No one wants to talk about dismissal. It's bad luck. And anyway, there's no way it could happen to you, right?
The thing is, all students are vulnerable to the possibility of dismissal. Universities have become entirely too strict over the last several years, too willing to impose dismissal for even minor offenses. And that's not even taking into account the fact that you may be entirely innocent of the charges against you. Plenty of students find themselves the victims of honest misunderstandings.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say. It's important you know the rules at Maryville University of St. Louis so you can avoid making any accidental or dumb mistakes. It's just as important that you know how to get help if you need it. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We know what you're up against, we know how Maryville University of St. Louis's administrative and judicial systems work, and we're always on your side.
To find out how we can help with your particular situation, call us today at 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Reasons for Dismissal from Maryville University of St. Louis
It's not easy to keep yourself out of trouble at Maryville University of St. Louis. Sooner or later, most students run afoul of the rules and regulations. There are dozens of these, and it's not always easy to keep them straight. One thing that can help? Grouping them into categories. There are actually only four broad reasons why the university might decide to dismiss you.
- Academic Deficiencies: The university's academic standing policy is quite strict. Any time your GPA falls below 2.0, you're placed on probation. You have just one semester on probation to return to good standing. Otherwise, you can find yourself dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: Likewise, Maryville University of St. Louis takes academic misconduct very seriously. First, instances of cheating and plagiarism can mean lost points on assignments or lost points from your course grade. You can even wind up failing a class altogether. Additional offenses can result in dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your conduct outside the classroom can get you into as much trouble as your conduct in it, if not more. The Student Code of Conduct includes dozens of offenses, from underage drinking to physical abuse, and even first offenses sometimes lead to dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: These offenses almost always result in dismissal. Maryville University of St. Louis's sexual misconduct policy is mandated by federal law under Title IX. The university is required to investigate all credible complaints and is encouraged to issue harsh punishments.
Misconduct Defenses
If you're facing a misconduct charge, there's a clear process in place for defending yourself. Additionally, you have several due process rights to help you in your fight. You're entitled, for instance, to a presumption of “not responsible” (innocent), and the university must have concrete evidence to substantiate any charges against you.
- Cases begin when someone lodges a complaint against you. Complaints can come from anyone, including other students, faculty, staff, administrators, and security personnel.
- If you are under investigation, the university must provide you with notice of the charges. This notice should explain the allegations and include a list of your due process rights.
- You have the right to bring an advisor and a support person with you to all investigative meetings and hearings. This means a Lento Law Firm attorney can be at your side throughout the case to help you answer questions and present your defense.
- You'll be invited to give your side of the story to investigators. In addition, investigators will interview the complainant and any witnesses, and they'll collect physical evidence associated with the case.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a full report of their findings. This then becomes the foundation for the hearing that follows.
- Hearings take place before one or more trained decision-makers. Both sides make their arguments and support those arguments with evidence, including witness testimony. You also have the right to raise questions about any evidence being used against you, including witness testimony.
- Decision-makers are charged with deciding whether you are responsible for (guilty of) an offense. They employ a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence." This standard is far less strict than "beyond a reasonable doubt." In simple terms, you are guilty if they are more than fifty percent convinced you are guilty.
- You are entitled to appeal the hearing outcome if you weren't given a fair opportunity to defend yourself. For instance, procedural errors, the discovery of new evidence, and disproportionate sanctions are all reasonable grounds for an appeal.
No two cases are ever alike. Even the nature of the offense can impact how an investigation and hearing unfold. For instance, in Title IX sexual misconduct cases, both sides are allowed to cross-examine one another. That's not the case in other types of hearings.
You need someone in your corner who's looking out for your rights and who can prepare you for whatever you may have to face. Lento Law Firm attorneys work with students every single day. We know what to expect from processes and procedures, and we'll guide you through your case from start to finish.
Dealing With Academic Dismissal
Defending yourself from an academic dismissal is not nearly as straightforward as defending yourself from a misconduct dismissal. The basis for your dismissal in these cases is your GPA, and that's not normally a matter of debate.
However, your Lento Law Firm attorney can help with these cases as well. We know a number of ways to use the university's administrative system to your advantage. For example,
- If your academic deficiencies were influenced by extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a family emergency, you can petition the dean of your college directly for more time to improve.
- If you should discover you have a previously undiagnosed learning disability, you can ask the university to drop low grades from your GPA. You are entitled to retake courses with proper accommodations in place.
- One tried-and-true strategy for improving a GPA is to ask instructors for extra credit and makeup work. Some will say no, but usually enough will say yes to keep your grade point where it needs to be.
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.
