If you are facing disciplinary action such as suspension or dismissal from your school, you may be able to appeal this decision. You must take advantage of this opportunity to prevent a sanction and get tarnished school records. Depending on the charges you are facing, a sanction can make it impossible for you to enroll in undergraduate schools or return to the same school to earn a degree. And if there is a dismissal recommendation against you, your school is seizing your tuition without letting you graduate with a degree you paid for. If you are challenging a sanction, you need an education lawyer for misconduct to help you keep your record intact and graduate on time.
It is best to hire an attorney right at the start of the disciplinary process. However, it’s understandable that some students do not. As colleges and universities dismiss students for various reasons, you may think that you can just explain your side of the story and the school might understand. Unfortunately, schools usually don’t. Appealing disciplinary action is your last chance to convince the school that you don’t deserve the sanction. Regardless of your circumstances, a good attorney can help you in any way they can.
Should You Hire an Attorney for a College Disciplinary Appeal?
If a disciplinary decision by a college or university threatens you with either an academic suspension or dismissal, you may be able to request an appeal hearing. But sometimes, appeal hearings may not work in the favor of students. If you are in this situation, you must hire a lawyer who can handle the disciplinary appeal. Your attorney will fight for your rights to be treated fairly under the law. They will do the best they can to make sure your investment into your education won’t be forfeited to your school without obtaining your degree.
What to Expect from the Appeals Process
Public university students should be afforded due process during disciplinary appeals. At public colleges and universities, you may be able to challenge a decision if the school denied procedural due process, which means you didn’t get fair treatment in the initial hearing. Sometimes, you may need to appeal to prove the school made an arbitrary or capricious decision. Meanwhile, if you are in a private school, your attorney must prove that the decision of the school against you violated its policies and rules. Often, the school’s website or the student handbook outlines these policies.
