Student discipline defense

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University conduct investigations, hearings, and sanctions are becoming a more frequent occurrence for college students. These conduct processes can have a serious impact on a student’s life, career trajectory, living arrangements, and finances. This impact usually extends to the student’s family and support system as well. Navigating a college disciplinary process requires a unique understanding of that particular institution’s processes, code, culture, and prior history in conducting investigations, hearings, and imposition of sanctions.

Sanctions for a college disciplinary finding can cause a student to be separated from their college for a period of time or permanently through suspension or dismissal depending on the incident and the school’s tolerance or intolerance for behavior. Probation is a potential sanction for lower level or less serious incidents such as underage alcohol consumption. However, even with the imposition of disciplinary probation, it is important to understand how that status can impact other considerations. For example, some schools will not permit students to travel abroad if they are under disciplinary probation.

Transcript notations indicating a student’s disciplinary record can follow that student beyond their college. Certain employers may require a copy of a college transcript, and then a student must disclose a past history of college discipline. Disclosures of discipline during undergraduate studies are required in applications for admission to graduate schools, professional schools, law schools, and medical schools. A record of college discipline, even if minor, can reduce the chances of a college student being accepted into a competitive post-graduate institution. Even if a student wants to transfer to a different higher ed institution, a disciplinary record will impact the transfer process.

Financial considerations and impacts from a college code of conduct process should also be seriously considered. College disciplinary processes can occur in the middle of a semester, resulting in the student’s inability to complete that semester. There is typically no refund given if a student is prohibited from finishing a semester due to a conduct violation. To run it back - tuition, room and board, and lease contracts are serious expenses that do not get refunded should a student be forced to leave.

We have been on the front lines of college disciplinary defense for almost a decade. From public institutions to private colleges, from initial investigation meetings through litigation in the court system, we have served as advisors to college students across the country. We are highly experienced in achieving the goals of each individual college student. In many cases, that goal is to obtain a not responsible, not in violation, or not guilty finding following a hearing. In other cases, it is to mitigate sanctions and obtain treatment or education to stay in school. In certain circumstances we find ourselves assisting students in transfer processes or defending a school charge concurrently with a criminal proceeding.

College student representation is our passion, and we have a deep understanding of the stress, uncertainty, and emotions that are attached for students and parents alike. Check out examples of real cases handled personally by our attorneys.