You might not think you need an attorney as a college student. Here's the thing—you are always at risk of dismissal. The University of West Florida could decide to kick you out of poor grades, or because some instructor accused you of plagiarism, or because some resident assistant is convinced you pulled the fire alarm at 3 am. And just like that, your academic career is over. You're heading out onto the job market without a degree.
You can defend yourself from these kinds of threats. You do have rights, even as a student. You have to know how to use those rights effectively, though. You have to know how to navigate the often complex processes and procedures of UWF's judicial system.
Or...you need someone on your side who can help you navigate those processes and procedures. That's where we come in. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We're familiar with all of UWF's rules and regulations, and we can show you how to use them to your advantage. Most importantly, we're always on your side. No matter the situation, we'll use every resource at our disposal to safeguard your educational and professional futures.
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 West Florida
Before we get into how to defend yourself, let's talk a little about what you're defending yourself from. There are basically only four reasons UWF can decide to dismiss you.
- Academic Deficiencies: It probably won't surprise you to learn that the university can dismiss you for low grades. After all, you came to UWF to learn. UWF wants to make sure you do that. The good news is that one or two low grades aren't enough to get you kicked out. You can find yourself dismissed, though, if you struggle consistently.
- Academic Misconduct: You can also be dismissed for any type of academic dishonesty. Cheating and plagiarism are prohibited under UWF's Code of Academic Conduct, and serious and multiple offenses can lead to dismissal.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You can be dismissed for non-academic misconduct as well. Get caught drinking before you're 21, throw a punch at your roommate, or break into the chemistry building in the middle of the night, and, again, dismissal is a possibility.
- Sexual Misconduct: These offenses almost always lead to dismissal. In part, this is because they are of such a serious nature. In addition, sexually-based offenses are prohibited by federal law (Title IX), and universities are required by that law to maintain strict policies.
Misconduct Defenses
What do you do, though, if you've been accused of one of these offenses? That depends on the specific nature of the offense.
If you're facing a misconduct allegation of any kind, the university must treat you as innocent (“Not Responsible”) until proven guilty (“Responsible”). UWF will conduct an investigation and hold a hearing. With the help of a Lento Law Firm attorney, you can use these processes and procedures to protect yourself.
- Any member of the campus community can accuse you of misconduct, from other students to faculty. The university must believe the accusations are credible, though, before initiating an investigation.
- The university cannot investigate you until it has provided you with a Notice of the Charges. This notice will explain the allegations and your several due process rights.
- One of your most important due process rights is the right to an advisor. This advisor can be an attorney, which means someone from the Lento Law Firm can accompany you to investigative meetings and can be beside you during the hearing.
- As part of the investigation, you have the right to give your side of the story. You further have the right to review all the other evidence investigators uncover.
- Once the investigation is concluded, the university sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over this hearing.
- Both sides get to make their cases at the hearing. You may introduce evidence and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions about the other side's evidence and cross-examine their witnesses.
- Decision-makers base their decisions on the “preponderance of the evidence.” What this means is that if they think it is “more likely than not” that you committed the offense, they are required to find you Responsible (guilty).
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but appeals are reserved for students who were mistreated in some way by the judicial process. You need grounds to file an appeal, such as new evidence or a procedural error.
These processes and procedures apply in all misconduct cases, whether the charges have to do with academic, disciplinary, or sexual misconduct. Every case is different, though, and how your case unfolds will be specific to your circumstances.
No matter the charges, you can be sure your Lento Law Firm attorney is well-informed about all aspects of UWF's judicial system. We'll make sure you're fully prepared for whatever you have to face, and we'll be on hand at every step of the way to protect your rights.
Dealing With Academic Dismissal
You can defend yourself from academic dismissals as well, but the process is less formal. UWF doesn't allow students to appeal academic designations. These are based almost exclusively on grade point, and that isn't subject to challenge.
However, your Lento Law Firm attorney knows strategies you can use to avoid these kinds of dismissals. For instance,
- If you're facing extenuating circumstances, like a family emergency, you can always petition your college dean for more time to improve.
- If you consistently struggle to pass your courses, you may be dealing with an undiagnosed learning disability. Disability Services can get you tested and recommend any necessary course accommodations. You can also ask the university to set aside your low grades and allow you to retake those courses.
- You always have the option to ask for extra credit for makeup work. You may be in the habit of doing this when your grades are low, but raising a C to a B or a B to an A can also have positive effects on 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.
