If you're a college student, you already know: Getting a degree is tough. You know about the challenging coursework and the demanding professors. You know your school monitors your every behavior, from alcohol consumption to where you park. And, you know that every semester Ohio State dismisses dozens of students who violate policy.
You may not know, though, that the right attorney can help you get through it all. That's right: an attorney. National Student Defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students just like you navigate the often-treacherous waters of academia. Joseph D. Lento knows how Ohio State operates. He knows all the processes and procedures; he knows who to talk to and what to say. Most important of all, he knows how to protect your rights and make sure you're treated fairly no matter what your situation.
If you're facing dismissal from Ohio State, find out all you can about your charges and how you go about defending yourself. Then call Joseph D. Lento and ask what he can do for you.
Reasons for Dismissal at Ohio State
Let's start with the basics. There are four reasons OSU can dismiss you.
- Academic Performance: First, you can be dismissed simply for failing to meet academic expectations. The university's “standing” policy requires you to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Fall below that number, and you're placed on probation. Continue to struggle while you're on probation, and you can be dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: OSU expects you to earn your degree honestly. The school's academic misconduct policy prohibits any action that might tend to give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework, including cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication. The Committee on Academic Misconduct (COAM) reviews all allegations, and dismissal is always a possible sanction.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: OSU's expectations don't end at the classroom door. Activities like underage drinking, theft and disorderly conduct are expressly forbidden and can get you dismissed. In fact, you are held to high standards of personal behavior even when you aren't on campus. For example, you can be dismissed for a DUI arrest, even if it happens in another state.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are generally treated separately from other forms of disciplinary misconduct. In part, this is because such offenses are regulated under federal law (Title IX). This law not only bars sexual discrimination and harassment on college campuses but requires schools to be aggressive in investigating and punishing offenders. As a result, the suspension is usually the minimum penalty in these cases, and dismissal is the more likely sanction.
Misconduct Procedures
When it comes to misconduct, OSU guarantees you the right to a thorough investigation and a formal hearing. Your specific charges determine who handles your case, but the process is roughly the same, no matter what the accusation.
- Misconduct cases always begin with an accusation made either to the COAM, the Office of Student Conduct, or the Title IX Coordinator.
- You have the right to an advisor, someone to help you prepare your case and to accompany you to meetings. This advisor may be an attorney.
- If officials decide to pursue your cases, they must provide you with an official Notice of the Charges. This document should offer details of the accusation and a full list of your due process rights.
- The school then conducts a full investigation. This can involve interviews with both parties, witness testimony, and the collection of physical evidence.
- The investigative findings become the central piece of evidence at a formal hearing into the matter.
- The hearing offers both sides an opportunity to make their cases. You may present arguments, submit evidence, and call witnesses to testify. In addition, you have the right to question any witness that testifies against you.
- At the conclusion of the hearing, one or more decision makers use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to determine whether or not you are “Responsible” (guilty). The preponderance of evidence means they must find you responsible if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- You have the right to appeal the hearing outcome, but only under certain conditions.
- New evidence
- Procedural error
- Bias on the part of a decision maker
- Sanction disproportionate to the offense
There are some small variations in how different kinds of cases are handled. For instance, in a sexual misconduct hearing, only advisors are allowed to cross-examine witnesses. Fortunately, Joseph D. Lento can advise you as to how any investigation and hearing works.
Academic Dismissal Cases
It can sometimes be harder to challenge a dismissal for academic reasons than one for misconduct. That's because academic dismissals are based on objective fact—your GPA. Normally, that fact is not subject to dispute.
That doesn't mean that there aren't ways of dealing with the threat of academic dismissal. If, for instance, your low grades are the result of extenuating circumstances such as an illness, you can appeal to your specific OSU college for a probation extension. Another option is to ask your instructors to reconsider your work from the semester. Some instructors even assign extra-credit work.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento can explain these and other options to you. He can also help you put together an effective plan and put it into action. Whether you need coaching on how to approach a professor or advice on what evidence to include in an appeal, you're always better off if you consult with the Lento Law Firm first.
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. Procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate, and the full weight of your school will be against you. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line.
Joseph D. Lento built his practice helping students just like you handle all types of misconduct charges. He and his Education Law Team have dealt with everything from plagiarism allegations to rape 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. Most importantly, no matter what problem you're facing, they are on your side and will do everything in their power to get you the very best possible resolution to your case.
To find out more about what Joseph D. Lento can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686 or use our automated online form.
