What should I do if I am an international student accused of academic misconduct at my college or university in Massachusetts? VIDEO

International students at colleges and universities in Massachusetts worked hard and sacrifice much to go to school in the United States. That is why it is unfortunate that international students have more to lose when charged with academic or Code of Conduct Violations. International students are also disproportionately accused of academic and other issues compared to American students. Common areas of concern include cheating, plagiarism, and failure to meet academic standards. There are several reasons behind these concerns, especially in cases involving academic integrity, or dishonesty.

Cultural differences. What is considered cheating in Western culture may not match that of other cultures, and international students may find themselves unintentionally in violation of a school's code of conduct. Latent xenophobia. Professors and school administrators may view international students with greater scrutiny, even if unintentionally. Language barriers even for international students who speak English fluently, many issues occur because of miscommunication or misunderstanding.

Being found responsible for misconduct will have serious consequences. In addition to academic and career goals being jeopardized, if an international student is suspended, dismissed, or expelled, their student visa can be revoked, leading to deportation and possibly never being able to realistically return to the United States.

Because of what is at stake, you need to understand the dynamics behind misconduct charges, you need to understand the disciplinary process, and you need to take the necessary precautions before speaking with your school. Your rights and interests will be best served by having an experienced attorney advisor defend you as soon as you learn of the allegations.

Massachusetts colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your international student's academic misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:

  • American International College
  • Amherst College
  • Anna Maria College
  • Assumption College
  • Babson College
  • Bard College at Simon's Rock
  • Bay Path College
  • Bay State College
  • Becker College
  • Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
  • Bentley University
  • Berklee College of Music
  • Berkshire Community College
  • Boston Architectural College
  • Boston Baptist College
  • Boston College
  • Boston University
  • Brandeis University
  • Bridgewater State University
  • Bristol Community College
  • Bunker Hill Community College
  • Cambridge College
  • Cape Cod Community College
  • Clark University
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Curry College
  • Dean College
  • Eastern Nazarene College
  • Emerson College
  • Emmanuel College
  • Endicott College
  • Fisher College
  • Fitchburg State University
  • Framingham State University
  • Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
  • Gordon College
  • Greenfield Community College
  • Hampshire College
  • Harvard University
  • Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
  • Holyoke Community College
  • ITT Technical Institute Norwood
  • ITT Technical Institute Wilmington
  • Laboure College
  • Lasell College
  • Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
  • Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
  • Lesley University
  • Longy School of Music
  • Marian Court College
  • Massachusetts Bay Community College
  • Massachusetts College of Art and Design
  • Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
  • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Massachusetts Maritime Academy
  • Massasoit Community College
  • Merrimack College
  • Middlesex Community College
  • Montserrat College of Art
  • Mount Holyoke College
  • Mount Ida College
  • Mount Wachusett Community College
  • New England College of Business
  • Newbury College Brookline
  • Nichols College
  • North Shore Community College
  • Northeastern University
  • Northern Essex Community College
  • Pine Manor College
  • Quincy College
  • Quinsigamond Community College
  • Regis College
  • Roxbury Community College
  • Saint John's Seminary
  • Salem State University
  • Sanford Brown College Boston
  • School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
  • Simmons College
  • Smith College
  • Springfield College
  • Springfield Technical Community College
  • Stonehill College
  • Suffolk University
  • The Boston Conservatory
  • The New England Conservatory of Music
  • The New England Institute of Art
  • Tufts University
  • University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • University of Massachusetts - Boston
  • University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
  • University of Massachusetts - Lowell
  • University of Phoenix - Boston Campus
  • Urban College of Boston
  • Wellesley College
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology
  • Western New England University
  • Westfield State University
  • Wheaton College
  • Wheelock College
  • Williams College
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Worcester State University
  • Zion Bible College

International students attending school in Massachusetts have traveled far from home, having left family and friends behind, all with the goal of bettering themselves through education, whether it involves an undergraduate or graduate degree, or a professional program such as medical school or an MBA.

In part because of having sacrificed so much to come to school in the United States, even more is at stake for international students accused of academic misconduct or code of conduct charges.  Because of the challenges the average American student will face when responding to misconduct allegations, it is unfortunate that this concern is more pronounced when an international student is faced with school disciplinary proceedings.

That is why it is critical to have someone in your corner who understands the disciplinary process and what is at stake for an international student and is solely dedicated to your cause.  Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have helped hundreds of international students at schools in Massachusetts and throughout the United States successfully resolve disciplinary issues that could have not only jeopardized their academic and professional careers, but also their ability to remain in the United States in light of student visa implications

Joseph Lento and the Lento Law Firm fight nationwide on behalf of their international student clients and they have unparalleled experience and success in resolving their clients' issues and concerns.  Joseph D. Lento is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and he serves as an advisor for international students facing school disciplinary proceedings in Massachusetts and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your international student's interests are protected during the school disciplinary process - Contact National Academic Misconduct Attorney & Advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.

Contact Us Today!

If you, or your student, are facing any kind of disciplinary action, or other negative academic sanction, and are having feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for what the future may hold, contact the Lento Law Firm today, and let us help secure your academic career.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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