College is tough. Don't believe us? Just take a minute to look up how many students William &bMary dismiss each year. Some of those dismissals have to do with grades. Calculus has certainly wrecked many a student's academic career. There are plenty of other reasons you can be dismissed, though, from underage drinking to plagiarism.
What do you do to make sure you avoid dismissal and keep your future bright?
- First, you find out all you can about just what can get you into trouble. What are the rules at William & Mary, and how do you make sure you don't break any?
- Second, you investigate the William & Mary judicial system. You can't always avoid trouble, and you need to know how to defend yourself if it manages to find you.
- Last, but maybe most important, you find out how to get help if you need it. Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are dedicated to making sure students like you are treated fairly and that they have every opportunity to earn their degrees. It's no easy task challenging your college, but you don't have to do it alone. Joseph D. Lento and his Team are here for you.
Reasons for Dismissal at the College of William & Mary
Just what are the rules at William & Mary? Basically, there are four reasons the school might decide to dismiss you. Three of them have to do with misconduct. The fourth has to do with your academic standing.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your every move is scrutinized while you're a student, and you can be dismissed for the slightest misstep. The William & Mary Code of Conduct is lengthy, with dozens of rules against everything from tampering with fire equipment to drug possession. You should also be aware that you can be dismissed for breaking the law, even if your offense occurs off-campus.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are almost always punished with dismissal. That's one reason why sexual misconduct is treated separately from other forms of misconduct. The other reason is that these offenses aren't just violations of school policy but violations of federal law (Title IX).
- Academic Misconduct: Of course, William & Mary also have a strict Honor Code that prohibits lying, stealing, and all forms of cheating. Typically, minor offenses are handled with classroom sanctions like a lowered grade on the assignment or a lowered grade in the course. Repeat and especially egregious violations, though, can garner dismissal.
- Academic Performance: You can also be dismissed simply for failing to perform up to academic standards. William & Mary's Continuance policy requires you to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average, usually a 2.0. If you fall below that number, you're placed on probation. If you can't improve while on probation, though, you can be dismissed.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
Misconduct dismissals are the easiest to talk about since William & Mary have clear processes in place for defending yourself. How you go about defending yourself may differ slightly based on the specific charges against you, but the general process is always the same.
- Typically, a case begins with a complaint against you. Accusers are referred to as “Complainants.” As the accused, you're referred to as the “Respondent.”
- You have the right to an advisor, someone to help you as you go through the process. Your choice of advisor may be limited based on the nature of the charges. For example, while you may choose an attorney to help you through a sexual misconduct case, you must choose a “student advisor” in academic and disciplinary misconduct cases. Luckily, you are also allowed to choose a support person to accompany you to meetings and hearings, and in all cases, this person may be an attorney.
- William & Mary will undertake some form of investigation. This can be short—academic misconduct investigations are limited to just seven days. On the other hand, a sexual misconduct investigation can last for 60-90 days.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, the Investigator submits a written report of their findings. Investigators also serve as key witnesses in the next part of the case—a live hearing.
- The hearing gives you a chance to make your full case. You may offer arguments, submit evidence, and call witnesses. In addition, you may ask questions of any witnesses against you.
- All cases are heard by a panel of decision-makers. During deliberations, they use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to determine whether you are “Responsible for” (guilty of) a violation or not. Basically, they must find you Responsible if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- Finally, you have a limited right to appeal the hearing outcome. That is, you cannot simply appeal an outcome you don't like. Grounds are limited to procedural issues such as the discovery of new evidence, the violation of your due process rights, or bias on the part of a decision maker.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Academic dismissal cases can be more difficult to challenge than misconduct dismissal cases, primarily because they're based on grade points. That's not normally subject to debate. You can appeal to the William & Mary Committee on Academic Status, but as the committee itself notes, exceptions are only made in “extraordinary circumstances.”
The good news is that there are a number of informal ways to deal with the threat of academic dismissal. For example, you can try negotiating with faculty for better grades. Professors are sometimes willing to reconsider your semester work, especially if you have a compelling argument to make about why your grade should be better. If you have a disability, you may be able to appeal a grade based on your need for accommodations. You can also ask instructors for extra credit or makeup assignments, especially if your grade is already borderline.
Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have years of experience helping students deal with dismissal. They know all the options for fighting an academic dismissal and can help you put together a plan that's tailored to your particular circumstances.
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 likely be against you. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line. You're facing dismissal, and 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 Joseph D. Lento Law Firm was built on helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. 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 exactly 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.
