Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is an innovative university with roots going back nearly 150 years. Many students choose WPI because they intend to continue their education through a master's or PhD program. And while some WPI students find success, others aren't so lucky. Accusations of misconduct resulting in disciplinary punishment make it much harder for WPI students to graduate and enter the professional world on solid footing.
The Lento Law Firm can protect your future at WPI when misconduct accusations jeopardize your place at the university. Call our Student Defense Team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us through our website to begin building your misconduct defense.
Prohibited Conduct and Sanctions at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is responsible for educating students and providing a secure, friendly campus community for students and staff alike. WPI expects students to adhere to the university's Student Code of Conduct and policies, both on and off campus. Not all types of misconduct are created equal, but they can all result in disciplinary action. Misconduct at WPI includes:
- Academic Dishonesty
- Alcohol and Drugs Policy Violations
- Hazing
- Bias-Motivated Conduct
- Property Damage and Vandalism
- Sexual Misconduct
- Theft
- Threatening Behavior
- Weapons Violations
Misconduct accusations don't immediately result in sanctions, but students found responsible for prohibited conduct open themselves up to disciplinary punishment. If WPI proves your involvement, they can issue sanctions that include:
- Disciplinary Warning or Probation
- Removal from Housing
- Loss of Campus Privileges
- Restitution
- Community Service
- Substance Abuse Assessment
- Suspension
- Expulsion
No matter which misconduct accusations you face at WPI, the Lento Law Firm can help. Our Student Defense Team has direct experience defending WPI students and should be your first call after learning of investigations into alleged misconduct.
Disciplinary Procedures for Misconduct at WPI
Misconduct accusations are a serious matter at WPI. However, WPI provides students facing misconduct allegations the ability to work with attorneys for guidance and assistance from day one. Before responding to misconduct allegations, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team and review your defense options.
Misconduct Reporting
WPI investigates misconduct after receiving a complaint alleging that a student or organization has violated WPI's Code of Conduct or university policies. While anyone can file a complaint, WPI can itself file a complaint after learning through any means of alleged misconduct. The Dean of Students Office intakes complaints and hopes to see the following details included:
- A detailed description of the incident's time and place.
- The identity of the accused party.
- Relevant details about the alleged policy violations.
Even before thoroughly investigating misconduct allegations, WPI might impose interim restrictions, such as temporary suspension or removal from campus housing. Interim actions are most common when allegations involve threats to others, and failing to comply will result in even more disciplinary issues. In addition, WPI handles complaints involving sexual misconduct through a separate Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Policy, requiring even more understanding of WPI procedures if you hope to defend against allegations.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has direct experience representing WPI students and can help you respond to misconduct complaints before they escalate. Contact our experienced attorneys today to get started.
Notification
Once a WPI Conduct Officer receives and reviews a misconduct complaint against you, they will send a formal Charge Letter outlining the alleged violations of WPI policies or community standards. The Charge Letter will also inform you of the necessity of scheduling an initial meeting with the Conduct Officer to provide evidence and your side of the story.
WPI sends charge letters to students' WPI email addresses, and failing to respond to your notification will result in the Conduct Officer continuing the disciplinary investigation with your input. If you did not respond to a notification or need help preparing for your initial meeting, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help. WPI allows attorneys to accompany you throughout the disciplinary process, from initial meetings to later stages of the Resolution and Appeals Process.
Information Gathering
WPI staff may gather additional information in addition to the student meeting to clarify the facts of the allegations. For example, investigators could take the following actions:
- Interviewing witnesses or individuals involved in the conduct.
- Reviewing relevant documentation or statements already collected as evidence.
- Collaborating with the WPI Police Department, academic departments, or other university offices.
Only after fully gathering all relevant information will WPI make a disciplinary decision. The best way to prevent WPI from determining that you are responsible for misconduct is by providing your side of the story with the help of the Lento Law Firm.
Resolution Methods
The assigned Conduct Officer to your case will evaluate the situation and decide on one of five resolution methods. Students have the right to appeal the outcome of their disciplinary decision later, but only if their initial resolution method is an Administrative Decision or Hearing. The five available WPI resolution methods include:
- Administrative Agreement: Students engage in a one-on-one discussion with a Conduct Officer to address the Complaint's allegations and critically evaluate their behavior. Students can either accept responsibility and sanctions or accept only responsibility without agreeing to the recommended punishment. Unresolved cases often escalate to a Campus Hearing Board (CHB).
- Administrative Decision: The Conduct Officer can directly resolve a Complaint through an Administrative Decision, typically used for minor violations such as residence hall or project center policy violations.
- Hearing: CHB hearings are necessary when responsibility or sanctions cannot be agreed upon or when requested by either party during earlier Administrative Agreements. Hearings allow for witnesses, opening and closing statements, and evidence presentation, similar to court appearances.
- Restorative Conference: Restorative Conferences allow students to focus on the harm caused by their actions, take accountability, and make amends.
- Informal Resolution: The Conduct Officer may resolve a Complaint through informal discussions if the student agrees. These resolutions might be best if the misconduct is minor or the student fully agrees and accepts that their behavior violated WPI policies.
Ending the disciplinary process early might seem smart, but you should never admit to misconduct if you didn't violate policies or the sanctions are too harsh. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can review your misconduct case and determine which resolution method is best for you.
Appeals Process
WPI students accused of misconduct and found responsible have the right to appeal decisions from Administrative Decisions or CHB hearings. Appeals are limited to three specific grounds:
- Newly Available Information: Evidence was unavailable during the original decision process.
- Denial of Fair Process: Significant procedural errors affected the fairness of the disciplinary decision and outcome.
- Severity of the Sanction: Sanctions are disproportionately severe compared to the misconduct.
Students only have five business days to send their appeal to the Dean of Students Office. Each appeal must identify one of these three valid grounds if the student hopes to receive a better outcome. The Appellate Officer's decision is final, so a strong appeal is necessary to protect against serious misconduct allegations and sanctions.
If you are facing sanctions after a WPI disciplinary decision, contact the Lento Law Firm as soon as possible. Our Student Defense Team has limited time to craft an appeal before your educational journey at WPI is impacted forever.
The Lento Law Firm Defends Against Misconduct Accusations at WPI
You should never assume that misconduct allegations, even false ones, cannot impact your enrollment at WPI. The best way to avoid disciplinary punishment is by vigorously defending against misconduct accusations from day one with the help of experienced attorneys.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can assist Massachusetts students attending WPI when misconduct accusations come their way. Call today at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form to get in touch with our attorneys and protect your future.
