If you're in trouble at Georgia Gwinnett College and someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal, it's important you don't panic. Panicking almost always makes things worse. At a minimum, you could wind up damaging your GPA.
It's also true that you have resources at your disposal that you can use to defend yourself.
First, Georgia Gwinnett affords all students due process. In simple terms, that means the school can't simply accuse you of some offense and dismiss you. You're entitled to a presumption of innocence, an investigation, and a hearing. That gives you time and space to build a proper defense.
Second, you're not alone in taking on this fight. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is here to help. We know what the law has to say about students, and we know Georgia Gwinnett's administrative and judicial policies. No matter what you're facing, we're on your side, and ready to use what we know to protect you.
What can we do to help? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Reasons for Dismissal from Georgia Gwinnett College
If dismissal has come up, it likely means you're dealing with one of four problems.
- Academic Deficiencies: You may simply be struggling to get your GPA up. You can be dismissed for low grades. The college's academic standing policy requires most students to maintain a minimum 2.0. If yours falls below that, you face a series of increasingly serious consequences, beginning with probation and ending with dismissal.
- Academic Misconduct: Alternatively, you might stand accused of violating the school's academic integrity policy. That policy prohibits cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of classroom dishonesty. A single offense usually isn't enough to warrant dismissal. If you're facing dismissal, it likely means you've been accused of multiple offenses.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You may be charged with a non-academic offense, like theft. The Student Code of Conduct contains rules against theft, underage drinking, disorderly conduct, and two dozen additional offenses.
- Sexual Misconduct: This type of offense almost always garners dismissal. Sexual misconduct is governed by federal law under Title IX, and universities typically take a no-tolerance approach to enforcement.
Misconduct Defenses
Again, you always have the right to due process. If you've been accused of some form of misconduct, the college must conduct an investigation. It cannot proceed against you without evidence, and you should have the opportunity to refute that evidence in a formal hearing.
- Cases begin when someone lodges a complaint against you either with the Office of Student Integrity or the Title IX Coordinator.
- GGC must issue you notice of any charges against you. This notice should explain the allegations and include a list of your due process rights.
- Among your rights, you are entitled to an advisor, and you can choose an attorney to serve in this capacity. Your Lento Law Firm attorney cannot speak on your behalf, but they can accompany you to meetings and proceedings to help you answer questions and present your case.
- You can expect some type of investigation. Even in academic misconduct cases, instructors must have evidence to support their allegations. You have the right to give your side of the story. Further, you can submit evidence and suggest witnesses for investigators to interview.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a written report of their findings. You have the right to review this report. It then becomes the foundation for the hearing that follows.
- Hearings take place before one or more decision-makers. Both sides make their arguments using physical evidence and witness testimony. In addition, both sides have a right to raise questions for witnesses testifying against them.
- Ultimately, decision-makers decide the case based on the "preponderance of evidence" legal standard. You're guilty if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed an offense. Otherwise, you are Not Responsible.
- You can appeal a Responsible finding, but you must have grounds to do so. Grounds have to do with fairness, issues like whether or not the college followed its own procedural rules, whether or not you received a just sanction and the discovery of new evidence.
Again, there are three different categories of misconduct charges. These procedures apply to all of them, but cases do differ depending on the exact nature of the charges. Title IX sexual misconduct rules, for instance, are set by the federal government. Those rules state that both the Respondent and the Complainant may cross-examine one another. A difference like this can radically change how you prepare your defense.
Your Lento Law Firm attorney knows exactly what to expect, though, in every situation. They're well-versed in all GGC policies. They'll not only guide you through the system but show you how to use the system to protect yourself.
Dealing With Academic Dismissal
Due process means something different when it comes to academic dismissals. These are entirely based on your GPA, and there's no need for an investigation or hearing to establish what that is. The "process" involves changes in your academic standing. That is, you're not dismissed the moment you fail a class. When your GPA falls low enough, you're placed on probation. If it keeps falling, you can wind up dismissed.
In these cases, you aren't defending yourself so much as finding ways to use the college's administrative system to your advantage. Your Lento Law Firm attorney can show you how to do that. For example,
- If you've been dealing with extenuating circumstances—a serious bout of depression, for instance, or a long-term illness—you can petition the Dean of Students directly for additional time to improve.
- Low grades can be a sign of a learning disability. You are entitled to testing from Disability Services and to classroom accommodations if you need them. You can also request the college drop low grades from your transcript and allow you to retake courses for replacement credit.
- One of the easiest ways to deal with a sagging GPA is to ask instructors for makeup and extra credit assignments. Often, an extra lab or a paper rewrite can be enough to keep you out of academic 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 college, 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.
