If your child is appealing a university sexual misconduct case in Vermont, it's important to familiarize yourself with the school's policies on the appeal process. Different colleges and universities are going to have different appeal processes. For example, at some schools, the appeal process will start after there's a finding of responsibility and/or sanctions are imposed after an investigation or a hearing.
At other schools, the appeal process will start the hearing process. It's also important to understand your college or university's allowable grounds for the appeal. Schools often have similar allowable grounds. For example, a procedural error or defect which led to an adverse outcome, new evidence recently not available at an earlier point in the process, a disproportionate sanction. It's important to meet the school's allowable grounds for the appeal and also the appeal deadline.
You should never go through the student disciplinary process on your own. If your son or daughter finds it necessary to appeal a finding of responsibility and/or a sanction in a university sexual misconduct case at their college or university in Vermont, an experienced attorney advisor will be their best ally through the process.
Vermont colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's college sexual misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Bennington College
- Castleton State College
- Champlain College
- College of St Joseph
- Community College of Vermont
- Goddard College
- Green Mountain College
- Johnson State College
- Landmark College
- Lyndon State College
- Marlboro College
- Middlebury College
- Norwich University
- Saint Michael's College
- Southern Vermont College
- Sterling College
- University of Vermont
- Vermont Technical College
It is critical to make certain the college sexual misconduct investigation at your Vermont school is handled properly and that the accused student's interests are protected from as early as possible during the sexual misconduct investigative process. One major reason is because even at colleges and universities where a finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct charges is made at a hearing, the investigation will set the stage for what the hearing panel is provided prior to a hearing (and what the hearing panel will in large part rely on at a hearing), and at schools where the finding of responsibility is made solely through the investigative process, what takes place during the investigation itself will determine whether the accused is found responsible or not responsible for college sexual misconduct charges.
Unfortunately, some students, families, and college employees make the mistake of not taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible when accused of sexual misconduct at college. Some people will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," their college or university will be fair and impartial and will arrive at the truth. In a perfect world this may be the case, but in a perfect world, sexual misconduct cases would not exist.
Fighting passionately for the future of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation for many years, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that an accused's academic and professional future is on the line. 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 and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a college sexual misconduct advisor to students and others in academia facing sexual misconduct investigations and Title IX disciplinary cases in Vermont and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National College Sexual Misconduct Attorney Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686 or by completing our online form.
