If you're facing dismissal at Cal State, Sacramento, you need answers, and you need them now. In particular,
- You need to know exactly what you've been charged with doing wrong. Only when you know what you're accused of can you hope to build an adequate defense.
- You need to know how the CSS judicial process works. Will there be an investigation? Will you have the opportunity to defend yourself at a hearing? Who gets to decide whether you're “guilty” or “innocent”?
You'll find answers below. Before you get into those, though, you need to know that you don't have to go through this situation all on your own. A dismissal defense can be a complicated matter, and everything is on the line. You need someone to help you—someone to work with you to collect evidence, to accompany you to meetings and proceedings, to make sure your rights are protected. You need the Lento Law Firm on your side.
Reasons for Dismissal at Cal State, Sacramento
Defending yourself starts with knowing the rules. There are actually dozens of rules at CSS, but for the most part, they can be divided into four simple categories.
- Academic Deficiencies: Probably the most obvious reason for dismissal at CSS is simply failing to keep your GPA up. A low grade here or there is nothing to worry about, but consistently low grades can get you placed on Academic Probation, and should you continue to struggle, dismissal is a real possibility.
- Academic Misconduct: Your conduct at Cal State, Sacramento, is always under scrutiny. That begins with your academic conduct. The school's Academic Dishonesty policy prohibits anything that might potentially gain you an unfair advantage in the classroom. That includes plagiarism and it includes all forms of cheating. Here again, a single mistake probably isn't enough to get you dismissed. Multiple offenses are subject to dismissal, though.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Beyond the classroom, your behavior is governed by the school's Student Code of Conduct. That Code deals with things like trespassing, underage drinking, and weapons possession. Any violation can theoretically result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are almost always punished with dismissal. Under Title IX, the federal government requires all colleges and universities to investigate all credible allegations, and CSS takes its responsibilities seriously.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
Knowing the various charges at Cal State Sacramento is a good start to defending yourself, but you also need to know how the judicial process works. If you're dealing with any form of misconduct, here's what you can expect.
- Most cases begin when an accuser (a Complainant) lodges a Complaint against you (the Respondent). The school's first action is then to determine whether that Complaint is “credible.”
- If CSS opens an investigation into the Complaint, you're entitled to Notice of the Charges. This notice provides details of the allegation important to building your defense, as well as a list of your due process rights.
- Among your rights, you have the right to choose an advisor to help you with your case, and this advisor can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm can accompany you to meetings and proceedings from the very moment you are charged.
- As part of the investigation, you can expect investigators to meet separately with both you and the Complainant. In addition, they interview potential witnesses and collect any physical evidence.
- Ultimately, investigators submit a report detailing all their findings. The school then sets a time and date for an official hearing and appoints one or more Decision Makers to oversee this hearing.
- The hearing offers you an opportunity to make your full case. You can offer arguments, present evidence, and call witnesses to testify. Additionally, you have the right to ask questions of any witnesses testifying against you.
- At the conclusion of the hearing, Decision Makers use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to determine whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) a violation. Basically, this standard requires them to find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt. That is a much lower standard than “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
- Finally, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome if
- You should discover new evidence relevant to your case
- You can point to a procedural error that affected the case
- You claim the outcome isn't supported by “substantial evidence”
- You claim the sanction is disproportionate to the offense
It's important you understand that judicial procedures can differ depending on the nature of your charges. In Title IX sexual misconduct cases, for example, all cross-examination must be conducted by advisors. In other types of cases, Decision Makers ask the questions.
No matter what your charge, though, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm have the background and experience to guide you through the process. They're familiar with laws such as Title IX, but they also have an intimate understanding of how Cal State Sacramento's own judicial rules operate.
Academic Dismissals
Dismissals for academic deficiencies don't work like dismissals for misconduct. You have far fewer rights, for example, in academic cases. There's no investigation; no one is interested in what evidence you might offer of your abilities; you have no right to a hearing. Instead, decisions are based solely on your grade point average.
That doesn't mean you just have to accept an academic dismissal. Here too, the Lento Law Firm knows a number of ways to avoid these decisions. For instance,
- You can try negotiating with your instructors. If, for example, your final exam score was high, you might ask your instructor to use that as your course grade.
- If your low grades are the result of extenuating circumstances, like a serious illness, you can ask your school or college dean to set aside dismissal and give you more time to improve.
- Any classroom mistreatment can be grounds for a grade revision, and that could raise your GPA high enough to avoid dismissal. You should report any unfair treatment to the instructor's department head.
As with misconduct cases, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm have helped hundreds of students to raise their GPA and avoid dismissal. They can help you come up with a plan to get your academics back on track and will work with you to put that plan into action.
- Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you probably 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.
You need someone watching over your shoulder, making certain you're treated fairly and that you get the justice you deserve.
The Lento Law Firm was built on helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. 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 exactly what they can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
