Title IX is a civil rights law that is implemented and enforced in the majority of schools in Florida, including colleges and universities. It prohibits gender-based discrimination like sexual harassment and sexual assault committed against students.
If a complainant submits a complaint of sexual misconduct that is pervasive enough to create a hostile environment for that student and other members of the community, a school must act immediately to resolve this issue. Title IX resolution procedures typically consist of several meetings, an investigation, and at times a hearing. After the process has concluded, a finding of “responsible” or “not responsible” will be assigned to the accused student. If responsible, a student can be exposed to harsh consequences including suspension or expulsion. As unfortunate as a severe sanction can be for a student found responsible, the consequences of having a school record which reflects the sexual misconduct finding can also be difficult to bear both in the short and long term. Fortunately, student respondents have the option of appealing a decision, especially in cases when a decision could be considered unfair.
Your Right to Appeal
Generally, the appellate process exists to keep authorities in check. This is exactly how this process works in colleges. School authorities are not infallible, and it is possible for their decisions to be unfair. In fact, unfair findings happen quite often, and innocent students are left to face unwarranted ramifications. This is why student respondents are encouraged to utilize their right to appeal.
Any questions about the course of action that should be taken in your unique case should be discussed with a student defense attorney. A violation of Title IX carries harsh sanctions like suspension and expulsion. Punishments that can derail your academic and professional career. Bottom line, understanding your right to appeal is important.
Grounds for an Appeal
An appeal will only be considered and granted if it is based on the proper grounds. These grounds are incredibly specific. They include:
- Procedural error: a vital error was made at some time during the disciplinary process
- Violation of due process rights: a student believes the school stripped them of their entitled rights under Title IX and school policy.
- Disproportionate sanction: the sanction recommended by the school is unduly disproportionate to the severity of the violation.
- New evidence available: evidence that could have had substantially influenced a case outcome has now been discovered.
Most schools have strict appeal submission deadlines. If you want your appeal granted, be sure to follow your school's guidelines. If an appeal is not submitted on time or is deemed substantively ineligible the original determination and sanction will stand.
Florida Title IX Appeal Advisor
If you're a college student attending a Florida college or university and are planning on appealing a Title IX case outcome, you need the assistance of a skilled defense attorney. Writing an effective and compelling appeal can be difficult, and it's easy to miss the mark. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped numerous students in your situation overcome their charges by submitting a successful appeal. Contact him online or give him a call at 855-535-3686 for his help.
Florida colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's Title IX advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Acupuncture and Massage College
- AI Miami International University of Art and Design
- American InterContinental University South Florida
- Argosy University Sarasota
- Argosy University Tampa
- Ave Maria University
- Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology
- Barry University
- Beacon College
- Bethune Cookman University
- Brevard Community College
- Broward College
- Brown Mackie College Miami
- Carlos Albizu University Miami
- CBT College Cutler Bay
- Centura Institute
- Chamberlain College of Nursing Florida
- Chipola College
- City College Altamonte Springs
- City College Fort Lauderdale
- City College Gainesville
- City College Miami
- College of Business and Technology Flagler
- College of Business and Technology Hialeah
- College of Business and Technology Kendall
- College of Central Florida
- Daytona State College
- DeVry University Florida
- Digital Media Arts College
- Eckerd College
- Edison State College
- Edward Waters College
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
- Everest Institute Fort Lauderdale
- Everest Institute Hialeah
- Everest Institute Kendall
- Everest Institute North Miami
- Everest University Brandon
- Everest University Jacksonville
- Everest University Lakeland
- Everest University Largo
- Everest University Melbourne
- Everest University North Orlando
- Everest University Orange Park
- Everest University Pompano Beach
- Everest University South Orlando
- Everest University Tampa
- Everglades University
- Flagler College St Augustine
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida Career College Clearwater
- Florida Career College Miami
- Florida Christian College
- Florida College
- Florida Gateway College
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Florida International University
- Florida Keys Community College
- Florida Memorial University
- Florida National College Main Campus
- Florida Southern College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Florida State University
- Fortis College
- Fortis College Largo
- Fortis College Miami
- Fortis College Tampa
- Fortis College Winter Park
- Fortis Institute Pensacola
- Full Sail University
- Golf Academy of America Altamonte Springs
- Gulf Coast State College
- Herzing University Winter Park
- Hillsborough Community College
- Hobe Sound Bible College
- Hodges University
- Indian River State College
- International Academy of Design and Technology Online
- International Academy of Design and Technology Orlando
- International Academy of Design and Technology Tampa
- ITT Technical Institute Fort Lauderdale
- ITT Technical Institute Fort Myers
- ITT Technical Institute Jacksonville
- ITT Technical Institute Lake Mary
- ITT Technical Institute Miami
- ITT Technical Institute Orlando
- ITT Technical Institute St. Petersburg
- ITT Technical Institute Tallahassee
- ITT Technical Institute Tampa
- ITT Technical Institute University Park
- Jacksonville University
- Johnson & Wales University North Miami
- Jones College Jacksonville
- Jose Maria Vargas University
- Keiser University
- Key College
- Lake Sumter Community College
- Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Miami
- Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Orlando
- Lincoln College of Technology West Palm Beach
- Lynn University
- Medvance Institute Fort Lauderdale
- Medvance Institute Miami
- Medvance Institute West Palm
- Miami Ad School Miami Beach
- Miami Dade College
- Millennia Atlantic University
- New College of Florida
- North Florida Community College
- Northwest Florida State College
- Northwood University Florida
- Nova Southeastern University
- Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
- Palm Beach State College
- Pasco Hernando Community College
- Pensacola State College
- Polk State College
- Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico Miami Campus
- Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico Orlando
- Remington College
- Remington College Tampa Campus
- Ringling College of Art and Design
- Rollins College
- Saint John Vianney College Seminary
- Saint Johns River State College
- Saint Leo University
- Saint Thomas University
- Sanford Brown Institute Ft Lauderdale
- Sanford Brown Institute Jacksonville
- Sanford Brown Institute Orlando
- Sanford Brown Institute Tampa
- Santa Fe College
- Schiller International University
- Seminole State College of Florida
- South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary
- South Florida Community College
- South University Tampa
- South University West Palm Beach
- Southeastern College
- Southeastern College
- Southeastern University
- Southwest Florida College
- St Petersburg College
- State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota
- Stenotype Institute of Jacksonville Inc. Jacksonville
- Stenotype Institute of Jacksonville Inc. Orlando
- Stetson University
- Tallahassee Community College
- Talmudic College of Florida
- Taylor College
- The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
- The Baptist College of Florida
- The University of Tampa
- The University of West Florida
- Trinity Baptist College
- Trinity College of Florida
- Trinity International University Florida
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- University of Fort Lauderdale
- University of Miami
- University of North Florida
- University of Phoenix Central Florida Campus
- University of Phoenix North Florida Campus
- University of Phoenix South Florida Campus
- University of Phoenix West Florida Campus
- University of South Florida Main Campus
- University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus
- Valencia College
- Virginia College Jacksonville
- Virginia College Pensacola
- Warner University
- Webber International University
- Yeshivah Gedolah Rabbinical College
A Title IX finding of responsibility can change an accused student's life if not properly addressed and appealed, and Joseph D. Lento has a decade of experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX advisor and educational consultant to students facing disciplinary cases in Florida and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
