Campus Professor Misconduct Lawyer

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Getting accused of a campus misconduct violation isn’t what any parent or student expects when he or she leaves home and attends school. Just like home or high school, colleges have rules which students must abide by in order to maintain the safety and integrity of an environment. Unlike home, if you break the rules, a college or university has the right under its policy to ask the student to leave either for a short time (suspension) or permanently (expulsion).
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Faculty Member or Graduate Student?

If you are a faculty member or graduate student who has been accused of research misconduct, learn more about how our Academic & Scientific Research Misconduct group can help.

There has been a dramatic shift in public attitudes toward sexual harassment and assault. While universities should take allegations of misconduct seriously, especially when a student accuses a faculty member of misconduct, when this occurs professors are afforded procedures outlined in the faculty handbook.

If you are a professor who has been accused of sexual misconduct with a student or fellow staff member at your college or university, you should strongly consider reaching out to a campus professor misconduct lawyer for help. A qualified misconduct attorney with experience handling cases like yours could work tirelessly to protect your best interests throughout both Title IX proceedings and related professionalism hearings. KJK can take cases from anywhere in the country.

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Are Faculty Members Bound by Title IX Regulations?

Title IX regulations apply to all educational institutions that receive federal funding of any kind. Those regulations apply to students, faculty, and staff members alike. In other words, just as a student could face disciplinary measures under both Title IX and their school’s code of conduct, a professor accused of violating Title IX regulations could also face consequences in both contexts.

While sexual assault and harassment are among the most common grounds for Title IX claims against professors, they are not the only possible reason for such a claim. A professor misconduct attorney can also help contest allegations of discrimination against pregnant individuals, discrimination during hiring or staffing decisions, verbal and/or physical harassment, and denial of opportunities based on gender. One of a lawyer’s primary goals is to ensure that investigatory bodies do not violate a respondent’s rights.

What Might a Professor be Accused Of?

Professors are under strict policies regarding their interaction with students and their activities conducted off of school grounds and during related academic assignments. Academic employees may face disciplinary actions in a number of circumstances, including:

  • Research Misconduct
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Violation of Employee Handbook
  • Student Abuse (Physically or Verbally)

With the rise of social media, a professor’s public statements, reposts, and conduct on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat are also under intense scrutiny. One post that is deemed inappropriate by faculty can lead to suspension or the loss of your faculty position. A skilled misconduct attorney could provide counsel to an educator in any of these circumstances, which can be career-saving.

Constructing a Strategy for School Disciplinary Proceedings

While there is a burden of proof necessary in a Title IX violation and an even higher burden of proof required for a criminal conviction, a professor accused of misconduct also faces disciplinary action from their employer. Even if they cannot be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt” like they would need to be in a court of law, alleged violations of faculty and/or staff policy manuals could lead to an untenured professor being terminated from their position before they have a chance to defend themselves.

However, while untenured professors may be more at risk of termination in the wake of these kinds of allegations, that does not mean tenured professors are immune from severe repercussions. No matter what position an individual professor holds or what relationships they have with other staff and faculty members, it is essential for them to seek representation from a professor misconduct lawyer as soon as they become aware of any allegation. Doing so could be key to minimizing the risk of consequences from their school or from a Title IX investigation, and to mitigating the reputational damage that this kind of allegation can cause.

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Speak with a Professor Misconduct Attorney Today

Even if their case does not proceed to a criminal court, professors accused of acting inappropriately around students, school staff members, or fellow faculty members have important rights during Title IX investigations and related disciplinary proceedings. However, enforcing those rights can be challenging without help from seasoned legal counsel.

A knowledgeable professor misconduct lawyer could provide the help you need to effectively pursue the best outcome possible from your situation. Call today to discuss your options.

Important to Know:

COVID-19: Cheating & Plagiarism

Allegations of cheating and plagiarism are skyrocketing due to virtual learning environments imposed by COVID-19. If you’ve been accused of academic misconduct during this time, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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See What Our CLients are Saying

Testimonials

Enough cannot be said for how helpful KJK was ...

for me during my allegation process. Susan and Kristina were extremely knowledgeable and passionate toward my specific case. They consistently had steps of action to take in my defense and were extremely flexible when working with me. They helped prepare me, both mentally and emotionally, prior to my hearing. Thanks to their hard work, I now have my future back.”

– Successfully defended a pre-med undergraduate student for alleged cheating on a physics lab report and showed that the professor had made a critical error in basic mathematics

Susan and Kristina are great lawyers.

They helped me resolve an extremely difficult academic dishonesty accusation case against me at the university level. They had helpful ideas and were persistent in making sure my defense was the best it could be. They were creative in their way of utilizing outside resources that helped achieve a positive outcome. Good, prompt responses to my questions. I highly recommend them!