If you're facing dismissal from the University of the Cumberlands, you can't afford to take the situation lightly. Dismissal doesn't just mean leaving Cumberlands. You'll have a dismissal notation on your transcript, and that can keep you from transferring and even interfere with job applications.
At the very first sign of trouble, it's important you get help. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team understands just what's at stake, and we're committed to protecting your rights. We back up that commitment with a background in educational law and years of experience representing student clients. We know the University of the Cumberlands administrative and judicial procedures inside and out and can show you how to use them to your best advantage.
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 the Cumberlands
Let's start by outlining the rules and regulations at Cumberlands. Just what is it that can get you dismissed from the university?
- Academic Deficiencies: Your first responsibility is to go to class and study. To make sure you attend to these responsibilities, Cumberlands maintains an academic standing policy. According to that policy, a GPA under 2.0 means probation. Continue to struggle while on probation, and you can also wind up dismissed.
- Academic Misconduct: In addition, you're subject to Cumberland's strict academic integrity policy. Cheating and plagiarism are explicitly prohibited, but any form of classroom dishonesty can result in an allegation. First offenses are usually punished with classroom sanctions. Second offenses, though, frequently lead to dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: As a Christian university, Cumberland's code of student conduct is especially stringent. Even minor offenses such as theft, trespassing, and vandalism can put your academic career in jeopardy.
- Sexual Misconduct: There is no more serious allegation a college student can face than an allegation of sexual misconduct. Such offenses are governed by federal law under Title IX, and most students found Responsible (guilty) wind up dismissed.
Misconduct Defenses
The University of the Cumberlands's judicial processes and procedures don't fully protect accused students. As a result, it's especially important that you pay attention to how the system works.
In fact, the university doesn't actually outline what happens during investigations and hearings, but there are some rights you should expect and, if necessary, demand.
- Anyone at the university can level an allegation of misconduct against you, but the university must determine whether the allegations are credible before issuing an official charge.
- If you are officially charged with an offense, the university should provide you with written Notice of the Charges. This notice should include details about the allegations and a list of your due process rights.
- You should be treated as innocent (“Not Responsible”) until such time as the university can prove you guilty (“Responsible”). You should be allowed to review all evidence in the case, and you should receive advanced notification of all meetings and proceedings so that you can prepare for them.
- The university should conduct some type of investigation. Without evidence, any sanctions would be unjust. As part of the investigation, you should have the chance to give your side of the story, to offer evidence, and to suggest witnesses for investigators to interview.
- You should expect investigators to report their findings back to the university. Those findings will ordinarily become the foundation for a hearing.
- Hearings can be administrative, or you might be allowed to make your case to a panel of decision-makers. In any case, you should be allowed to introduce evidence, to call witnesses to testify, and to raise questions about any witnesses against you.
- Decision-makers do not have to find you guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt” the way they would in a criminal case. However, they must believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense before finding your Responsible.
- Finally, if you lose your case, you should have an opportunity to appeal. Generally, you must have grounds for an appeal, such as new evidence to present or an accusation of procedural error.
In most instances, Cumberlands does not allow you to bring an attorney with you to meetings and proceedings. The one exception is Title IX sexual misconduct cases, where the guidelines are set by the federal government.
Whether or not the Lento Law Firm attorney can accompany you to investigative interviews and hearings is less important, though, than the help they can provide in developing your defense. Your attorney will work with you to uncover evidence, advise you on how to answer questions, suggest questions for you to ask witnesses, draft any necessary documents, and even coach you in delivering your arguments.
No one can bar you from consulting with the Lento Law Firm, and we can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful defense.
Dealing With Academic Dismissal
There are no hearings for academic dismissal cases. There are no investigations. Your GPA either is above 2.0, or it isn't.
However, there are ways to deal with the threat of these dismissals. The Lento Law Firm attorney can suggest a number of useful strategies. For example,
- Extenuating circumstances, like a serious illness or a family crisis, can be grounds for extra time to improve. You can always try appealing directly to the dean of your school or college.
- Low grades are sometimes the result of a learning disability. If you should discover you have such a disability, you can ask the university to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake those courses with proper accommodations in place.
- You'll find some faculty are willing to assign makeup and extra credit, especially to students with borderline grades. Only a few may say yes, but even one or two can make a big difference to your GPA.
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.
