College can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. It's a chance to make friends, establish your independence, and figure out who it is you want to be. Nothing worthwhile is easy, though. It takes a lot of hard work and discipline to earn a degree. In fact, Georgia State dismisses dozens of students every year, and not just for low grades. You can also be dismissed for things like cheating, stalking, or bringing a weapon onto school grounds.
How do you make it to the finish line? What does it take to stay out of trouble?
- First, you need to know what “trouble” means at GSU. What are the dismissible offenses, and how can you avoid committing any?
- Next, you find out all you can about how to defend yourself. The fact is, sometimes you can wind up in trouble despite your best efforts. How do the school's judicial procedures work?
- Finally, and most importantly, you make sure you know how to get help if you need it. Taking on your school is never an easy task, and if you're facing dismissal, it can feel like climbing Mt. Everest. Luckily, you don't have to do it alone. The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team is on your side and ready to help no matter what problem you might be facing.
Reasons for Dismissal at Georgia State University
First things first: what are the mistakes you have to avoid at Georgia State, the mistakes so bad they can ruin your college career?
- Academic Deficiencies: It probably won't surprise you to learn that you have to keep your grades up at GSU. After all, you came here to be a student, and that has to be your first priority. According to the school's Scholastic Discipline Policy, you must maintain a 2.0 to remain in good standing. Otherwise, you risk academic probation or worse—dismissal.
- Academic Misconduct: While you're keeping your GPA up, you want to make sure you're doing it honestly. As at other colleges and universities, things like cheating and plagiarism are expressly forbidden by Georgia State's Policy on Academic Honesty. A first offense probably won't get you expelled. A second offense very well could, though.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Outside the classroom, your behavior is governed by Georgia State's Code of Conduct. This document deals with things like theft, trespassing, and vandalism. Any rule violation could potentially result in dismissal. Some, like hazing and assault, almost always result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Perhaps the most serious offense you can commit as a college student is sexual misconduct. Such offenses aren't just contrary to school policy but, under Title IX, against federal law. Suspension is usually the minimum penalty for such an offense; dismissal is the most likely penalty.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
The good news is, you can mount a defense to misconduct charges at Georgia State University. The bad news is, the process can be difficult to navigate. Here's a rough outline of how most cases unfold.
- Someone lodges a complaint against you for violating university policy. The school must then decide whether or not that complaint is credible.
- If the school proceeds with the case, you'll be notified, given specifics about the allegation, and apprised of your due process rights.
- Investigators typically begin by interviewing both parties. In addition, they will collect any physical evidence and speak with potential witnesses.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a written report detailing their findings. Both sides have an opportunity to review this document and raise any questions about it.
- · The school then selects a time and date for a hearing and appoints a hearing panel to preside over it.
- At the hearing, both sides have the opportunity to make their cases. You can make arguments, submit evidence, and call witnesses. You may also ask questions of any witnesses against you.
- At the conclusion of the hearing, the panel determines whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) an offense, and assigns sanctions as necessary. The standard of Responsibility is “preponderance of the evidence.” This means, you're Responsible if the panel believes you “more likely than not” committed the violation.
- You have the right to appeal the hearing outcome under certain conditions. These include the discovery of new evidence, an allegation of procedural error, or a claim that the outcome does not fit the evidence. Otherwise, the outcome is final.
These rules and procedures can be difficult in and of themselves, but you should know that cases can differ in small but important ways depending on the specific charges. For instance, in a Title sexual misconduct case, you and the Complainant have the right to cross-examine one another, a right you don't have in other kinds of cases.
Whatever the charges against you, though, you can trust our Student Defense Team to guide you through the process from the moment you're charged until your last appeal is exhausted. They've represented hundreds of students and have experience with every kind of accusation, from simple plagiarism to sexual assault and rape.
Academic Dismissals
Academic dismissals don't typically work like misconduct dismissals. For one thing, there are no investigations, no hearings, and no appeals. If you feel your instructor has mistreated you, you can file a grievance petition, and that gets reviewed by your instructor's department head and, if necessary, the Vice President for Academic Affairs. In most cases, though, your grades are your grades, and Georgia State doesn't regard them as open to debate.
That doesn't mean you must just accept dismissal in these cases. Our team knows how to use the GSU system to your advantage, and to protect your academic career no matter what problems may arise. For example.
- If you find yourself struggling to pass all your courses, you should consider meeting with Disability Services. A learning disability could be grounds to drop low course grades and retake those same courses with accommodations in place.
- If your low grades are the result of extenuating circumstances—an illness, for instance, or a family emergency, you can appeal directly to your college or school's dean for more time to improve.
- Some faculty are open to assigning extra credit or makeup assignments, especially to students with borderline grades.
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 our team can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
