Expelled, Title IX

Transfer Students
1

I am currently about to finish out my associate’s degree. Necessary information is below.

I came to the school I was expelled from as a National Merit Scholar with a full scholarship. I incredibly stupid and immature my freshman year and committed a student code of conduct violation, a Title IX incident, when I was blacked out at a party. I came forward and reported myself and received a one semester suspension due to the degree of the violation as well as my cooperation.

I couldn’t cope with my actions as well as the university’s decision and continued down a string of bad decisions, participating in clubs and events on campus the next semester. The university found out; I was eventually expelled. I appealed twice and lost (I really should have expected this). My mental and emotional state at the time was not the best at that time in hindsight. I decided to not move back home with my parents; I got a job and started supporting myself instead.

That was three years ago. So far, I’m about to finish my associate’s degree with honors while working full time, I’m in a management position in the same place of employment, and have volunteered twice a year since then.

I’ve also been working with the Dean of Students from my expelling school. Everything I do, I’m working closely with them to ensure I don’t make the same mistakes I made when I was young and dumb. I’ve been encouraged by them to apply for reinstatement; I’ll be doing so for the fall semester. This is in no way a guarantee, but those who have helped me believe I have a compelling story.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I will need a degree to do what I want in STEM. I plan on returning to the university system as early as I can; at best spring 2018, at worst, whenever I can. My plans for applying are:

-Fully disclose as much of my explanation of the expulsion as possible without going too much into detail. Fall-on-to-my-sword type of deal, because that’s exactly how I feel.

-Really make a strong personal statement that shows how far I’ve come/what I plan on doing with my degree.

My GPA is competitive, and my previous academic record before the incident was even more solid.

Now my questions:

Should I even bother applying at all with my record?

If I should still bother applying, do the plans I have outlined check out? Is there anything that should be changed/taken out/added? Are there any experiences I could add to build more strength in my application?

Legally, my parents have thought of hiring an attorney to help with the situation. Seal my records via FERPA. Change my previous charges retroactively through the argument that I was young and immature. I am very appreciative of their understanding and effort to help me out, but I would like some counsel on legal action. I spoked with Dean of Students, and they say there is pretty much nothing I can do in regards to destroying or preventing other colleges from seeing my disciplinary record (ONLY the disciplinary record). There is also nothing I can do to change my charges retroactively. FERPA protects me until I apply for colleges; when I do so, I give the right to this information.

I had already done my research and completely agree with the Dean of Students on this information, and expected it. However, my parents still want to involve an attorney. I feel that this could create problems between the University and I. What can I do here? I don’t want to alienate my parents. This is a desperate situation, and while I agree that we are all desperate, I believe awareness should still be excised.

I’ve been full of regret and remorse since the incident. I’ve worked hard to pick myself back up, and really do want to show that I’m ready to re-enter the system. I’ve completely open and ready for the alternative, but until I know that is for certain, I’m ready to do whatever I can.

2

I’m no expert on this stuff, but I just want to say that I’m impressed by the maturity you’ve shown showing remorse and learning from your mistake. Your willingness to pick yourself up, support yourself, and continue your education with good grades is commendable. I think it is worth trying. Americans like a redemption story and like to give second chances to those who deserve it. I wish you well on this journey.

3

Your best option is to continue working with your university and to seek reinstatement there. If you are reinstated there, that is huge. It is an indication to every other place you could eventually apply that you are not who you once were.

Tell your parents that you love them, but that the attorney needs to wait. The academic system is a world unto itself, so you need to keep working within that system for as long as you can. If you should one day find it to be absolutely necessary to lawyer-up, you will need to find an attorney who is truly expert on the issues that you face.

4

Congratulations on your upcoming Associate’s degree!
How about sending recommendation letters from your current employer and instructors at your current CC to your expelling school’s reinstatement office? I’m just guessing here, but if you can show the Dean that other people also think you’ve changed in these three years, it’s not going to be just the compelling story from your perspective; that way you’ll be showing evidence that other people also think you deserve a second chance.

I had an instructor in Communication 1 who wrote a recommendation letter for someone in a similar situation, but I have no idea about the outcome. Many people at CCs care deeply about those students who want to pursue a degree at a 4-year University and will be willing to put their names in a recommendation letter if you did well during the semester. Best of luck!

5

Hi smsk!

Thank you for your suggestions. I actually recommendation letters ready from my general manager as well as my honors professor who is also the Acting Dean of Communications at my CC. Hopefully those should hold some weight.

Thank you again for your support, it means a lot.

6

Hi doschicos,

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

7

Hi HappyMomof1,

That really is the problem; I would be fully on board with what my parents want to do except a). all the information points to the fact that there isn’t anything I can do, b). no attorneys seem to know what to do, and c). there are no resources/advice for those who have been expelled with a Title IX stamp on their case. I’m wading in the dark, and I don’t want to waste my parents’ money on someone who won’t be able to do anything.

Thank you for your advice HappyMomof1, it was much appreciated.

8

I don’t see any harm in simply hearing what the attorney has to say. If the attorney starts asking asking for details from former college, then I can see things turning south.

If the offenses occurred before the age of 18, then you might have a reasonable argument on why the records should be sealed. If not then I don’t think there is anything you can do.

But also keep in mind that colleges always will be willing to give someone a second chance.