The threat of dismissal is always stressful. If you lose your spot at the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA), it means walking away from all the educational progress you've made to this point. It means giving up your friends and the community you've established. But it also means that, in all likelihood, you'll be heading onto the job market without a college degree. You'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to find another college or university to accept you once you've been dismissed from UAA.
If you've been charged with a misconduct offense at the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA), or you're struggling to meet the school's academic progress requirements, and you're facing dismissal, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Student Defense Team is focused on protecting student rights, and we're on your side, no matter the situation. We know how the UAA system works. We're well-versed in the university's rules and regulations and in how to navigate its administrative and judicial processes. No one gives you a better chance of defending yourself than the Lento Law Firm.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Reasons for Dismissal From the University of Alaska, Anchorage
There are literally dozens of different reasons UAA might have decided to threaten you with dismissal, everything from plagiarism to rape. However, almost every rule and regulation at the university can be grouped into one of four basic categories.
- Academic Deficiencies: You may be struggling to meet UAA's academic standing policy requirements. That policy requires you to keep a minimum 2.0 term and cumulative GPAs, and it sets up a series of progressive consequences when you fail to do so. Dismissal is unusual in these cases, but it can happen.
- Academic Misconduct: These dismissals are more common. UAA's Academic Integrity policy prohibits all forms of classroom dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism. Serious and multiple offenses can earn outright expulsion from the university.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You are also subject to UAA's Student Code of Conduct. Here, you'll find restrictions on your general campus behavior. Underage drinking, theft, and misuse of computer resources can get you suspended or dismissed. Some offenses, like weapons possession, drug usage, and assault, almost always result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: This type of offense is often typically punished with dismissal. Sexual misconduct isn't just against school policy but against federal law (Title IX). As a result, schools like UAA are zealous in pursuing allegations and harsh in assigning penalties.
Misconduct Defenses
No matter what type of dismissal you're facing, there are ways to defend yourself.
If you've been charged with some form of misconduct, you're entitled to an investigation and a hearing. Here's what you can expect from those processes.
- Cases typically begin with an allegation. Your accuser or “alleged victim” is referred to as the “Complainant,” though sometimes the university itself will serve in this role. As the accused, you are referred to as the “Respondent.” The issue is whether or not you are “Responsible for” (guilty of) the offense.
- Any time you are officially charged with an offense, UAA must provide you with notice of those charges. This notice should identify your accuser and provide details of the allegation. It will also contain a complete list of your due process rights as Respondent.
- Among your most important rights at UAA is the right to an advisor and to choose anyone to serve in this role. The Lento Law Firm attorney can accompany you to all meetings and proceedings. While they cannot speak for you, they can be on hand to help you answer questions and conduct your defense.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, investigators submit a full report of their findings. Once the university receives this report, it sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more trained, unbiased decision-makers to preside.
- At the hearing, both sides have the opportunity to present arguments. You may back these arguments with evidence, including witness testimony. You also have the right to raise questions for anyone testifying against you.
- Should you lose your hearing, you can appeal the outcome if you can demonstrate you were treated unfairly in some way. Typically, this means showing the university violated its own procedures, coming up with new evidence, or arguing that the sanction against you is disproportionate to your offense.
All cases at UAA follow this general outline, but, of course, individual cases always play out differently. They can also be influenced by the specific nature of the charges. For example, only advisors are allowed to cross-examine witnesses during Title IX sexual misconduct hearings.
The Lento Law Firm attorney will know exactly what to expect based on your particular situation. They can guide you through the entire process and even show you how to use judicial procedures to your benefit.
Dealing With Academic Dismissal
It can be somewhat trickier to defend yourself from academic dismissal. Remember that this type of dismissal is rare, and because it's based almost exclusively on your grades, it's difficult to mount any sort of defense.
There are, however, ways to respond to this type of dismissal as well. For instance,
- Extenuating circumstances—serious illness, a bout of depression—are often grounds for more time to improve. The Lento Law Firm attorney can help you file an informal appeal with the dean of your college.
- Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, have special rights under the law. If you should discover you have such a disability, you may be entitled to course accommodations, like extra time to improve. You can also petition UAA to drop low grades from your transcript and let you retake those courses.
- If you have some skill at negotiation, it is sometimes possible to convince faculty members to revise your grades. For instance, if you made progress over the course of a semester, you might try asking a professor to pass you even if your individual scores don't add up to a passing 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.
