You got into Howard University. Congratulations: that's quite an accomplishment in and of itself. It doesn't guarantee success at the school, though. College is tough, no matter where you attend, and Howard has a strong reputation to uphold. It has to take academics and student integrity seriously. It should come as no surprise, then, that the school dismisses dozens of students every year for everything from low grades to disorderly conduct.
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team want to make sure you're not one of them. They believe that a mistake or two shouldn't stand in the way of you earning your degree, and they're ready to do what it takes to ensure you have every opportunity to graduate. Joseph D. Lento and his team know the law, they know how your school works, and they're ready to fight for your rights.
Reasons for Dismissal at the University of Howard University
There are lots of reasons you can be dismissed from Howard: plagiarism, stalking, misusing computers, trespass, theft—any of these are enough to do it. How do you keep up with all the rules and regulations and make sure you don't make a mistake, if only by accident?
Luckily, all of Howard's many restrictions can be grouped into four simple categories.
- Academic Performance: First, Howard holds you responsible for being a student. You don't have to be perfect, but if you can't meet academic standards, you can wind up on probation and ultimately be dismissed from the university entirely.
- Academic Misconduct: Howard also has strict rules that govern your classroom behavior. Cheating and plagiarism are expressly forbidden, but any action that might give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework can get you into trouble. Minor policy violations can get you expelled from a course. Major and repeat violations can get you expelled from the university.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: It's not just your classroom behavior that's under scrutiny at Howard. You're also expected to maintain high standards of personal conduct. The Student Code of Conduct has rules about everything from when and where you can consume alcohol to how you conduct yourself in online forums. Here again, any offense can get you dismissed. Some, like drug possession and assault, almost always lead to dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexual misconduct is another offense that almost always results in dismissal. In fact, this offense is so serious that it's treated separately from the disciplinary misconduct policy, even though it technically belongs under that policy. In addition, you should know that such offenses aren't simply violations of the school conduct code. Under Title IX, they are also violations of federal law.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
There are a lot of rules at Howard University, and that can make being a student there a bit daunting. The good news is you have the right to defend yourself from most charges. That includes all misconduct charges. How you go about doing that can depend on the nature of the specific charges, but the general procedures are essentially the same in all cases.
- Usually, a charge originates with a Complainant or accuser. In college judicial cases, the accused is known as the “Respondent.”
- Once the charge is made, the school undertakes an investigation. This can be simple, as in most academic misconduct cases. It can also be long and involved, as in most sexual misconduct cases. Generally speaking, you have the right to meet with the investigator and give your side of the story. You also have the right to submit physical evidence and recommend witnesses.
- You always have a right to consult with an attorney as you prepare for your case. You also have the right to select an advisor to accompany you to meetings and hearings. Note, however, that you may only choose an attorney as your advisor in sexual misconduct cases.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigator submits a written report of their findings. This then becomes the foundation of a formal hearing.
- The hearing is your opportunity to make arguments, present evidence, and call witnesses.
- Once the hearing is complete, decision-makers deliberate as to your level of “Responsibility” (guilty) in the case.
- Finally, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome in all cases, but grounds for appeal are strictly limited to new evidence, a procedural error, a substantive error, or a disproportionate sanction.
Again, this outline holds true in all misconduct cases. There are some important differences between different types of investigations and hearings, though. For example:
- Decision makers ask all questions in academic and disciplinary misconduct cases. Advisors ask questions in sexual misconduct cases.
- Academic misconduct cases are decided using a legal standard known as “substantial evidence.” This means that the evidence must be enough to convince a reasonable person, even if other reasonable people might disagree. Disciplinary and sexual misconduct cases are decided using a different standard known as “preponderance of evidence.” In these cases, decision-makers must only believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
Joseph D. Lento and the Education Law Team are familiar with all of Howard's judicial procedures and can help you navigate the system no matter what the allegation.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Dismissals for academic cause work a little differently than misconduct dismissals. Generally speaking, they're based on objective criteria—your grade point average, for instance, and the number of credits you complete each semester. As a result, these dismissals aren't normally subject to challenge.
However, there are some ways of handling the threat of academic dismissal. In fact, Howard even has a process for appealing a dismissal immediately so that, if you're successful, you are allowed to continue your studies without pause.
There are less formal approaches to dealing with dismissal as well. Some instructors, for example, are willing to negotiate if you have a strong argument for why you deserve a higher grade. Others are willing to assign extra credit or makeup work to students with borderline grades.
Here again, Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team know all the possibilities. They can help you decide which one is right for you, and they can help you put it into action. The bottom line is that no matter what kind of dismissal you might be facing, Joseph D. Lento will do whatever he can to make sure you're treated fairly and that you get the best possible resolution to your case.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you should 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 be against you. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line. You know what happens to people who go into the workforce with no college degree.
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. Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team have dealt with every sort of charge. 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 what Joseph D. Lento and his team can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
