The main goal for you, as a college student, is to get your college degree and start a career with the tools your college or university has equipped you. However, a lot can happen while you are trying to achieve this goal. Allegations that you have violated your school's code of conduct can abruptly halt your plans, or even prevent you from graduating. Some charges will be serious on their face, and unfortunately, even seemingly less serious offenses can have unexpected consequences both in the short and long-term. This is why it's important that you retain a lawyer that can help you defend against charges so you can graduate without any hindrances or issues.
Common Misconduct Allegations
Students are granted the right to access their school's code of conduct. This code details a broad range actions that are prohibited on campus property, in addition to when off-campus, and the potential repercussions that will be carried out if the code is violated. Here are some of the most common student code violations in Pennsylvania:
Academic misconduct: When a student has failed to comply with the ethical academic standards that are upheld by a higher education institution, they have committed academic misconduct. The commission of this violation typically consists of cheating, plagiarism, duplicate submissions, fabrication, and the misuse of academic materials.
Residential conduct: Students who live on university and college campuses have an obligation to conduct themselves in a way that is in accordance with their school's residential guidelines. This means they must adhere to rules involving drug and alcohol prohibitions, community standards, noise regulations, cleanliness standards, etc.
Hazing: Students who participate in Greek life organizations are common perpetrators of the act of hazing. This misconduct occurs when a person or organization recklessly endangers the mental, physical and academic health of another student or students. Activities that embarrass, humiliate, degrade or discomforts students fall under the category of hazing, and students responsible will be subject to disciplinary action. Hazing is also a crime in Pennsylvania, so it is critical to make certain that hazing charges are addressed in the best manner possible to avoid unexpected consequences.
Sexual misconduct: Sexual harassment, rape, and sexual assault are different forms of sexual misconduct, and they all fall under the umbrella of federal Title IX policy. These allegations should not be taken lightly since schools are required to approach and handle these cases to the likeness of the Department of Education. The failure to do so could lead to the loss of federal funding for schools. With such high stakes, students should not expect schools to look the other way or give them a break, sexual misconduct cases will be taken very seriously.
Code of Conduct Violation Consequences
Although some charges may be more serious than others, any violation on your academic record could jeopardize your chances of continuing your education and hinder your professional career prospects. If you are planning to land a government job, seek to take the bar exam, wish to continue your education or pursue a career in academia, the implications of the charges on your disciplinary file can prohibit you from achieving these goals. This is why it is important that you retain an attorney that will fiercely defend these charges before they taint your academic record.
Pennsylvania Student Misconduct/Disciplinary Attorney
If you are a student who is facing allegations of misconduct, you should immediately consult with an attorney. Such allegations must be defended properly, or else they may haunt you for the rest of your life. With the help of an attorney who has successfully represented students who have been in your predicament, you can maximize your chances of keeping your academic and disciplinary record clean. Contact the LLF Law Firm today.
The following links provide specific information as to the respective Pennsylvania schools' Code of Conduct disciplinary procedures in cases involving accused students:
- Albright College
- Allegheny College
- Alvernia University
- Arcadia University
- Bryn Mawr College
- Bloomsburg University
- Bucknell University
- Cabrini University
- Cairn University
- California University of Pennsylvania
- Carlow University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Cedar Crest College
- Central Penn College
- Chatham University
- Chestnut Hill College
- Cheyney University
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania
- Delaware Valley University
- DeSales University
- Dickinson College
- Drexel University
- Duquesne University
- East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
- Eastern University
- Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
- Elizabethtown College
- Franklin & Marshall College
- Gannon University
- Geneva College
- Gettysburg College
- Grove City College
- Gwynedd Mercy University
- Harcum College
- Haverford College
- Holy Family University
- Immaculata University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Juniata College
- Keystone College
- King's College
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
- Lackawanna College
- Lafayette College
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- La Roche College
- La Salle University
- Lebanon Valley College
- Lehigh University
- Lincoln University
- Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
- Lycoming College
- Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
- Marywood University
- Mercyhurst University
- Messiah College
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania
- Misericordia University
- Moravian College
- Mount Aloysius College
- Muhlenberg College
- Neumann University
- Peirce College
- Pennsylvania State University
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Philadelphia University
- Point Park University
- Robert Morris University
- Rosemont College
- Saint Francis University
- Saint Joseph's University
- Saint Vincent College
- Seton Hill University
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
- Susquehanna University
- Swarthmore College
- Temple University
- Thiel College
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh
- University Of The Arts
- University of the Sciences
- University of Scranton
- Ursinus College
- Villanova University
- Washington & Jefferson College
- Waynesburg University
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Westminster College
- Widener University
- Wilkes University
- York College of Pennsylvania
