The epidemic-like rates of sexual misconduct on college campuses have been an ongoing, nationwide trending topic for years. Discussions centered around how education institutions can minimize and ultimately abolish this misconduct on campuses are continually ensuing, inspiring modifications in a school's approach, procedures, and sanction options. Among these proposed solutions, is the extremely controversial idea to mandate transcript notations for accused students.

The Association of Title IX Administrators sent a newsletter to federally funded colleges, urging them to include automatic transcript notations for students expelled for any form of sexual misconduct. It also mentioned that admissions officers should come up with a system to screen transfer applicants who may be applying due to a sexual misconduct expulsion when it has not been marked on their transcripts. As of now, the majority of higher education institutions do not notate transcripts currently. New York and Virginia, however, have passed legislation requiring colleges in these states to mark these offenses on transcripts.

This push comes in the wake of several high profile cases where students with responsible findings have transferred from school to school undetected. Supports of the effort claim that without these notations, offenders escape accountability and may strike again without proper monitoring. Some survivors, who feel that their lives have been forever changed by the incident, support the effort to ensure that perpetrators feel the same long-lasting consequences.

Opposers of mandatory transcript notations claim that although the effort has its benefits, the bad might outweigh the good. They argue that these efforts may discourage victims from reporting (in cases when victims want to protect their assailants) and that there is no concrete evidence that these notations will make communities safer. Some opposing groups claim the marks resemble missteps of the criminal justice system, they assert that once someone services their punishment, it should end, rather than follow them their entire life.

Regardless of what advocates and opposers think of this effort, the reality is that a transcript notation on the academic record of students found “responsible” for conduct violations is of grave concern to accused students, especially if this notation implicates sexual misconduct. Prospective schools and employers would have access to these records, making it incredibly difficult, if not impossible, for students with marks to continue their academic career, or obtain meaningful employment.

Student Defense Attorney Helping Clients Nationwide

As you can see, a finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct can have incredibly grave consequences that can haunt a student for their entire lives. This is why it's important for all students accused of this misconduct to be represented by a student defense attorney.

Joseph D. Lento has dedicated his entire career to helping students accused of sexual misconduct nationwide overcome their charges, and prevail in Title IX investigations, hearings, and appeals. He can do the same for you. Contact him today for help.