A for-profit institution with a nationwide presence, Chamberlain University focuses on training its students for careers in nursing. The University includes the College of Nursing, offering a range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral nursing programs; and the College of Health Professions, providing master's degrees in public health, physician's assistant studies, and social work. Chamberlain University has campuses across multiple states, including in Georgia, where it maintains two campuses in the Atlanta area: its Altmore Avenue location in Sandy Springs and a recently opened second campus on Southcrest Drive in Stockbridge.
While for-profit educational institutions can, in fact, provide a quality education leading to a good career, some, unfortunately, may employ questionable practices tied to their profit-driven objectives. This can sometimes involve manipulating the enforcement of their student misconduct policies to their financial advantage. It is essential that all educational institutions, including for-profit ones, provide quality education to their students while respecting their due process rights. If you are a nursing student at a Chamberlain University campus in Georgia and are facing allegations of misconduct, you need the advice of an education law attorney to ensure that the institution does not overlook its own policies and procedures while dealing with your case. The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm has extensive experience in cases like this, and we are here to safeguard your rights and strive to secure the best possible outcome for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.
What Does Chamberlain University Identify as Misconduct?
Both Georgia campuses of Chamberlain University (Atlanta and Stockbridge) adhere to the university-wide student codes of conduct. The University's Student Handbook includes an academic misconduct code, a student conduct code, and a Title IX policy addressing sex discrimination and sexual harassment.
Academic Misconduct: The Student Handbook details various forms of academic misconduct that could invite disciplinary proceedings. Some examples include:
- Copying: The act of acquiring information from another student by any means to gain an advantage, providing information to another student for their advantage, or claiming someone else's work as one's own.
- Plagiarism: The deliberate or inadvertent act of presenting someone else's work as your own.
- Collusion: Collaboration between two or more students on any assignment without explicit permission from the instructor, or any individual representing another student or being represented by another person for purposes such as taking an examination, authoring a paper or assignment, or fulfilling other student obligations.
- Alteration of Records: This includes forging signatures and altering the time or content of any completed examination or assignment while representing it as the original.
- Unauthorized Aids: Using unauthorized aids for assignments or examinations.
- Unauthorized Use of Proprietary Materials.
- Bribery: Offering bribes for undue academic advantage.
- Acts of Dishonesty: Misrepresenting facts for academic advantage or providing false information in relation to assignments.
Professional Misconduct. Chamberlain's Student Handbook includes a separate Professional Conduct Policy that lists these additional forms of prohibited student conduct, among other violations:
- Disruption of teaching, research, administration, or other university activities;
- Failure to comply with instructions during an exam;
- Physical or verbal abuse, threats, or intimidation directed at any university student, faculty, or staff member;
- Theft or damage to university property or property belonging to university students, faculty, or staff.
- Bullying or cyberbullying refers to abusive behavior that intimidates others, causing distress to a reasonable person.
- Hazing: involves creating situations that instill fear, distress, or discomfort related to bodily harm or group membership.
- Provocative or aggressive conduct: includes derogatory remarks about a group or race, inflammatory statements on personal, political, or religious views, or the use of profane language.
- Gambling: prohibited at university events or with university resources.
- Unlawful drug possession, distribution, or sale.
- Alcohol possession, distribution, or sale: not permitted except as allowed by law and university policy.
Title IX Violations. Any college or university receiving federal funding must comply with current federal Title IX regulations. The current federal interpretation covers various forms of sexual misconduct, each of which Chamberlain University's Title IX policy also prohibits. These include:
- Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking;
- Quid-pro-quo harassment (offering favors in exchange for sex); or
- Unwelcome behavior that is so severe, widespread, and objectively offensive that it obstructs equal access to education based on sex.
Chamberlain University Campuses in Georgia
Both of Chamberlain University's two campus locations for Georgia are located in the Atlanta area. Both the Sandy Springs and Stockbridge locations offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program that can be completed in as few as three years. The program, accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), does not require prerequisites to start nursing classes and offers flexibility with daytime and evening/weekend class options. Students can transfer qualifying credits from previous coursework and have access to financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans. Students also receive mentoring, hands-on clinical training at both campuses, and extensive simulated experience.
Procedure for Addressing Misconduct at Chamberlain University
To protect student rights, not only must a school detail what constitutes student misconduct (as Chamberlain University has done), but they must also detail the procedures for determining whether misconduct occurred and how disciplinary actions are determined. These procedures significantly contribute to the reliability and fairness of the outcomes. Here's an overview of the procedures Chamberlain University follows in cases of student misconduct, broken down into academic misconduct, professional misconduct, and Title IX violations.
- Academic Misconduct Procedures. Per Chamberlain University policy, the instructor can address student academic misconduct and apply penalties, including course failure. Cases may be referred to a Hearing Panel for review. If charged, the student can attend a meeting, present evidence with an attorney's assistance (although the attorney cannot speak for them), and request an administrative review if found guilty.
- Professional Misconduct Procedures. The Student Handbook assigns a conduct administrator to address complaints about student professional misconduct. If the administrator cannot resolve the complaint to both parties' satisfaction, it goes to a Professional Review Committee. This committee follows procedures akin to those of Hearing Panels for academic misconduct, allowing the student to question witnesses. The student can appeal an unfavorable decision.
- Title IX Procedures. Upon receipt of a Title IX sexual misconduct complaint, colleges and universities must adhere to federal regulations to assess misconduct. These rules evolve under new administrations. Chamberlain University's Title IX policy aligns with federal rules, mirroring procedures for academic and professional misconduct. A three-member Decision-Maker panel, chosen by the Title IX coordinator, oversees the hearing. The accused student can have a lawyer present but questions witnesses independently. The panel applies a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard, and students can appeal adverse decisions.
Sanctions for Misconduct at Chamberlain University
Chamberlain University takes academic misconduct very seriously to uphold the credibility of its programs and degrees. The Student Handbook and Title IX policy of Chamberlain University outline potential sanctions for misconduct, which include:
- Rejection of admission;
- Withdrawal of admission;
- Issuing a warning;
- Placing on probation;
- Deprivation of privileges;
- Imposition of fines and requirement of restitution;
- Mandating additional training;
- Imposing contact restrictions;
- Suspension from enrollment;
- Termination of enrollment;
- Revocation of degree.
The Role of the Lento Law Firm
Facing misconduct allegations can be an extremely stressful experience for any student, often leading to feelings of fear and distraction. If you find yourself in this situation, you may feel you are at a loss because you don't have the time, skills, or resources to defend yourself effectively. Without proper legal counsel, you may not even realize if the school has violated your rights. It's not uncommon for a for-profit institution to seek creative ways to bypass its own procedures and aim for your suspension or expulsion while retaining your tuition and loan funds.
The Student Defense Team at Lento Law Firm has extensive nationwide experience in handling student defense cases like yours. We possess the requisite skills and experience to help you successfully defend yourself against any academic, professional, or Title IX misconduct charges at either of Chamberlain University's Georgia campuses. The university's procedures offer protections that enable our team to help you evaluate allegations, identify evidence to present, challenge the complainant's evidence, and scrutinize and appeal unfavorable findings to debunk false or inflated charges.
Don't underestimate the potential of misconduct allegations to derail your career, no matter how far-fetched they may seem. And don't dismiss the possibility that your school might impose unfair disciplinary actions against you in order to keep your tuition money without furthering your education. Allegations of student misconduct can negatively impact your reputation, education, and future career prospects, sometimes even before you realize your rights have been infringed. Hundreds of college and university students across the nation have engaged the Lento Law Firm Team to defend them against and overturn academic misconduct allegations. Act now to safeguard your future. Contact us at 888-535-3686 to schedule a consultation or fill out our online form.
