College can be tough, and we're not just talking about classes. There may be nowhere else in America where you're under as much scrutiny as you are on a college campus. Where you park, who you invite up to your room, where you sit on the quad—there are rules about all of this. Break the wrong one, and you could find yourself looking for a new school or heading onto the job market with no degree at all.
If you're facing dismissal from the University of Central Florida, it's important you know that you don't have to deal with the situation all on your own. You have the right to choose an advisor, and that advisor can be an attorney. Make sure you choose Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team. No one knows more about how colleges and universities operate, and no one is more committed to making sure you're treated fairly.
Reasons for Dismissal at UCF
There are dozens of reasons you can be dismissed from UCF, too many, in fact, to list here. The good news is they can all be grouped into four basic categories.
- Academic Misconduct: Colleges and universities take academic integrity seriously. You can understand why. No school can survive very long if it develops a reputation for cheating. In fact, the subject is so important that it's the first item listed in HYPERLINK "https://scai.sdes.ucf.edu/student-rules-of-conduct/"UCF's Student Rules of Conduct. A first offense may not be enough to get you dismissed. A second offense can be, though.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: The Rules of Conduct go on to talk about your behavior outside of class as well. Gambling, underage drinking, misuse of computer resources—these can all get you into trouble. Any violation can potentially get you dismissed. Many, such as hazing and weapons possession, almost always result in dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: This is yet another offense that almost always results in dismissal. Sexual misconduct isn't just a violation of school policy. It's a violation of federal law. Title IX requires all schools take allegations of sexual misconduct seriously. That means thorough investigations, and it means severe penalties for those found Responsible.
- Academic Deficiencies: You don't have to break a rule to find yourself facing dismissal at UCF. You can be dismissed simply for failing to keep your grades up. The school maintains a strict academic standing policy. Any time your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, you are placed on Academic Probation. Continue to struggle while on Probation, and you can be dismissed entirely.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
If you've been accused of misconduct at UCF—any type of misconduct—you have the right to defend yourself. The school conducts a thorough investigation and it allows you to present your case at a formal hearing. Here's how those processes typically work.
- Cases begin with a complaint made either to the Director of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity (SCAI) or—in the case of Title IX sexual misconduct—to the Title IX Coordinator.
- If the school decides to open an investigation, it must provide you with Notice of the Charges. This document describes the allegations in full and lists your due process rights.
- Among your rights, you are allowed to choose an advisor, and this advisor can be an attorney.
- Investigators usually begin by interviewing both parties separately. In addition, they uncover any physical evidence and solicit witness testimony.
- At the end of the investigation, investigators submit a written summary of their findings. This becomes the foundation of the hearing.
- The hearing provides both sides an opportunity to make their case. You may call witnesses and offer up evidence. You may also submit questions for any witnesses against you.
- Once the hearing is over, decision-makers deliberate using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, they must find you Responsible (guilty) 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 on certain restricted grounds. These include
- Procedural irregularities
- The discovery of new evidence
- A disproportionate sanction
There are some minor differences in how different types of cases are adjudicated. For example, in Title IX sexual misconduct cases, advisors conduct all cross-examination. In addition, you are allowed to ask questions of the Complainant in these cases, and they are allowed to ask questions of you.
Whatever type of case you're facing, however, Joseph D. Lento and his team are experienced in the rules and procedures. They can help you from the moment you are accused to your very last appeal.
Academic Dismissals
A low-grade point isn't an allegation—it's a fact. As a result, the University of Florida doesn't offer any formal process for challenging a dismissal for academic causes.
The thing is, there are lots of reasons your grade point might be low, and not all of them are under your control. Luckily, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know a number of strategies for dealing with this type of dismissal as well. For example,
- If you're dealing with extenuating circumstances like a family emergency, you should appeal to your school or college dean for more time to bring your grades up.
- Some faculty are willing to negotiate grades. If, for instance, you passed your final exam but failed the course, you might try arguing that your final exam score demonstrates you mastered the course material.
- An undiagnosed learning disability, like ADD or ADHD, can be grounds for setting low grades aside and retaking those courses.
Here again, you can count on Joseph D. Lento and his team to come up with a plan that's perfectly tailored to your particular situation. Just as important, you can count on them to help you implement that plan from start to finish.
Fighting for Your Future
By this point, you probably 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.
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.
