As a college student, you’re laying the foundation for your future. From how your grades and major can influence your future career and educational opportunities to the networking opportunities you gain from internships and summer jobs, what you do during college matters.
Disciplinary action can undo all of that work. One mistake or one overzealous professor can hurt not only your time in college but also your future. Being accused of misconduct, even so-called minor instances, can haunt you when you apply to grad school, when you apply for jobs, and your ability to use professors, classmates, and university staff as references.
Facing allegations of misconduct can seem overwhelming, especially because university disciplinary policies often have tight timelines. Accusations against you can range from academic to Title IX violations. All of them can affect your reputation.
The Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm is here to help you. We focus on advocating for our clients, helping them understand their options, and building evidence-based defenses to help them protect their education and their future. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.
About the Minneapolis – St. Paul Area
The Twin Cities host numerous colleges and universities, from world-renowned research universities to highly-ranked liberal arts colleges. Each school has its own code of conduct. When navigating the disciplinary process, it’s important that students focus on their school’s specific rules rather than generic advice.
Macalester College, for example, has specific policies for removing students from student organizations. Students cannot unilaterally decide to expel another student but must contact staff at the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement.
For example, a student can request that another student be expelled from an organization for endangering the well-being or safety of other students. The policy doesn’t state what that means, which leaves it open to interpretation.
The University of St. Thomas’s Code of Conduct applies to on-campus conduct as well as any off-campus conduct that’s considered detrimental to the St. Thomas community or its mission. The school may also pursue disciplinary action for online behavior. In this case, the school doesn’t actively seek to regulate students’ online activity but may take action if the university is made aware of posts or other information that may violate the school’s code of conduct.
The St. Thomas online policy highlights one of the problems with some disciplinary action: It can potentially be retaliatory. Many schools, including St. Thomas, have policies against retaliation, and a student’s defense may hinge on being able to show that the disciplinary action taken against them was done in violation of other conduct rules.
While all of these schools call the Twin Cities area home, it’s important to know the specific rules and policies of your school.
Academic Disciplinary Action
Academic policies can vary widely. Some universities have school-wide policies. Others are specific to departments or programs.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has a university-wide academic integrity policy. The school also has policies on AI, copyright, and academic dishonesty.
For academic dishonesty, the school has three levels of infractions, as well as considering the number of infractions a student has committed. St. Mary’s policy shows why even a minor accusation should be treated seriously. If a student has had multiple minor academic infractions, they may be subjected to serious disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.
As an emerging area of technology, AI violations can be especially challenging to navigate. A University of Minnesota PhD student was expelled for his alleged use of AI. He sued the university, but the courts sided with the university and upheld his expulsion.
Title IX Violations
Accusations of sexual harassment under Title IX can be especially serious for students. Allegations of harassment can have a serious and far-reaching impact on a student’s reputation. While all allegations of misconduct can be detrimental to a student, Title IX allegations are especially serious.
Too often, Title IX accusations can result in students being pre-emptively judged. The Minneapolis College of Art and Design’s Title IX policy emphasizes that all parties in Title IX cases have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. They also have the right to an impartial investigation and resolution.
Being accused of a Title IX violation isn’t an admission of guilt, and you have the right to defend against allegations. Hiring an attorney to advocate after being accused isn’t an admission of guilt. Rather, hiring an attorney is simply acknowledging the severity of the accusations and their potential impact on someone’s life. Hiring an advocate helps make sure that an accused student’s rights are protected and that they aren’t prematurely judged.
Code of Conduct Violations and Procedures
The University of Minnesota has ten parts to its code of conduct, which is in addition to other university policies. For example, students may face disciplinary action for mishandling confidential information.
U of M also has specific procedures for disciplinary actions. While informal resolutions are encouraged, the school establishes a student’s rights after being accused of misconduct. This includes the right to hear all of the evidence against them and have the opportunity to present their case.
As a large research university, the U of M shows how students, even if they attend the same school, may face different disciplinary procedures. Undergraduate students may have to follow different policies and procedures from graduate students.
Some universities, such as the U of M, give students the right to have an attorney present during hearings. Even when a university doesn’t allow students to have outside advocates, the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm Team helps our clients build cases and understand how to advocate for themselves in a logical, objective way.
Protect Your Education and Your Future
You’ve worked hard to get to this point in your education. Accusations of misconduct can have serious and long-lasting repercussions on your life. Defending against them is an investment in protecting your education and your goals.
If you’re a student in the Minneapolis area facing any allegations of misconduct, the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help. We work with undergraduate and graduate students to navigate the disciplinary process, build a case, and understand their options. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.