Colleges and universities take their jobs pretty seriously these days. Maybe too seriously. It's not just about grades either, though GPA standards get higher every year. There's perhaps nowhere in the country that's monitored more closely than a university campus. There are rules about everything, and the slightest infraction can lead to dismissal.
How do you protect yourself and make sure you make it to graduation?
- First, you find out everything there is to know about the rules at Columbia Southern. Make sure you know exactly what can get you into trouble.
- Then, you find out all you can about how to defend yourself. You can never tell when, despite your best efforts, you might find yourself in trouble.
- Finally, you make sure you know how to get help. It never makes sense to accept dismissal. You're always better off fighting for your academic future. Taking on a university is a daunting task, though, and it's not one should ever try to take on alone.
The moment you run into trouble, you need to call the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team has helped hundreds of students get the justice they deserve. We've dealt with every type of problem, from low grades to stalking to cheating scandals. We know the law, and we know the process. To find out more, call 888-535-3686 or take a few minutes right now and fill out our online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from Columbia Southern University
First, let's talk about just what can get you dismissed from Columbia Southern. It turns out that's a very long list, too long to include here. What we can tell you, though, is the four major categories of offense. Know these, and you should have a pretty good idea of what to avoid.
- Poor Academic Performance: Obviously, CSU expects you to perform to academic standards. What are those standards, though? As the Undergraduate Catalog notes, anything below a 2.0 GPA can wind up on Academic Probation. Continue to struggle while on Probation, and the consequences get more serious, including the possibility of outright dismissal.
- Academic Misconduct: Are you stressed about keeping your grades up and avoiding an academic dismissal? You might be tempted to take a few shortcuts—cheat on exams, maybe, or plagiarize parts of a paper. The thing is, academic misconduct can get you dismissed as quickly as a low GPA. The Catalog also contains a strict Integrity Policy. One offense probably isn't enough to get you dismissed. If you're caught cheating twice, though, dismissal is the usual punishment.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: CSU also keeps a close eye on your general campus conduct. The Code of Conduct has rules about everything from underage drinking to trespassing to hazing. Any offense can result in dismissal, even a first offense, if the violation is serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: The Code of Conduct contains a special section on sexual misconduct. These offenses aren't just violations of school policy. Under Title IX, they are prohibited by federal law. Schools are required to investigate all credible complaints and are encouraged to utilize harsh penalties. The most common sanction in these cases is dismissal.
Misconduct Procedures
Columbia Southern offers very few due process protections compared to other universities. For example, if an instructor accuses you of cheating or plagiarism, there's little you can do to challenge that decision other than to file a formal grievance against the school. Once you've filed a grievance, a panel meets to review the case. That panel
holds a hearing at which you are invited to give your "perspective" on the situation. However, CSU policy makes no mention of your right to call witnesses or to be accompanied by an advisor.
The process for disciplinary misconduct is similar. If you've been accused of an offense, the university conducts an investigation, and a committee determines whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) that offense. However, you are not invited to address the committee. After the fact, you may file a grievance should you disagree with the committee's decision.
Only in Title IX sexual misconduct cases are you entitled to defend yourself at a full hearing. In these cases, the process is mandated by the federal government. That means you may present evidence, call witnesses to testify, and cross-examine any witnesses against you. In addition, you may be accompanied by an advisor, and that advisor can be an attorney.
Whether or not your Lento Law Firm attorney can attend official proceedings, they're a crucial element in building your overall defense. Your attorney will work with you to come up with a defense strategy; they'll help you to track down and organize evidence; they'll draft any necessary documents; they'll coach you on how to respond to questioning. Most important of all, though, your Lento Law Firm attorney's first job is to make sure CSU doesn't violate your rights.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Academic dismissal cases are quite different from misconduct dismissal cases. For example, there's usually no need for an investigation since decisions are based almost exclusively on your GPA.
Nevertheless, the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team can help in these situations as well. We know a number of useful strategies for keeping your GPA up and avoiding sanctions.
- If your academic deficiencies were caused by extenuating circumstances, you can petition the dean of your school or college for more time to improve.
- If you should discover you have an undiagnosed learning disability, you can request the university drop low grades from your transcript and allow you to retake those courses with appropriate accommodations in place.
- Sometimes, raising your GPA can be as simple as asking an instructor for extra credit or makeup assignments. If your grade is borderline, a paper rewrite might be enough to keep you out of trouble.
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.
