, or a long-term illness, your attorney can help you file an appeal with the dean of your school or college for more time to improve.
- Learning disabilities can also be a common cause for low GPA. Your attorney can make sure you are properly tested, and if it turns out you do have such a disability, you can petition the university to drop low grades from your GPA. Then, you can retake those courses once proper accommodations are in place.
- Your attorney may also be able to suggest ways to negotiate with an instructor for a higher grade. If, for instance, your final exam score was especially high, you could try arguing that it should replace your course grade.
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 Lento Law Firm was built to help students. Our Student Defense Team can also 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.
