Fordham University Law School students attend classes in one of America's most exciting cities: New York City. Part of being a student in this environment and at this university, however, includes understanding the complexities of the university's student code of conduct.
Students may face accusations of academic misconduct during their career at Fordham University Law School. Unfortunately, the effects of these accusations are lasting to the point where, if they're not properly addressed, they may ruin a student's future in the legal field.
Academic Misconduct at Fordham University
Fordham University Law School also holds its students to a high academic standard. In its student code of conduct, the university outlines those behaviors that it considers to be in violation of its required student integrity. These include:
- Cheating
- Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism
- Forgery
- Providing university representatives with false information regarding one's academic assignments or conduct.
- Disruptions in the classroom that violate the university's standards for behavior.
- Alteration of university documents.
- Unapproved collaboration between students on exams, assignments, or other university projects.
- Bribery, blackmailing, or otherwise coercing another student to complete an assignment under a false name.
- Selling class notes, exam answers, or other university documents.
- Purchasing class notes, exam answers, or other university documents.
Fordham University Law School also notes that there may be instances of academic misconduct that its honor code does not cover. The law school notes that, should such an instance arise, law school representatives may collaborate to determine whether or not said behavior merits a hearing and/or sanctions.
Consequences for Student Code Violations
Students accused of academic misconduct can face sanctions, or university-approved consequences for their alleged behaviors. These sanctions are assigned by university representatives after an informal or formal hearing. As a result, a student's sanctions should reflect the severity of their alleged academic misconduct
Fordham University Law School's sanctions break down into two categories: disciplinary and academic. The university's disciplinary sanctions include:
- Reprimands
- Restitution
- Suspension from a residence hall
- Student life probation
- Residential life probation
- Group probation
- University disciplinary probation
- Suspension
- Expulsion
Students may also be denied on-campus privileges, including access to parking lots or rentable vehicles on campus.
Instructors assign students their academic sanctions. These can include:
- A lowered grade in an applicable course
- A failing grade in an applicable course
- A note on the student's permanent transcript detailing their accusations of academic misconduct
Students accused of academic misconduct may file grievances with their departments to contest academic sanctions but not disciplinary ones. A student's department can only accept a grievance after a student's formal or informal hearing concludes.
The Hearing Process
Fordham University Law School aims to cultivate an environment of excellence. Its staff, in turn, are encouraged to act quickly if they suspect a student has violated the school's honor code. All staff members can file a report detailing a student's alleged academic misconduct with the Dean of Students. The Dean, in turn, can address the staffs' concerns and determine whether or not to move an academic misconduct case forward.
Staff members beyond university professors who can report alleged academic misconduct include:
- Residential directors
- The Office of Residential Life staff
- The Department of Public Safety
- Residential assistants
Upon receiving a report of this nature, the Dean of Students can open an investigation into the accusations. If there appears to be ample evidence supporting the accusations, then the dean and affiliated office may trigger a Student Conduct Hearing.
Students can waive their rights to a hearing. However, should students move to proceed with a hearing, they can bring forward witnesses and other parties who can defend their behavior and stand with them against the allegations presented at the hearing.
The hearing process will see both the accused and the accuser present arguments related to the allegations. Once the hearing concludes, the Dean of Students and affiliated staff will determine what, if any, sanctions may apply to the accused party.
Appealing Hearing Sanctions
Students have the right to appeal the decision of the Dean of Students who issues their sanctions. The student must present a written appeal to the Student Conduct Review Council within two business days of the initial sanction's imposition.
The Student Conduct Review Council addresses all student appeals. In their written appeals, students must make it clear that:
- The hearing process failed to address their concerns in a meaningful way.
- New evidence arose regarding the case.
- The sanctions applied to the student were more severe than the allegations.
If the Student Conduct Review Council agrees with the student, then the appeal will move forward. From there, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs may choose to bring together an appeal review board, at which point the Dean of Students may opt to either lighten or revoke the sanction. At the same time, the Dean may choose to uphold the initial sanction, at which point the accused student will not have the opportunity to file another appeal.
Get In Touch With A Legal Advisor
Accusations of misconduct do more than disrupt a student's day-to-day life at Fordham University Law School. These accusations stay with students and their families long after the student graduates. In some cases, accusations of this sort can prevent a student from getting a job, participating in an internship, or seeking out the post-academic experiences that they've always dreamed of.
The team with Lento Law Firm recognizes how serious accusations of misconduct at Fordham University Law School can be. That's why Joseph D. Lento aims to help both students and their families overcome this sort of challenge. Parties interested in scheduling a case consultation can reach out to Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or by filling out the firm's online form.
