If you've found your way to this page, it means you've found yourself in trouble at Texas Woman's University (TWU), trouble serious enough that someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you. Dismissal is serious business. It doesn't just mean leaving TWU. Very few schools will admit someone who's already been dismissed elsewhere. Dismissal from TWU could very well mean the end of your academic career altogether.
An allegation of misconduct doesn't have to end in dismissal, though. You have the right to defend yourself at TWU, and the university has processes and procedures in place that allow you to do that. We can help as well. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is made up of attorneys who focus on protecting student rights. We know what the law has to say about education. More importantly, we know how TWU's administrative and judicial systems work. You can't afford to accept dismissal. You have to fight. We're always ready to fight beside you.
To find out more, call 888-535-3686 or take a few minutes right now and fill out an online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from Texas Woman's University
Defending yourself from the threat of dismissal starts with understanding the charges against you. You can't hope to prove your innocence or explain your behavior unless you have a thorough understanding of what you've been accused of doing.
At TWU, virtually every type of dismissal is based on one of four categories of offense.
- Academic Deficiencies: First, you can be dismissed for simply failing to keep your GPA up. The university's academic standing policy requires you to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. You won't be dismissed the moment yours drops below that number. You'll be placed on probation. Should you continue to struggle, though, dismissal can become an option.
- Academic Misconduct: You must also earn your degree honestly. The Academic Integrity policy bars cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, multiple submissions, and any attempt to help anyone else commit these offenses. Again, one violation probably isn't enough to get you expelled. Multiple offenses are frequently punished with dismissal, though.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: TWU doesn't just regulate your classroom behavior. The university also maintains a Student Code of Conduct that governs your general campus behavior. The Code addresses issues like underage drinking, theft, weapons possession, and violence. Punishments can vary, but dismissal is always a possibility, even for a first offense if it is serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, by law (Title IX), TWU is required to maintain a sexual misconduct policy. This policy prohibits sexual discrimination and harassment, including everything from simple verbal harassment to far more serious offenses like stalking, dating violence, and rape. Most students found responsible for sexual misconduct face dismissal from the university.
Misconduct Defenses
If you're facing a misconduct charge—academic, disciplinary, or sexual—you're entitled to defend yourself. In fact, TWU must treat you as "Not Responsible" (innocent) until such time as you're proven to be "Responsible" (guilty). In addition, you have multiple rights to help you through the process.
- Anyone can lodge a complaint against you—instructors, other students, administrators, and staff. However, the university must decide whether a complaint is credible and actionable before it opens an investigation.
- Any time you are officially under investigation, the university must supply you with Notice of the Charges. This notice should identify your accuser and provide you with details about the allegation. It should also contain a list of your due process rights.
- One of your most important rights is the right to an advisor, and you get to choose who you want to fill this role. This means an attorney from the Lento Law Firm can not only help you develop your case but can accompany you to all meetings and proceedings, help you respond to questions, and present your defense.
- The university must conduct some type of investigation. Even if the complaint only involves a simple cheating allegation, your instructor must provide some evidence to support that allegation. You always have the right to give your side of the story to investigators.
- Investigators compile their findings into a written report. You also have the right to review this report and to examine any evidence against you.
- The investigative report becomes the foundation for a hearing. You are entitled to a hearing before trained, unbiased decision-makers.
- At the hearing, you may introduce evidence, and you may call witnesses to testify. You can also raise questions for any witness testifying against you.
- Decision-makers don't have to find you Responsible “beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, they do have to employ a legal standard in evaluating evidence. In simple terms, they must be more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt. Otherwise, they must find you Not Responsible.
- You also have the right to appeal the hearing outcome. However, grounds for appeal at TWU are limited to a procedural error, the discovery of new evidence, or a sanction that doesn't fit the nature of the offense.
You should know that while this outline applies to all misconduct cases at TWU, the specific details of how a case unfolds can depend on the nature of the charges. In Title IX sexual misconduct cases, for example, both sides have the right to cross-examine one another. This can have an enormous impact on how you go about preparing your case.
You can be sure, however, that your Lento Law Firm attorney is familiar with all processes and procedures at TWU. No matter what the accusation might be, we know how to respond to it and how to use our rights to build a strong defense.
Academic Dismissals
Academic dismissals don't work like misconduct dismissals. They're based strictly on your GPA. That means there's no investigation and no hearing. Nevertheless, your Lento Law Firm attorney knows a number of strategies for dealing with this type of dismissal. For example:
- If your academic deficiencies are in any way the result of extenuating circumstances, we can help you to appeal your dismissal to the dean of your school or college. A serious illness or a family emergency can be grounds for more time to improve.
- If you consistently struggle to earn good grades, your Lento Law Firm attorney can help you get tested for learning disabilities. Such disabilities are often grounds for course accommodations. You may also be entitled to retake courses for replacement credit.
- Instructors are sometimes willing to negotiate grades if you have a strong argument. Your Lento Law Firm attorney can work with you to develop compelling arguments and coach you on how to approach faculty.
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.
