In case you are facing the university disciplinary committee, it will be a nightmare for you and for your parents too. Academic institutions take their student misconduct very seriously, and you can face serious consequences if you are caught up in such a situation. A night party has gone wrong, misconduct on a date, a misstep in academics, or a financial loss in your judgment can diminish your career and even destroy it. Want some knowledge about being defended? You can look for a student attorney at studentdisciplinedefense.com.
Threats that student misconduct casts on your career
In case you have violated the student code of conduct, the penalties you’ll be facing can be mild, but they can be hard as well. For instance, it can result in probationary sanctions, expulsion, and even suspension. These punishments can come with a high cost to the parents as well as the students as they can result in:
- Costly restitution requirements
- Loss of time
- Loss of tuition
- A red mark on your track record can lower your chances of getting hired at a job
- Difficulty in resuming your studies
- Criminal charges depending on the misconduct
Need for an attorney
The school disciplinary hearing resembles a trial or court hearing. The students don’t need to be regarded as innocent until proven guilty. The pressure of the whole process can be overwhelming. If the matter is taking a very serious turn, then you may consider appointing an attorney. They will help and guide you throughout the whole process. Since the process is not a legal preceding, the attorney is not directly functional but is more of a role of sharing advice. However, having an attorney by your side will help you gain confidence, and he will provide you with ideas that you can implement to save yourself. An advisor can help you collect evidence, gather witnesses to defend you, and suggest what could be best for you. Here are some of the rights that you can access.
Student’s Rights
- Be heard
- Right to contest allegations of academic misconduct
- Do not consider answering any question that may be regarded as a statement
- Do not attain a hearing, which will be heard in student’s absence
- Get someone to support you during your hearing
- Be aware of all the witnesses and evidences collected
- If you do not make a statement you will be free from assumptions of “in violation
- You have the right to admit responsibility for all allegations
- Bring evidences and witnesses who have direct link to the case
Faults that can bring on you the charges of misconduct
Plagiarism
If you are blamed for plagiarism, you will be handled by a Responsible Academic Officer within your faculty. The officer will send you an allegation letter that will claim you of plagiarism. You will have to accept or deny it. Further, there will be an investigation that will determine your fault and then determine any penalty. You have the option to appeal the decision of a Responsible Academic Officer.
Examinations
If you are charged with a case of misconduct in an examination, the examination supervisor will file a report on the alleged incident. The report is submitted to the Governance support unit, Director, and, if necessary, relevant academics for verification of any unauthorized material. They can either decline the allegation due to lack of evidence or issue a letter of allegation or a formal warning.
Other types of student misconduct
All other cases of misconduct are sent to the Director, Governance Support Unit. They run deep checks and accept the allegations as valid or dismiss them due to lack of evidence.
What will happen if you receive a letter from the Director, Governance Support Unit?
In case you are charged with student misconduct, you will be receiving a letter from the Director, Governance Support Unit. The letter will have all the details of the allegations. You will be asked to respond to the Director, Governance Support Unit, within the mentioned due date. There you can deny or admit to the allegations. You have the right to submit any evidence of the incident.
What will happen if you admit to the allegations?
If you admit to the allegation, then your matter will be referred to the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee to decide the penalty. You will be given all the details of the penalty in writing and give all the necessary information on how to appeal. It is now up to the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee; if they regard the case to be serious, then you will be issued a warrant of suspension or exclusion. After this, the matter is referred to the University Student Conduct Committee for recommendation or penalty.
What happens if you deny or do not respond to the allegation letter?
If you do not respond or you deny the allegations, then the matter is referred to the University Student Conduct Committee for an inquiry. If they are able to prove the allegations correct, then the University Student Conduct Committee will recommend a penalty. Then the committee’s record is further sent to the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee.
The Vice-Chancellor’s nominee has the right to accept or not accept the recommendation of the University Student Conduct Committee or decide on a more severe penalty.
Summing Up
Lastly, we would like to suggest you do not enter such a scenario single-handed. The situation you are in can risk your career to the maximum. Any wrong answer can bring everything down with a snap. Hiring a lawyer who has experience and expertise in dealing with such cases will help you get out of the situation tactfully. If you are wrongly alleged, then you must go to a lawyer for further assistance. And if you are guilty of any misconduct, then contacting a lawyer will be beneficial as they will help you negotiate and narrow down your penalty. Abiding by the rules and regulations of the institution will avoid such chaos. Be very careful as you have already read the consequences that you may face.
