Finding out you have been suspended, dismissed, or sanctioned by Miami Dade College (MDC) is upsetting. You have gone through the entire disciplinary action process and must feel defeated. The situation is frustrating. Whether no one believes your innocence or you're a young person who made a mistake, you don't deserve to have your academic career damaged or ruined.
At the Lento Law Firm, we fight to protect your rights and academic future. Our Student Defense Team's mission is to reduce or eliminate the sanctions against you so you can get your life back on track. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
What Sanctions Should I Appeal?
Especially if you are innocent, you might want to put up a fight over even the smallest punishment. But whether the allegations against you were a misunderstanding or a genuine mistake, not all sanctions should be or are eligible for appeal. You shouldn't be appealing your case if MDC has given you community service or requires you to pay restitution (reimbursement) for any property you may have damaged or stolen. Even disciplinary probation or censure isn't too severe of punishment. These sanctions are small peanuts in the grand scheme of your future.
You need to consider an appeal if you have been issued a disciplinary sanction of expulsion or suspension. Even if you believe your case was open and shut, that may not be the case. You don't need to be innocent to succeed in appealing your case (as we will discuss later).
The sanctions of suspension or dismissal from MDC can derail your life. Your entire academic career can be over, and your professional career can be cut off before you start. Severe sanctions like suspension and dismissal not only impact you at MDC. Any school you try to transfer to will see these sanctions against you and likely deny you admission. When life-altering sanctions have been issued against you, fight for your future with the Lento Law Firm.
When Can I File an Appeal?
Colleges and universities like the appeals process to be over as soon as they have made their decision, making the appeal window short. Presumably, they hope you are too upset, overwhelmed, or disorganized to appeal your case. MDC is more generous than most schools with a window of appeal. You have ten business days after you receive the findings from your hearing to file an appeal. (Many schools only give students five days).
Because you don't have much time to file, you need to contact the Lento Law Firm immediately. Our Student Defense Team will review your entire case file, hearing transcripts, and more and begin drafting your appeal. The longer we have to prepare your case before the appeal is due, the better your chances of reduced sanctions on appeal. Don't let the deadline for filing an appeal pass – contact us today!
Grounds for Appeal
Not every case is eligible for appeal. You aren't automatically eligible for an appeal just because you aren't happy with the Campus Discipline Committee's decision. MDC allows students to appeal their disciplinary actions on two separate grounds. First, on the basis of the severity of the penalty. Second, on the basis that the student's rights were violated during the disciplinary action process.
Even if you aren't confident that you are eligible for appeal, call the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team has seen countless disciplinary action appeals; we will let you know if you have a basis for appeal.
The Appeals Process
To appeal your sanctions, you will need to submit a written appeal to the Student Dean's Office. You need more than just a letter saying you think the sanctions against you were unfair or you have been wronged in the disciplinary action process. Your complaint needs to be thorough and detailed. It must include a description of the specific errors in your case or an explanation as to why the sanctions against you are not appropriate.
MDC allows you to request a hearing in your appeal. But if MDC grants you a new hearing, it isn't a re-do of your disciplinary action hearing. The only things that will be heard on appeal are the grounds for the appeal.
Drafting an appeal on your own would be unwise. You need a Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team attorney to draft your appeal. It's our job to argue on behalf of our clients effectively and persuasively. We know firsthand what sanctions are common for different misconduct and what the disciplinary action process should or shouldn't look like. As a student, you don't have that knowledge.
When the Student Dean's Office receives your appeal, it will give it to the Campus President or an MDC official designated by the Campus President. If you have requested a hearing, the Campus President will have 10 business days to set a hearing date. If there is no hearing request, the Campus President will decide solely on the information provided in your written appeal. They have the option to make one of the following determinations on appeal:
- Affirm the original decision and sanctions
- Remand your case for a new hearing before a different Campus Discipline Committee with a new Hearing Officer
- Reduce the sanctions
- Dismiss the charges
When the Campus President issues their appeal decision, that decision is final.
Retain the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Today
Having a Lento Law Firm attorney on your side shows MDC that they can't get away with anything less than a fair disciplinary process. If anything wasn't done properly during your disciplinary action process that could have impacted your case, MDC needs to rectify that. If they have unfairly treated you by imposing outrageous sanctions, your attorney will clarify that we know something isn't right here.
Fight for your future today with the help of the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. Call us at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
