In March 2023, the prestigious Tohoku University in Japan revoked the doctoral degree of a former student after discovering they had manipulated images in their dissertation and two additional published papers.

As reported in Retraction Watch, the student admitted to altering images and data in the dissertation, which did not match the results provided in the research. Although the manipulation did not affect the outcome of the research, the University felt that the student's misconduct was intentional, committed with a “high” level of maliciousness.

It's very rare for a PhD to be revoked in the United States, but it happens. Most revocations involve criminal acts (murder, sexual assault), but plagiarism and fraud also occur. Revocation may mean loss of a job or the end of a career for the former student.

Talking to the Judge: Proving the Case

Although universities and colleges have the ability to revoke undergraduate degrees, once you've completed your PhD they may not have the same power. The University of Texas recently attempted to revoke the PhD of a student, now working for Pfizer, through their academic process. The appellate court ruled that the University could not rescind a professional degree through its own review process. It must file a suit in court.

This is good news for students who have graduated and entered the real world. If you've been fighting your university over a wrongly-rescinded dissertation or allegations of plagiarism, you may have better luck in court, where you can bring your own witnesses and an attorney who can cross-examine your accusers.

If you're still working on a dissertation or haven't graduated yet, there's still hope. First, be honest about your work. The pressure on postgraduate students is enormous, and the temptation to cheat is great. Don't give in. Just as importantly, look out for accidental plagiarism. The number of papers on the Internet is growing, and you could use one without knowing. Always double-check and cite your work.

When You Need Legal Help

Universities are cracking down on alleged misconduct because of the blemish it leaves on their institutions. They don't give much thought to the harm it does to wrongly accused former students. If you're a current or former student facing a degree revocation, you need legal advice.

Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm have helped students facing degree revocation for many years. After years of hard work to earn a PhD, it's disheartening to have your school claim you cheated or lied to get it. We want to help make sure you keep your degree and the reward of your studies.

If you're facing degree revocation, call the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or contact us online. We help students at every level and institution, from community college to Ivy League and from undergraduate to post-doctorate. Call us today.