If you're a student at the University of Pittsburgh, you already know: college can be tough. We're not just talking about academics, either. Sure, it's no picnic making it through calculus, but we're also talking about the school's conduct expectations. For four years, you're held to the highest standards of behavior, and your every move is rigorously scrutinized. That's a tremendous amount of pressure. It's no wonder that Pitt dismisses dozens of students every year.
The LLF Law Firm Education Law Team understand the stress you are under, and they want to do what they can to help. If you're facing dismissal, they can help you understand the charges against you, work with you to come up with a plan to save your education and make sure you're treated fairly. The LLF Law Firm believes in you, and they're ready to fight for you.
Reasons for Dismissal at the University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh can dismiss you for a wide range of reasons, from plagiarism to dating violence. However, all of these causes for dismissal can be conveniently grouped into four simple categories. Three of these have to do with various types of misconduct. The fourth has to do with academic performance.
- Academic Misconduct: Pitt's reputation rests on the honesty and integrity of its students. No school can survive for long if it develops a reputation for widespread academic misconduct. Pitt's Academic Integrity Code spells out just what constitutes a violation, including cheating, plagiarism, and any other form of deceit in connection to coursework. Low-level offenses are often dealt with through classroom sanctions like lowered assignment grades or a lowered grade in the course. Serious violations, though, and repeat violations can garner dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Just as the academic integrity code governs classroom behavior, the university's Code of Conduct sets rules regarding non-academic behavior. These rules include prohibitions against activities like underage drinking, hazing, weapons possession, and physical intimidation. Again, sanctions vary depending on the severity of the offense, but a dismissal is always an option with any code violation.
- Sexual Misconduct: Technically a form of disciplinary misconduct, sexual misconduct is treated as its own category of offense. This is because such misconduct is subject not just to school policy but to federal law (Title IX). In addition, these offenses are most often punished with dismissal.
- Academic Performance: Finally, you can also be dismissed for failing to live up to Pitt's academic expectations. The academic standing policy at most of the university's schools and colleges requires you to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative and term GPA. Failure to do so means probation, and should you continue to struggle, you risk dismissal from the university.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
There are clear processes for defending yourself from misconduct charges. The particulars of these processes differ depending on the specific type of charge you're facing. However, the general outline of procedures is the same in all cases.
- A case begins when someone reports that you've violated school policy. You are entitled to notification of any formal charges against you.
- Next, the school conducts an investigation into the facts of the case. In academic misconduct cases, this may be as simple as meeting separately with both you and your instructor. In more serious cases, it may involve the collection of physical evidence and solicitation of witness testimony. A Title IX investigation, for instance, can sometimes take weeks or months to conclude.
- In all cases, you have the right to an advisor, someone to help you prepare your case and to accompany you to meetings and proceedings. In disciplinary and sexual misconduct cases, this individual may be an attorney. In academic misconduct cases, it must be someone from the university community other than a law student.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigator submits a summary of their findings. This becomes the foundation for the next phase of the case—a formal hearing.
- A hearing is your best opportunity to defend yourself. You may make arguments, submit evidence, and call witnesses. You may also cross-examine any witnesses against you.
- Cases are typically decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, hearing panels must find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense. The exception is academic misconduct cases. In these, the review standard is slightly higher. Decision makers must have “clear and convincing” evidence in order to find you Responsible.
- Finally, in all cases, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome. Generally speaking, appeals must be based on one of five criteria:
- New evidence
- The violation of your rights
- The absence of a rational relationship between the evidence and the outcome
- A procedural error
- A disproportionate sanction
Again, procedures do differ somewhat depending on the nature of the charge against you. For example, disciplinary misconduct charges are handled by the Office of Student Conduct, while sexually-based offenses are dealt with by the Title IX Coordinator. The standard of evidence may differ, and your right to an attorney may not be the same in all cases.
You can trust the LLF Law Firm and the Education Law Team to know all the various judicial procedures at the University of Pittsburgh, though, and to advise you on how each one works.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Unfortunately, there are no formal procedures for contesting dismissal for academic deficiencies. Normally, these dismissals are based on objective fact—your GPA—and the university doesn't regard this as a debatable issue.
Nevertheless, there are ways to deal with the threat of academic dismissal. For example, you always have the option to try negotiating with an instructor directly for a higher grade. You may have a specific argument—maybe your final exam score shows that you mastered the material enough to deserve a higher course grade—or you may simply ask them to reconsider all your work from the semester. You can also ask instructors for extra credit or makeup assignments. And, if your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, like an illness or a family emergency, you can appeal to your school or college dean for additional time to improve your GPA.
Here again, you can count on the LLF Law Firm Team to know all the options available to you. They're skilled at determining which will work best in your particular situation, and they can even help you identify who to talk to and what to say.
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 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 LLF 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 the Education Law Team can do for you, contact the LLF Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
