College & University Discipline

Student walking on campus with a bookbag.

All colleges and universities have an affirmative duty to investigate and adjudicate allegations of wrongdoing related to student activities – on and off campus – when those activities involve the college or university.  Title IX of the Federal Code requires it.  How each college and university goes about satisfying that obligation varies from institution to institution because the law offers very little guidance.  Some educational institutions offer more protection and due process to its students while others fall far short of offering any.


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How and when you the student (or parent of a student) first respond to an allegation of wrongdoing will often have a dramatic impact on the final outcome of your case.  Your continued presence at your college or university could depend on your first response.

College Campus Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Sexual Assault
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Date Rape
  • Hazing Offenses
  • Alcohol Related Offenses
  • Cheating
  • Assault and Battery

The Law Office of John R. Grasso, Inc. has represented many college and university students confronted with allegations of student misconduct.  From simple disorderly conduct to accusations of hazing offenses, campus sexual assault, to more complex misconduct allegations.  Our work includes campus investigating and representing students at disciplinary proceedings, with appeals from those proceedings and the resulting sanctions, as well as any criminal defense that arose from the same circumstances underlying the student misconduct matter.

“We retained John during a very difficult time for our son. It was as difficult a time our family had been involved in and John guided us through the process with such fearlessness and professionalism to get us a wonderful result. John was smart, had great foresight and clearly had the experience and knowledge to get my son and our family to the best place possible. We spent many hours with John who worked tirelessly for our son and we cannot thank him enough for his hard work, caring and time he put into our son’s case.”

“As a mom, I was completely blindsided and distressed when our child was falsely accused. Atty. Grasso was there for us, 100%, from my first (panicked) call. Throughout the emotional rollercoaster that we endured, Atty. Grasso went above and beyond with his responses (answering my texts/emails within minutes) as well as his swift actions in the twists and turns of our case. I am a very meticulous person, and Atty. Grasso was always a few steps ahead of me in the process. He listened to me, was completely honest without sugarcoating (which I greatly appreciated), and never stopped fighting (literally) day and night. He also very patient, kind, and helped calm my anxiety and fears. His attention to every detail and relentless defense resulted in a dismissal of our case. I will never forget Atty. Grasso and what he did for our family.”

We have successfully defended students accused of campus wrongdoing, campus sexual assault, and Title IX at the following universities:

  • Johnson & Wales University
  • Salve Regina University
  • Roger Williams University
  • Providence College
  • Brown
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • The University of Rhode Island
  • Wheaton College
  • Bryant University
  • RISD

Recent Title IX Results

College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

Another Title IX/campus Misconduct Exoneration

RESULT: Client Found Not Responsible

“Another Title IX/campus misconduct exoneration.  Our local college student client was wrongly accused of campus sexual assault.  After a year-long, ...

Review Case Result
two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus

Accused Student & Recent Title IX Policy Changes

RESULT: Hearing Panel Found Him Not Responsible

“Despite outrageous changes to the university’s Title IX policies and procedures that left our accused student client with hardly any ...

Review Case Result
not guilty domestic violence

Pandemic Patience Pays Off

RESULT: Not Guilty

“Our first client to have her case tried since the courts stopped trying cases due to COVID-19 proved how important ...

Review Case Result
Student Cleared of Any Wronging

College Campus Sex Assault & Sex Harassment Exoneration

RESULT: Student Cleared of Any Wronging

“Three female students coordinated their Title 9 complaints on a fourth female freshman student, our client.  Secretly, those three students ...

Review Case Result
two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus

Another Title IX Exoneration

RESULT: Student Cleared of Any Wronging

“Another Title IX exoneration.  A year after two college students engaged in consensual sex, one of those students filed a ...

Review Case Result
Two unrelated Title IX adjudications

TWO More Title IX Victories

RESULT: Two unrelated Title IX adjudications, at separate schools, prevailed this week at Title IX hearings.

“This week, we finally resolved two ongoing Title IX cases at two different colleges and universities. In both cases, we ...

Review Case Result
two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus

Two College Clients Were Exonerated of Alleged Wrongdoing on Campus

RESULT: Exonerated

This week, two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus.  The first was falsely accused of almost 30 ...

Review Case Result
title ix campus lawyer

Another Title IX/Campus Misconduct Nightmare ends with Not Responsible

RESULT: Not Responsible

“Another local college kid accused of campus sexual assault weeks before graduation is found not responsible.  Four days prior to ...

Review Case Result
College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

RESULT: College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

“Six months ago, our college student client received an email from Title IX advising him that another student accused him ...

Review Case Result

In the past few years, this area has become one of the most active aspects of our law practice.  We are familiar with all aspects of campus misconduct and student discipline matters.

Our approach is simple.  Regardless of how your college or university chooses to handle your matter, we will conduct our own investigation, assemble the relevant witnesses, facts, and other evidence, keep you informed so that you have a minute by minute understanding of your case, help you make important decisions, then prepare you and your defense.  Oftentimes, the faster we begin to investigate, the better the outcome of your case.  We always outpace the college or university’s investigator(s) because that is what it takes to win.

The results of our work include charges being dismissed, reduced, settled more favorably.  Some of our clients have been entirely exonerated.  We have successfully persuaded colleges and universities to suspend their own campus proceedings when there is a corresponding criminal matter to allow the criminal justice system to work without interference by the college or university.

As a former police officer, Attorney John R. Grasso takes a hands-on approach to your investigation because the more thorough the investigation, the more information he has to win your case.  He will help you understand the landscape ahead, aggressively and efficiently investigate your case from the ground up, and advise you each and every step of the way.

If you have been accused of wrongdoing related to your status as a student at a college or university in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, the sooner you call our office, the greater your chances of resolving the matter in your favor.

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Testimonials - See What Past Clients Are Saying about Rhode Island Defense Attorney John R. Grasso