If you're at Southern Illinois, Edwardsville (SIUE), you've found yourself in trouble, and someone has threatened you with dismissal, you cannot afford to take it lightly. The university isn't bluffing. SIUE expels dozens of students every year. Plus, dismissal isn't just dismissal. You'll have a transcript notation about the nature of your offense, and that means you can't simply transfer your way out of this problem. You need help—professional help.
You need someone from the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team on your side. We're not just attorneys. We focus specifically on student rights. We know the SIUE system, and we've defended hundreds of students from all types of charges. Whatever you're dealing with, whatever your specific situation, we can help.
To find out more about what we can do, call 888-535-3686 today, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Reasons for Dismissal from Southern Illinois, Edwardsville
There are literally dozens of reasons why SIUE might decide to dismiss you. That's one reason why it can be so hard to protect yourself. It's no easy task keeping all the various rules and regulations straight.
For the most part, though, all of SIUE's various strictures can fit into four simple categories. Knowing these can go a long way toward keeping you out of trouble.
- Academic Deficiencies: You actually don't have to commit any offense to wind up dismissed from SIUE. A low GPA can do it. The university's academic standing policy requires you to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Fall below that point, and you wind up on probation. Continue to struggle, and you can also wind up dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: You can also be dismissed for classroom dishonesty. Cheating and plagiarism are violations of the SIUE academic code. First offenses are generally punished with course sanctions such as lowered grades. A second offense can put you in danger of dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Outside of class, your behavior is governed by the university's Student Code of Conduct. Here, you'll find prohibitions on things like underage drinking, disorderly conduct, and misuse of computer resources. Any violation can result in dismissal. Some offenses, such as hazing and drug usage, almost always lead to dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: This is another offense that almost always results in dismissal. SIUE policy follows federal Title IX guidelines, and every allegation is taken seriously.
Misconduct Defenses
Knowing the rules at SIUE can keep you out of most trouble. Every now and then, though, trouble will come looking for you. When it does, you'll need to know how to defend yourself.
If you're dealing with a misconduct allegation—academic, disciplinary, or sexual—you need to know how the university's judicial system works.
- Cases begin when someone lodges a complaint against you. Remember, you don't have to be guilty for someone to decide to lodge such a complaint. Misunderstandings happen. False allegations sometimes happen.
- If SIUE charges you with an offense, it will issue you a Notice of the Charges. This notice should contain an explanation of the allegations and a list of all your due process rights.
- SIUE gives you the right to an advisor. Your Lento Law Firm attorney cannot speak for you, but they can be on hand from the very beginning to help you explain your side of the story and answer any questions.
- Investigators usually begin by meeting separately with both the Complainant (your accuser or alleged victim) and the Respondent (the accused, you). In addition, they interview witnesses and collect any physical evidence.
- Once the investigation is complete, investigators submit a written report summarizing their findings. You have the right to review this information.
- SIUE then sets a time and date for a formal hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside.
- The hearing allows you the opportunity to argue for your innocence or offer explanations for your behavior. You may submit evidence, and you may call witnesses. You also have the right to raise questions for any witnesses testifying against you. Again, your Lento Law Firm attorney cannot conduct your defense for you, but they can be at your side to offer advice throughout the proceedings.
- Ultimately, decision-makers use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to decide if you are Responsible for (guilty of) the offense. In simple terms, you are guilty if it seems “more likely than not” that you committed the offense.
- If you feel you were mistreated by the process, you can also appeal the hearing outcome. Grounds for an appeal include things like
- The discovery of new evidence
- A procedural error during the hearing
- A disproportionate sanction.
Your Lento Law Firm attorney will help you with all phases of your case. Their most important work, though, happens before the hearing. They help you to collect evidence, work with you to identify your strongest arguments, suggest questions for witnesses, and even coach you in presenting your case. They make sure you are thoroughly prepared for whatever you may face during the investigation and hearing.
Dealing With Academic Dismissal
Where dealing with a misconduct dismissal requires a thorough understanding of the SIUE judicial system, defending yourself from an academic dismissal involves an understanding of the university's several administrative systems.
There are no investigations and hearings in these cases. Decisions are based almost exclusively on your GPA. There are ways to avoid dismissal, though, if you understand how the university's bureaucracy operates. For instance,
- You can appeal an academic dismissal if you can show you've been dealing with extenuating circumstances, such as a serious illness or a family emergency.
- Your low grades could be an indication that you have an undiagnosed learning disability. If you know how to work with Disability Services, you can get tested and receive appropriate course accommodations. You can also petition SIUE to drop low grades from your GPA.
- It is sometimes possible to negotiate grades directly with instructors. For instance, a high final exam score can work as a strong argument for a higher course grade.
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.
