The Challenges of Continuing Education: San Diego State University

Most people believe that you have to attend college immediately after high school, but there are times when students face financial obstacles or feel unprepared for higher education and decide not to pursue it. This decision can make it incredibly difficult to pursue as an adult. So, to address this, most colleges and universities began offering continuing education programs designed for adult learners who seek to obtain a degree or enhance their knowledge in a particular field.

However, enrolling in a continuing education program as an adult has additional challenges, like managing work, coursework, family, and friendships. Failing to balance any of these demands will make most students feel stressed out and overwhelmed, which in turn could affect their behavioral or academic conduct.

When students are facing academic or behavioral misconduct accusations, it can be difficult to know how to proceed. Working with an attorney-advisor is the best way to make sure you are not being punished for something that is far outside of your control. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm have spent years helping students navigate such proceedings. Call today.

Academics at San Diego State University

San Diego State University (SDSU) Global Campus offers several programs for students looking for career advancement training, personal enrichment courses, bachelor completion programs, and master's degrees. Some of the programs are as follows:

• Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
• Professional Certificate in Contract Management
• Professional Certificate in Project Management
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics Online Degree Completion Program
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Online Degree Completion Program
• Lean Six Sigma Certificates Online
• Construction Online Introductory Courses
• Professional Certificate in Construction Supervision
• M.A. in Educational Leadership/OPASC Combo Program
• Master's of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling
• Online Preliminary Administrative Services Credential
• Bachelor of Science in Child Development Degree Completion Microsite Program
• National Center for Urban School Transformation
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Online Degree Completion Program
• Master of Public Administration Online
• Advanced Certificate, Residency Training for Radiation Therapy Physics
• Master of Public Health Online
• Master's in Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Master's in Meeting and Event Management
• Craft Beer Diversity Award
• American Language Institute
• Lean Immersion Week
• One Unit Quick Courses
• Osher Membership
• ROTC
• Advanced Certificate in Web and Mobile Applications Development
• Field Botany of San Diego
• Regulatory Science Programs
• Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology
• Audiology Symposium
• Speech-Language Pathology Essentials

Degree and Certificate Programs

All continuing education programs have different degree and certification requirements. For example, in the Bachelor's in Communication degree completion microsite program, students must maintain a 2.75 or higher GPA, have satisfied all CSU requirements, and have 60 transferable credits. Alternatively, for a Professional Certificate in the Business of Craft Beer, students must simply have an interest in craft beer and complete six courses in two years.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Each program at SDSU has completion requirements. To receive your degree or certificate, you must be able to prove you attended these courses. While the expectations differ, generally, undergraduate students must be able to maintain a 2.0 GPA, and graduate students must be able to maintain a 3.0 GPA. If a student fails to meet any of the criteria the course or program outlines, they could be sanctioned or, at the most extreme, be dismissed from the program. The moment you learn of an academic progression issue, contact an attorney-advisor for advice. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team will be able to help guide you.

Attendance Policies

Enrollment in SDSU's continuing education programs dictates consistent attendance by all students. Even a single missed class can have an adverse effect on the student's capacity to succeed in the program, especially in the one-unit courses, which tend to be condensed versions of longer courses. The syllabus will outline the program's specific attendance policies and what qualifies as an excused absence. Students who do not fulfill their assignments, fail exams, or miss several classes, could be suspended or expelled.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty at SDSU follows the same outline as all other California State universities and colleges. Under that order, academic dishonesty includes the following actions:

• Cheating:
• Copying answers from someone else during an exam or assignment.
• Collaborating with others on an individual assignment without permission.
• Using unauthorized materials or devices during an exam.
• Submitting the same work for multiple courses without permission.
• Altering graded work after it has been returned and resubmitting it.
• Plagiarism:
• Presenting someone else's work or ideas as one's own without proper citation.
• Paraphrasing someone else's work without proper citation.
• Failing to use quotation marks for direct quotes.
• Citing incorrect or fabricated sources.
• Recycling one's own work for a new assignment without permission.

When a student is accused of academic dishonesty, the faculty member in charge will refer the matter to the vice president for Student Affairs and the Student Conduct Administrator of the matter. The Student Conduct Administrator will then investigate the complaint and decide whether it is appropriate to charge the accused student with a violation. If they determine the student to have violated academic honesty, they will notify the student and schedule a conference.

The disciplinary conference gives both the accused student and the complainant an opportunity to present their cases. Both sides will be able to present witnesses and relevant evidence to support their arguments, as well as cross-examine the other side. When both sides have been heard fully, the Student Conduct Administrator will decide if the accused student is truly responsible – based on the evidence offered – and what sanctions to impose. For violations of the academic integrity policy at SDSU there are two distinct types of disciplinary action that can be imposed, either one or both at a time:

1. Academic sanctions, such as adjustments to the student's grades. These sanctions will be decided by the instructor involved; and
2. Punitive sanctions, like probation, suspension, or expulsion. These will be determined by the university president or an assigned representative. The Coordinator of Judiciary Procedures will represent the president in student discipline matters.

Academics: What Could Go Wrong?

Being adequately prepared to defend yourself during academic misconduct proceedings is crucial as the repercussions of such charges can be severe, including suspension or expulsion. Suspension or expulsion sanctions become part of the student's permanent record, making it challenging to enroll in a new college or pursue a graduate degree later on in life.

Hiring an attorney-advisor will protect you from unfair punishment and prevent long-term consequences. Attorney Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team have assisted numerous students nationwide in defending themselves from unwarranted sanctions.

Disciplinary Misconduct

Colleges and universities prioritize safe and nurturing atmospheres for their students, faculty, and staff, both academically and personally. To protect their community's mental and physical well-being, they foster an environment that is devoid of bias, prejudice, and harassment. Students' academic advancement can be severely hindered when they feel vulnerable or uncertain about their social or educational standing, which can negatively affect the overall performance of the University. When students are stressed and perform poorly, it negatively impacts the university as a whole.

At SDSU, students are required to follow the Student Conduct Procedures. Much like the academic integrity procedures, these procedures are governed by the state of California. According to this policy, the following behaviors are completely forbidden:

• Unauthorized entry into university property.
• Willful, material, and substantial disruption or obstruction of a university-related activity or any on-campus activity.
• Participating in any activity that substantially disrupts normal campus or classroom operations.
• Substantial obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian traffic.
• Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene behavior.
• Endangering or threatening to endanger the health or safety of a person within or related to the university community.
• Hazing or conspiring to haze someone.
• Using, possessing, manufacturing, or distributing illegal drugs or drug-related paraphernalia.
• Using, possessing, manufacturing, or distributing alcoholic beverages or being publicly intoxicated.
• Stealing services or property from the university community.
• Destroying or damaging university property or the property of another person without permission.
• Possessing or misusing firearms, guns, replicas, ammunition, explosives, fireworks, or other weapons or dangerous chemicals on campus or at a campus event.
• Recording, disseminating, or publishing academic presentations for commercial purposes without permission.
• Misusing computer facilities or resources.
• Violating any university policy.
• Failing to comply with directions or interfering with any university official or public safety official/
• Violating local, state, or federal law.
• Encouraging, permitting, or assisting someone else to violate the code of conduct.
• Title IX violations.
• Discrimination.
• Retaliation.
• Harassment.
• Domestic or dating violence.
• Sexual misconduct.
• Stalking.

When someone notices that a student has violated the code of conduct in some way (but not including discrimination, retaliation, harassment, domestic or dating violence, sexual misconduct, stalking, or a Title IX violation), they must report it to the vice president for Student Affairs and the Student Conduct Administrator of the matter. The procedure will unfold in the same way as if it were an academic integrity issue, explained above.

If a matter is related to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual misconduct, dating or domestic violence, or stalking, it should be referred to the DHR Administrator. The DHR Administrator will investigate the complaint and determine whether the student violated the code of conduct. This decision is final and binding unless the student has attempted to appeal it.

During the investigation, the DHR Administrator will meet with the complainant to learn more about the incident. If they determine there is enough preliminary evidence to suspect the student of violating the code of conduct, they will notify the accused student and schedule a conference.

During the conference, both parties will also have a chance to present their sides of the issue and present relevant evidence and witness testimony to help support their arguments. When both sides have finished presenting, the DHR Administrator will give them an opportunity to cross-examine the other side.

In the end, the DHA Administrator will assess the evidence presented and determine whether the claims against the student are more than likely than not true. If the student is found responsible, the DHA Administrator will also decide which sanctions to impose. Possible sanctions for Student Conduct Code violations, including the ones that were referred to the Student Conduct Administrator and not the DHA Administrator, will range from restitution, loss of financial aid, and educational and remedial sanctions (like assignments, counseling, and loss of privileges) to disciplinary probation, suspension, and expulsion.

Moreover, SDSU has decided that there are conditions where more than one sanction can be imposed for a single violation.

Whatever the DHA Administrator decides, it can be appealed, but only within ten working days of receiving the decision letter. At SDSU, students can only appeal for certain grounds, including:

1. The sanction is unreasonable given the facts and circumstances; and
2. There was a prejudicial procedural error during the hearing.

The Chancellor's Office will review the appeal and determine whether it should be upheld, overturned, or adjudicated further. This decision is final and cannot be appealed further.

How an Academic Attorney-Advisor Can Help

The Education Law Team at Lento Law Firm and Attorney Joseph D. Lento recognize the struggles that adult learners face while juggling their education and other commitments. They value the effort, sacrifices, and commitment required to pursue higher education and are dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for their clients. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.