Attending college or university in Maryland involves signing onto a social contract. In exchange for receiving an education and participating in extracurricular activities, the school will require you to adhere to a code of conduct.
These codes will vary on a case by case basis, but in general, they require you to follow all laws in Maryland and to maintain a good moral character. This can include refraining from discriminating against another student because of their sex. This is exactly the type of conduct that Title IX is designed to prohibit.
It is essential to understand a Maryland university’s code of conduct and its effect on potential Title IX complaints. An accomplished Title IX attorney could help you to examine your school’s code and how a violation could affect your academic future.
Living by a code of conduct is a part of life included with being a student. These codes apply to all students regardless of age, sex, year in school, or whether they live on campus or not. In short: these codes of conduct are unavoidable.
Every school will use a different code. However, in general, they will require students to behave with good moral character. This can include not interfering with the ability of others to pursue their educations. Common Title IX incidents that include exclusion from groups because of their sex or harassing another student for a date can certainly qualify as violations of these codes.
Codes of conduct also require students to refrain from breaking any laws. More serious Title IX accusations including stalking, dating violence, or sexual assault certainly fall under this category. As a result, a student facing accusations of violating a code of conduct may face simultaneous criminal charges in a Maryland court.
All schools employ investigatory boards that handle allegations of conduct code violations. In fact, federal law requires these schools to specifically look into alleged violations of Title IX. Schools and their investigatory boards have wide powers to punish students who they believe have violated codes of conduct.
This discipline can take many forms. The least serious cases may result in the student receiving a formal warning that any further poor behavior could lead to increase penalties. Middling level cases could require a student to change housing, to withdraw from a class, or may create a no-contact order between the two parties involved in the incident.
Finally, cases that are concurrent with criminal charges may see a student facing suspension or expulsion, even if the court returns a verdict of not guilty.
An attorney could work with students facing code of conduct violations to understand the role that Title IX plays in the case. They could further help to defend a student in any code of conduct hearing or in criminal court.
Many accusations of Title IX violations include an apparent code of conduct violations. Every school uses these codes to make it clear how students are to behave and to punish alleged wrongdoing. If you are facing an allegation involving a Title IX violation, it is essential to comprehend how this interacts with any Title IX complaint.
An attorney could help you to understand your Maryland school’s code of conduct. They could also assist you to form a defense against any alleged violations. The disciplinary boards in these matters act quickly. Contact a lawyer today to protect your academic future.
