It doesn't matter where you go to school; college is tough. It's not just about keeping your grades up, though that's certainly important. Schools like Fort Hays State (FHSU) have strict rules and regulations that cover everything from where you park your car to how you cite sources, and they can sometimes be draconian when it comes to issuing sanctions. The fact is that FHSU dismisses dozens of students every year.
If you've been charged with a serious offense, you can't afford to try and deal with it yourself. Administrative and judicial processes can be confusing, and there's simply too much at stake. Trust the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm to handle the situation for you. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights, and no law firm in the country is better equipped to get you the justice you deserve.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and fill out an online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from Fort Hays State University
As we mentioned, there is a long list of academic and disciplinary rules to follow at FHSU. It's easy to get them all confused. We can help, though. It turns out there are only four basic categories of offense. Know these, and it's a lot easier to avoid getting into trouble.
- Academic Deficiencies: You came to FHSU to learn, and to make sure you're doing that, the university maintains an academic standing policy. One low grade or two isn't going to put your career in jeopardy. If you struggle consistently, though, you can eventually reach the point of dismissal.
- Academic Misconduct: You can also be dismissed for classroom dishonesty. The academic misconduct policy mentions cheating and plagiarism specifically, but anything that might tend to give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework qualifies as misconduct. As with the academic standing policy, one mistake isn't enough to get you expelled. Get caught for a second offense, though, and expulsion is a real possibility.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: FHSU isn't just a school; it's a community. Like any community, it maintains rules about how its members behave. The Student Code of Conduct deals with underage drinking, weapons possession, drug use, and a number of other types of misconduct. In this case, any violation can result in dismissal, even a first offense, if it is serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, you must also be cognizant of FHSU's sexual misconduct policy. This policy is required by federal law (Title IX) and sets serious penalties for violation. The minimum sanction is usually suspension, but dismissal is the more likely result.
Misconduct Defenses
While there are a lot of rules to worry about at FHSU, the university cannot dismiss you without proof of a violation. If you've been accused of misconduct, for instance, you're presumed “Not Responsible” (innocent) until proven “Responsible” (guilty), and the FHSU must follow strict processes for doing so. Along the way, you have a number of due process rights to protect you.
- While anyone at the university can accuse you, the university must believe the accusations are credible and actionable before making a formal charge.
- The university must tell you that you're under investigation. You can expect Notice of the Charges. That notice must describe the allegations, identify your accuser, and apprise you of your rights.
- One of your most important rights is the right to have someone help you, and there are no limits on your choice. That means the Lento Law Firm attorney can be on hand from the moment you're charged to help you navigate the process. We cannot speak for you, but we can offer advice on what you should say.
- The university then conducts an investigation. Here, you have the right to give your side of the story, to submit evidence, and to suggest witnesses for investigators to interview. Of course, the other side has this same right.
- Once investigators have completed their work, they submit a summary of their findings. This summary becomes the foundation of the hearing, but you have the right to review this summary and, in some cases, to raise objections about what's in it.
- The university appoints one or more trained, unbiased decision-makers to preside over the hearing.
- You are allowed to make your entire case before these decision-makers, including arguments, evidence, and witness testimony. You also have the right to raise questions for the other side's witnesses.
- Decision-makers use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to make their decisions. Less strict than “beyond a reasonable doubt,” this standard requires they find you guilty if they are more than fifty percent convinced you are Responsible.
- Finally, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome, though this right is limited. You must have “grounds” for your appeal, some argument about the fairness of the process. FHSU limits these grounds to
- New evidence not available at the time of the hearing
- “Substantial” procedural errors
- Bias or the appearance of bias on the part of a decision-maker
Keep in mind that this is just a general outline. Actual cases can be incredibly complex and often involve complicated issues like how specific rules are worded or the definition of "consent."
The Lento Law Firm attorney can help you make sense of it all. We understand how campus judicial systems work, and we know how to use all of your rights to help you defend yourself. We're always on your side, and we'll make absolutely sure you get a fair result.
Academic Dismissals
The process used for academic dismissals is considerably different than that used for misconduct dismissals. The university doesn't need to prove you are struggling academically, for instance. Your GPA demonstrates that.
Nevertheless, you aren't simply dismissed the moment your grades fall. There is a process that gives you time to improve. In addition, there are several mechanisms within FSHU's administrative system that can help you avoid the threat of academic dismissal. For example:
- If you've been struggling with extenuating circumstances—a serious illness, for example, or a family emergency—you can petition your school or college dean directly and ask for more time to improve.
- A learning disability can also be grounds for avoiding dismissal. If you should discover you have such a disability, you can ask FHSU to set aside your low grades. Then, you can retake courses with appropriate accommodations to help you succeed.
- You always have the option to ask instructors for extra credit or makeup work. It could be that one extra lab assignment or a paper rewrite is enough to raise your grade and, thus, your GPA.
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.
