Have you been accused of academic misconduct in your college or university? If so, you probably think you can handle the accusation without legal guidance. However, as you face these accusations, you will need to defend yourself and your academic career. You must understand that the scope of academic misconduct is not limited only to cheating and copying somebody’s work. Some forms of academic misconduct may be criminal in nature and related charges are imposed. So, before you try to do something by yourself, it is best to consult a lawyer for academic misconduct. Your attorney can guide you on what you should and should not do.
Examples of Academic Misconduct
Below are the different kinds of academic misconduct:
- Cheating. You could face an academic misconduct accusation if you are found copying another student’s material or paper during examinations. Also, using the old course material of a friend or a cell phone for looking up test questions is considered cheating.
- Plagiarism. You could be guilty of plagiarism if you failed to cite sources of information you include in your paper, submitted assignments you have bought, and passed off an assignment that another student completed. Also, plagiarism includes submitting the same paper to separate courses.
- Violations of honor codes. In this kind of misconduct, you may be charged with serious allegations if you are found possessing weapons, alcohol, and drugs within your school’s premises.
Penalties You Could Face
Penalties for academic misconduct include probation, loss of scholarships, loss of student housing, or expulsion. Also, if you have an academic disciplinary record, you can have difficulty getting accepted to some colleges or graduate programs. Also, future employers may review your record, which might prevent you from getting a job.
If you will be found guilty of academic misconduct after you have graduated, the school can rescind your degree. When this happens, you could get disqualified from other jobs that require this degree or get fired from your current job.
What Your Lawyer Can Do for You
Appearing at a disciplinary hearing can be overwhelming. Your lawyer can help you draft emails for records, fight for the inclusion or exclusion of evidence, discuss possible witnesses, as well as write statements and core arguments you can present during the disciplinary hearing in your school. Your lawyer’s extensive experience with the process has provided them with knowledge of what will work and what won’t in terms of academic misconduct defense.
