The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift to virtual classes for colleges and universities across the country. One consequence of the change has been a decrease in the number and severity of school discipline actions.

Harvard College recently announced the number of undergraduate disciplinary actions—forced withdrawals, probation, and admonition—has once again fallen since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, reaching a six-year low.

Williams College saw more lenient sanctions given to students in violation of the academic honor code during the 2020-21 school year. They view some students' “poor decision making” as a response to the pressures of working virtually and are seeking ways to reach out to and support students before they commit acts of academic dishonesty.

Pre-Pandemic Influences

Various forces were already pushing the trend downward for a few years before the pandemic. Educational reform movements and the introduction of alternative disciplinary solutions, along with the shifting policies of political administrations, have had significant influence.

School reform movements to limit the use of exclusionary disciplinary sanctions (suspensions and expulsions), have sought to implement more supportive strategies, including behavioral interventions, counseling, dropout prevention and guidance services for at-risk students.

Stay Alert: The Pendulum Swings Both Ways

Although the pendulum has swung in the direction of fewer, more lenient, and less punitive disciplinary actions, the problem with pendulums is they swing back and sometimes they swing back hard.

You and/or your student shouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security, because so many forces can wreak havoc with the intentions behind, application and interpretation of school disciplinary policies.

Contact an Experienced College Misconduct Defense Lawyer

If you or your student are notified that you're facing a conduct code investigation, your next move should be to contact an experienced college misconduct defense lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer can conduct an independent investigation of the facts, collect additional evidence, and help you plan a strategic defense. There's too much at stake for you to risk going it alone. Contact Attorney Joseph D. Lento at 888-535-3686 or online.

How Political Changes Impact School Disciplinary Procedures

Each new federal administration introduces can potentially make changes to how schools are required to handle instances of misconduct.

In 2011, the pendulum swung in favor of accusers and (inadvertently) against the accused when the Obama Administration responded to an outcry to change the culture around sexual assault on campuses across the country. Known colloquially as the Dear College Letter, a new set of Title IX rules released by the Obama Administration was meant to increase protections for victims of sexual misconduct. Unfortunately, the changes made it even more difficult for those accused of sexual misconduct to defend themselves properly.

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance to schools. These rules, which went into effect in time for the 2020-21 school year, intended to swing the pendulum closer to the center, giving accused students more ability to defend themselves against sexual misconduct claims.

Just as the nation's political landscape is always changing, so too is the academic landscape. It's important to remember that even in today's more favorable climate, students accused of misconduct are still facing a disciplinary process that is inherently designed to protect the school's interests.

Contact a National Student Discipline Defense Attorney

Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have years of experience successfully defending students across the nation facing academic misconduct charges or college code violation allegations. We can help resolve your situation, too. You have worked too hard, and you have too much at stake to attempt to handle this challenge alone. Let us fight for your future. Call us at 888-535-3686 or online.