Baltimore Attorney for Academic Disciplinary Proceedings
When students that attend colleges and universities in the city of Baltimore violate their school’s code of conduct, they will have to go to a disciplinary hearing to make a case to defend themselves. Since disciplinary charges lead to expulsion and other consequences that can have a major impact on students’ futures, it’s advisable to everything possible to mitigate these charges. One way that Baltimore college students can defend themselves against disciplinary charges is to use the services of an experienced academic disciplinary proceeding attorney.
The academic disciplinary proceeding attorneys from Rice, Murtha & Psoras are available to use their legal expertise to help Baltimore college students through the academic disciplinary proceeding process. Contact them soon to learn more. Call (410) 431-0911.
Common Disciplinary Offenses at Universities in Baltimore
Each college and university in Baltimore has a unique code of conduct that reflects its values and expectations of behavior. Some offenses in codes of conduct are special to each college or university while other offenses are the same as criminal offenses, meaning that many offenses of the code of conduct can carry legal consequences in addition to disciplinary consequences from the college or university. (The victim of the crime may pursue legal action against the student, even if the college or university has not chosen to involve outside authorities.) The code of conduct offenses that commonly overlap with criminal offenses include:
- Gender-based misconduct – Sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, intimate partner violence, stalking, revenge porn
- Harassment and assault – Hazing, assault, hate crimes, creating a hostile environment
- Disorderly or disruptive behavior – Public urination, fighting, inciting a riot
- Destructive behavior – Arson, destruction of property, vandalism
- Alcohol and controlled substances – Underage drinking, public intoxication, driving while intoxicated, manufacturing alcohol without permission, serving alcohol to minors, possession of a fake ID; possession, use, distribution, and sale or manufacturing of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Traffic violations – Reckless driving, speeding
- Internet crimes – Identity theft, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, data hacking
Other code of conduct offenses are violations of academic integrity, which do not carry legal consequences in most cases. Violations of academic integrity may mean plagiarizing, fabricating information, violating health and safety requirements while doing clinical assignments, violating professional ethics, tampering with or misrepresenting academic records, or using prohibited methods to take an exam. Assisting another student with the violation of the code of conduct or helping another student hide their violation is a violation itself.
Consequences of Disciplinary Charges and Violations in College
Many code of conduct violations also carry legal consequences. The consequences that are imposed by a university for violations of code of conduct can impact the student’s future within the school and beyond. Academic disciplinary consequences are included in students’ academic records, which can be accessed by other schools that the student may apply to, as well as future employers.
If a student is found to be guilty of the academic disciplinary charges against them, the best possible outcome is a warning. If the student is issued a warning, it will be added to their record and will be taken into consideration when determining disciplinary action against them if they violate the code of conduct again. It’s also possible for students to lose the benefits that have awarded to them, such as scholarships, financial aid, and opportunities to live on-campus.
Probation and reprimand are other possibilities following a violation of the code of conduct. When a student is on probation, they will have restrictions and limitations placed on them, lose certain privileges, or be barred from participating in campus activities. Reprimand for violating the code of conduct entails participation in a counseling or educational program, usually run by the university.
Students may be suspended for some violations of the code of conduct. If a student is suspended, they will be removed from the school for a predetermined amount of time. The most severe consequence that can result from an academic disciplinary offense is expulsion.
The Baltimore College and University Academic Hearing Process
After a student has received notice that they have violated their college or university’s code of conduct, they will have a meeting with an adviser or counselor or another staff member. The staff member will discuss the code violation with the student and the student will give a response. Following this meeting, the case will either be dismissed, deferred to a later date, resolved during a disciplinary conference, or moved to a disciplinary hearing.
When the student arrives at a disciplinary hearing, they can expect an official from the college or university to begin the hearing by outlining the code violation and then giving the student a chance to respond. Then, university officials will present evidence and both sides will make their arguments.
A lawyer can be helpful throughout the disciplinary hearing process by helping the student understand their charges, crafting a defense for them, questioning the evidence presented by the university officials, and protecting the student’s rights. Whether or not a lawyer can speak during the disciplinary hearing depends on the school. At many Baltimore colleges and universities, a lawyer may be present during the hearing but cannot speak on behalf of the student. If the disciplinary hearing results in a guilty verdict for the student, an attorney can continue to help the student by filing an appeal, is possible.
Baltimore Attorney Available for College Academic Disciplinary Proceedings
College students from Baltimore colleges and universities should know that they can depend on the academic disciplinary proceeding attorneys from Rice, Murtha & Psoras to defend them during their academic disciplinary proceedings. Contact them soon to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your academic disciplinary charges. Call (410) 431-0911.