College isn't easy. Don't believe us? Check out how many students Virginia Commonwealth dismisses every year. That's right: you got into VCU, but there are no guarantees that you'll ultimately graduate. You can be dismissed for everything from plagiarism to harassment, to plain old low grades.
Dismissal can deliver a serious—sometimes fatal—blow to your education. At best, it means starting over at an entirely new school. At worst, it means the end of your academic life altogether. After all, few colleges and universities are willing to accept students who have already been dismissed from another school.
If you're facing dismissal, then you have to take it seriously. It is no exaggeration to say that your entire future is at stake. What does taking it seriously mean? It means finding out everything you can about your situation. Why is the school trying to dismiss you, and what options doesn't it offer for defending yourself?
Taking it seriously means something else too. It means you don't want to try and handle this situation on your own. You need professional help. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are on your side. They know how the VCU system works. They know who the major players are, how campus judicial procedures operate, and how to ensure that you're treated fairly. At the first sign of trouble, educate yourself. Then contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-555-3686, and find out how they can help.
Reasons for Dismissal at Virginia Commonwealth University
You can't possibly defend yourself from dismissal unless you understand exactly why VCU is trying to dismiss you. How are you supposed to argue that you deserve to remain at the school if you don't truly know what you're alleged to have done?
It turns out there are a number of reasons for dismissal at VCU, too many, in fact, to list them all here. However, all of them can be grouped into four simple categories. Your dismissal likely falls into one of these.
- Academic Deficiencies: You came to VCU to be a student, so it shouldn't surprise you that the school expects you to meet certain academic standards. The most important of these is cumulative grade points. Should your GPA fall below 2.0 at any point, you are placed on “warning” status. Continue to struggle, and you'll face increasing sanctions, including—if things go badly enough—dismissal.
- Academic Misconduct: Worrying over the academic standing policy drives some VCU students to cheat. Unfortunately, cheating risks dismissal too. The school's Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct make clear that any academic dishonesty is subject to serious consequences. Among these, you can be dismissed from the course and, if the offense is bad enough, dismissed from the university.
- Disciplinary misconduct: You aren't just subject to rules in the classroom. All of your conduct on campus is under scrutiny. The Student Code of Conduct has rules about everything from using computer facilities to gambling. Here again, particularly egregious offenses are sometimes punished with dismissal.
- Sexual misconduct: These offenses are almost always punished with dismissal. Sexual misconduct is actually governed by federal law under Title IX, and schools treat allegations very seriously.
Defending Yourself From Misconduct Charges
The good news is, no matter what type of misconduct you're charged with at VCU, you have the right to a thorough investigation and to defend yourself at a formal hearing. Here's how that process usually works.
- Cases begin with a complaint lodged with the appropriate administrative office.
- If it believes the complaint has some merit, the school then conducts an investigation. As part of this investigation, an appointed Investigator will interview both sides. They'll also collect any physical evidence and talk with witnesses who might have some information about what happened.
- From the start of the case, you have some important due process rights. For instance, the school must treat you as “Not Responsible” (innocent) until you've been proven “Responsible” (guilty). In addition, you are entitled to an advisor, someone to accompany you to all meetings and proceedings. This advisor can be—and should be—an attorney.
- Once the investigation is complete, the Investigator submits a written summary of their findings. This becomes a key piece of evidence in the next phase of the case—the hearing.
- You have the right to present your full case at the hearing. You can make arguments, present evidence, and call witnesses. You can also cross-examine any witnesses against you. Of course, the other side in the case—usually called the “Complainant”—has these same rights.
- The final component of the hearing is the deliberations. Decision makers must decide whether or not you are Responsible for violating school policy. If you should be found Not Responsible, charges are dismissed. If you're found Responsible, however, decision-makers must also decide on an appropriate sanction.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome to the school's Conduct Appeal Board (CAB). However, you may only appeal on certain grounds. These include
- Procedural error
- New evidence
- A sanction disproportionate to the offense
While this general outline applies to all cases, there are some differences in how different types of cases are investigated and adjudicated. For instance, academic misconduct cases are decided using the legal standard “clear and convincing.” Disciplinary and Sexual misconduct cases are decided using a different standard, “preponderance of the evidence.”
No matter what type of charges you are facing, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team have the background and experience to make sure you're treated fairly and that you get the best possible resolution to your case. They are familiar with all judicial procedures at VCU, and they can help you navigate those procedures from start to finish.
Academic Dismissal Cases
Academic dismissal cases are usually considerably different from misconduct cases. You aren't simply being accused of breaking a rule; your transgression is a matter of fact—your GPA. As a result, VCU doesn't offer any formal processes for defending yourself from this type of dismissal.
That doesn't mean there aren't options. Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team know a number of strategies for defending yourself from the threat of academic dismissal.
- If your deficiencies are the result of extenuating circumstances, you can try appealing directly to the dean of your school or college.
- If you have a disability, you may be entitled to special consideration as a student.
- Faculty are sometimes open to grade negotiation if you know how to approach them properly.
Here again, no matter what type of situation you're facing, Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can help you come up with a solution, and they can help you put that solution into action.
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. Plus, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line. You're facing dismissal, and 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 Joseph D. Lento Law Firm Team 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 Education Law Team can do for you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
