If you've found yourself in trouble at the Rochester Institute of Technology, you need to know that you don't have to handle the situation all on your own. Dismissal can be a scary proposition, but you do have rights, and the Lento Law Firm can help you use them effectively to defend yourself.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is dedicated to protecting student rights. We've helped hundreds of students face all types of charges. We know the law, and we know how RIT operates. Below, we offer an overview of what to do any time you're dealing with the threat of dismissal. Right from the start, though, you need to know that we're always on your side and ready to step in at a moment's notice.
How can we help? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and fill out an online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from Rochester Institute
Part of the difficulty of defending yourself from a dismissal charge is that there are simply so many different kinds of charges you might be facing. There are dozens of different rules and regulations to worry about, and keeping them all straight can be a full-time job.
Let us simplify things for you. There are basically four categories of offense. Know these, and you should be able to avoid most kinds of trouble.
- Academic Deficiencies: You're a student, which means your first job is to meet academic standards. According to RIT's academic standing policy, you need to keep your cumulative GPA above 2.0 in order to remain in good standing. You won't be dismissed the moment you fail a course, but if you struggle consistently, you could eventually reach that point.
- Academic Misconduct: RIT also expects you to earn your degree honestly. The academic integrity policy explicitly mentions cheating, plagiarism, and multiple submissions, but you can be sure that any form of classroom dishonesty will get you into trouble. First offenses are normally handled in the context of courses. You might receive a lower grade on the assignment or a lower grade in the course. A second allegation, though, could lead to dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You're not just a student at RIT. You're also a member of a campus community. As such, you're subject to community rules of behavior. The Student Code of Conduct governs everything from drug usage to computer usage. In this case, any violation can result in dismissal, even a first offense, if it is serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, you're also responsible for adhering to federal Title IX policies regarding sexual discrimination and harassment. Dismissal is actually the most common punishment for students found responsible for these offenses.
Misconduct Defenses
If you're dealing with a misconduct offense, you have some important rights, starting with the right to be presumed Not Responsible (innocent). Before it can issue you a sanction, RIT must prove you committed an offense through both an investigation and a hearing.
- Anyone can accuse you of misconduct, including faculty, administrators, staff, and other students. Keep in mind as well that RIT has its own security force, and officers can detain you and charge you.
- If the university believes the allegations are credible and actionable, it will issue formal charges. At that point, it must provide you with a Notice of the Charges. This notice identifies your accuser and includes details of the allegations. In addition, it should outline all of your due process rights as the accused.
- Different administrative offices handle different types of charges, but you can expect the university to conduct an investigation. As part of this investigation, you should have an opportunity to give your side of the story. Investigators also interview Complainants (accusers) and witnesses, and they collect any physical evidence.
- Investigators compile their findings into a written report that they then submit to the appropriate office. At this point, the university sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over this hearing.
- The hearing is your chance to lay out your entire defense. You may introduce evidence and call witnesses, and you may cross-examine any witnesses against you. The other side, in this case, has the opportunity to do the same.
- All misconduct cases at RIT are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Far less stringent than “beyond a reasonable doubt, “preponderance” means you're guilty if decision makers are more than fifty percent convinced you're guilty.
- RIT wants to ensure justice is done, so you also have the right to appeal the outcome of your hearing if you feel you were treated unfairly. You must have "grounds" for an appeal, though, and grounds are usually limited to the discovery of new evidence, an allegation of a procedural error, or a sanction that is disproportionate to the offense.
If you stand accused of Title IX sexual misconduct, you have the right to an advisor and to choose an attorney to fill that role. In other types of cases, you may or may not be allowed to bring an attorney with you to meetings and other proceedings.
You always have the right, though, to consult with a Lento Law Firm attorney. Even if they cannot accompany you to your hearing, they can play a crucial part in your defense. Not only will they help you to map out your strategy, but they will work with you to uncover evidence, suggest questions for witnesses, prepare you to talk to investigators, draft documents, and even coach you in presenting your case. An RIT misconduct defense can be a complicated matter, and you need the very best help you can get.
Academic Dismissal Cases
A Lento Law Firm attorney can help you defend yourself against academic dismissals as well. The process in these cases can be somewhat trickier, though. Dismissals are based on GPA, and there's no need for RIT to prove your GPA has fallen below the 2.0 mark.
Your approach to an academic dismissal must take advantage of informal administrative processes. Again, however, you can count on your Lento Law Firm attorney to know all the options for keeping your career at RIT on track. For example,
- Extenuating circumstances can be grounds for appealing dismissal. If you can show that you were dealing with a long-term illness, for instance, or a family emergency, you can ask for more time to improve your grades.
- If you consistently struggle to pass your courses, it could be worthwhile getting tested for a learning disability. If it turns out you have ADD, ADHD, or some other condition, you can ask for course accommodations and petition RIT to drop low grades from your transcript.
- One of the easiest ways to boost a flagging GPA is to ask instructors for extra credit or makeup assignments. Faculty do sometimes say no, but you're no worse off for having asked.
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.
