Suspended or Expelled in a Title IX Campus Disciplinary Proceeding: Now What?

Being suspended or expelled after a Title IX campus disciplinary proceeding can be devastating in both the short term and the long term. If you are facing disciplinary proceedings that have not yet concluded, you owe it to yourself to present the best defense you can. 

If the disciplinary board has already issued a judgment against you, it is important to take a strategic approach to your immediate actions as you pursue longer-term goals. In either situation, assistance from an experienced Title IX defense attorney could help you reach a positive outcome after your ordeal. 

Be Certain that You Have Exhausted All Appeals on Campus

Many schools have multiple-stage disciplinary proceedings or procedures for appealing a decision involving sexual misconduct or other allegations. If you have received an unfavorable ruling on campus, a Title IX defense lawyer could investigate to determine if you can appeal to a higher tribunal at the school. A lawyer who understands how to protect students’ rights could also collect and preserve evidence that could show that campus proceedings denied due process or were tainted in some other way. 

Follow the Rules

Even if you believe your disciplinary proceeding was a travesty of justice, you need to take your next steps with extreme care if you are planning to move forward. Protesting the results by flagrantly violating prohibitions, for instance, will reflect negatively on your character in future endeavors. Instead, make sure you understand what you can and cannot do as a result of the disciplinary proceedings and follow the rules. Your Title IX defense attorney can assist with interpretation and communication on your behalf. 

You want to choose the ground for your next battle, but violating the rules allows the other side to attack when you are in an even more vulnerable position. Instead, you want to quietly collect as much evidence as possible to support your case as you prepare for your next move. It may be possible for your defense lawyer to negotiate a withdrawal instead of a suspension or expulsion, but you’re more likely to find school authorities cooperative if you are playing nicely. 

Whether your case involves suspension or expulsion, you will have a serious misconduct violation on your record that will probably need to be explained in future academic and work settings. It will be easier to minimize the damage if you exercise self-control in the aftermath of the disciplinary proceeding.

Define Your Goals

After suspension or expulsion from school, it is a good idea to take some time to list your goals and determine which is most important to you. Do you want to clear your name? You could file a lawsuit and prepare to rehash every detail of the episode and the disciplinary proceedings in a lengthy and expensive ordeal. 

Instead, you might want to put the incident behind you and continue with your education. It is possible to pursue both objectives at once, but it is hard to give your best efforts to both at the same time. If your suspension allows you to return to the school, think carefully about whether that is in your best interests or whether a transfer might allow you to pursue more opportunities. 

A Dedicated Title IX Defense Attorney Can Assist if You Have Been Suspended or Expelled

Whether you want to contest the outcome or move on to something different, there are many ways a dedicated Title IX defense attorney could assist with your next move. The experienced student defense lawyers at Binnall Law Group could explain the options available in your case, help you formulate a plan of action, and advocate on your behalf to help you reach your goals.

If you want to file a lawsuit, our proven track record in litigation allows us to successfully pursue justice for wronged students. Contact us today to learn what may be possible in your case.