College is tough. How tough? Every year, Valencia College dismisses dozens of students for everything from low GPAs to plagiarism to property damage. In other words, you can't just assume that because you go into VC, you'll graduate in four years with a degree. A lot can go wrong.
You're not entirely on your own, though. If you're facing dismissal, there's help available. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team help students deal with all types of accusations, from sexual misconduct to cheating. They know the law; they know the Valencia College system and how it works. Most importantly, they're on your side. They understand that colleges and universities don't always treat their students fairly, and they are determined to make sure you get every right you deserve.
Reasons for Dismissal at Valencia College
Avoiding dismissal starts with knowing what can get you dismissed. That will keep you from making mistakes in the first place. It will also ensure you know exactly what you're up against should you find yourself accused.
- Academic Deficiencies: It probably won't surprise you to learn that you can be expelled from Valencia if your grades fall too low. The school has an academic standing policy that requires you to earn a 2.0 GPA every term. Should you fall behind, you can be placed on Academic Probation, suspended, or even dismissed entirely.
- Academic Misconduct: You can also be dismissed for violating Valencia's many rules. The first of these to worry about are those relating to academic integrity. Plagiarism, cheating, forgery, and anything else that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in the classroom, can get you into trouble. First-time offenses usually result in a lowered course grade, but serious and multiple offenses are often punished with dismissal.
- Disciplinary misconduct: You aren't just a student at Valencia. You're also a member of the Valencia community, and as a member of that community, you're subject to yet another set of disciplinary rules. The Student Code of Conduct prohibits things like disorderly conduct, drug possession, and hazing. The school punishes infractions with a variety of different sanctions, but dismissal is certainly always a possibility.
- Sexual misconduct: Sexually-based offenses aren't just a matter of school policy; under Title IX, they are prohibited by federal law. As a result, allegations are taken extremely seriously, and the most common penalty for those found responsible is dismissal.
Defending Yourself from Misconduct Charges
An allegation of misconduct doesn't necessarily mean you'll be dismissed. You have to be found Responsible for (guilty of) the misconduct, and that involves an extensive judicial process.
- Cases usually begin with a complaint, either to the Dean of Students or, in the case of sexual misconduct, the Title IX Coordinator.
- Throughout the process, you have the right to an advisor, and this advisor can be an attorney. While there are some limitations on an advisor's role, an attorney from the Lento Firm can be instrumental in helping you prepare for and present your defense.
- You should expect Valencia to conduct some type of investigation into the situation, whether formal or informal.
- Any evidence collected during an investigation is turned over to the Dean of Students or the Title IX Coordinator, who then sets a time and date for adjudication.
- Adjudication may be in the form of a hearing (Title IX cases) or a disciplinary conference before the school's Student Conduct Committee.
- A conference or hearing is your opportunity to make your case for your innocence or for the unfairness of the sanction that's been proposed. You are allowed to respond to the school's evidence and to pose questions for any witnesses.
- Once the conference or hearing is complete, the committee deliberates as to your level of Responsibility. In doing so, members use a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Note that this is a lesser standard than “beyond a reasonable doubt.” In simple terms, decision-makers must find you responsible if they are more than 50 percent convinced of your guilt.
- You can request an appeal of the case outcome, but these are only granted under certain narrow conditions:
- New evidence
- Procedural error
- Conflict of interest
- An outcome that doesn't fit the facts
- Excessive sanction
You should know that there are some small but important differences in how different types of misconduct are dealt with. For instance, in Title IX sexual misconduct cases, you have the right to cross-examine the Complainant (your accuser) and any other witnesses against you, a right you don't have in any other cases.
Whatever you've been accused of doing, however, Joseph D. Lento and his Team have the experience necessary to guide you through the process. Over the years, they've handled every type of case, from simple plagiarism to rape. They have the background to know exactly what type of defense will work best in your case and the training to put it into action.
Academic Dismissals
Academic dismissals work considerably differently from misconduct dismissals. Among these differences, Valencia doesn't have any formal procedures in place for challenging academic decisions.
However, there are some useful approaches for dealing with the threat of an academic sanction. For instance,
- You can try filing an official grade appeal asking that someone of a higher authority than your professor—a dean, for example, or the university president—consider your work.
- You can also simply try negotiating directly with an instructor. If you have a compelling argument or some persuasive evidence, you might be able to convince them to raise your final grade.
- If your academic deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, like a serious medical issue, you can ask the Dean of Students for more time to improve.
As with misconduct dismissals, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know all the options open to you and can help you choose the one best suited to your situation.
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 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.
