If you're in trouble at the University of North Florida, if someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you, you can't afford to take the situation lightly. You need to take time to understand the charges. You need to familiarize yourself with UNF's administrative and judicial processes. And most importantly, you need help.
It's no easy task navigating a university system, but we can help. The Lento Law Firm is dedicated to protecting student rights. Our Student Defense Team will work with you to come up with an effective defense strategy. We'll stand beside you at every step along the way. We'll make sure the University of North Florida treats you fairly and that you get the best possible resolution to your case.
First, though, you have to contact us. Call 888-535-3686 today, or take a few minutes right now and fill out an online form.
Reasons for Dismissal from the University of North Florida
The University of North Florida can't simply dismiss you without cause. You do have rights, after all. In fact, there are really only four reasons the university can dismiss you, though each of these includes a number of potential types of offense.
- Academic Deficiencies: First and foremost, you can be dismissed for failing to perform academically. You came to UNF to learn, and the university is pretty serious about holding you to that. The academic standing policy requires you to keep your GPA above 2.0. Anything below that, and you can wind up on academic probation. Continue to struggle while on probation, and you can also be dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: It's not enough to earn good grades at UNF. You must also earn them honestly. Cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of classroom dishonesty are violations of the university's integrity policy. A single offense can result in a lowered course grade. Multiple offenses can result in dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You're also responsible for following the UNF Student Code of Conduct. This policy relates to your non-academic behavior and includes rules against things like hazing, weapons possession, theft, assault, and misuse of computer resources. Even a first offense can garner dismissal if it is serious enough.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, you are also subject to UNF's sexual misconduct code. This code, required under the federal Title IX statute, prohibits sexual discrimination and harassment, up to and including offenses such as stalking, dating violence, and rape. Dismissal is the most likely punishment in these cases.
Misconduct Defenses
It is not enough for UNF to accuse you of committing misconduct. In order to dismiss you, the university must be able to prove you committed that misconduct, and you have due process rights designed to protect you. For example, you have the right against self-incrimination, you have the right to review all evidence in the case, and, crucially, you have the right to a presumption of Not Responsible (innocence).
Here's what you can expect.
- Cases begin with a complaint lodged against you with either the Dean of Students or the university's designated Title IX Coordinator.
- Should UNF decide to proceed with the case, you'll be issued a Notice of the Charges. This notice should provide you with a description of the allegations and include the name of the Complainant (your accuser or alleged victim). It should also outline your due process rights.
- You have the right to an advisor of your choice. That means from the moment you are charged, your Lento Law Firm attorney can accompany you to meetings and hearings and help you answer questions and build your case.
- Whatever the charges, the university will conduct some type of investigation. You have the right to give your side of the story to investigators. Investigators also interview the Complainant and any witnesses, and they collect any relevant physical evidence.
- Ultimately, investigators compile their findings into a summary document and turn this document into the appropriate university office. At this point, the university sets a time and date for a hearing.
- Hearings take place before one or more trained decision-makers. This is your opportunity to argue for your innocence or offer an explanation for your actions. You may introduce evidence and call witnesses. You may also raise questions about any aspect of the case against you.
- The university doesn't have to prove its case "beyond a reasonable doubt." It does, however, have to prove that a "preponderance of the evidence" supports a Responsible (guilty) finding. The preponderance standard means that decision-makers must be more than fifty percent convinced you committed the offense.
- You have the right to appeal the hearing outcome, though not simply because you disagree with that outcome. You must be able to show the process was unfair in some way. At UNF, grounds for appeal are limited to procedural errors, disproportionate sanctions, and/or the discovery of new evidence.
Cases can differ in small but important ways depending on the exact nature of the charges against you. For instance, both you and the Complainant have the right to cross-examine one another in Title IX sexual misconduct cases. These kinds of differences can significantly alter how you prepare and present your case.
It's your Lento Law Firm attorney's job, though, to know exactly what to expect and to prepare you to face it. They're familiar with all UNF procedures, and they can help you use those procedures to your best advantage.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Academic dismissal cases afford you fewer due process rights than misconduct cases. Of course, even here, the university doesn't simply dismiss you the moment your grades fall. There is a process. First, you're placed on probation. If you continue to struggle, UNF suspends you. Only at that point are you in danger of dismissal.
In addition, your Lento Law Firm attorney knows some useful strategies for dealing with the threat of academic sanctions. For instance,
- If you can demonstrate that your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can appeal directly to the dean of your school or college for more time to improve.
- If you should discover you have a previously undiagnosed learning disability, you can ask UNF to drop low grades from your GPA and let you retake those courses once appropriate accommodations are in place.
- If you feel you've been mistreated by an instructor, you can report that mistreatment to the instructor's department head. At a minimum, you have the right to file a grade appeal.
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.
