If you attend a public university and you are charged with a DUI on campus, you can face serious penalties. Most schools have a zero tolerance policy concerning alcohol, and will take your DUI seriously. Understanding what kind of consequences you might face can help you determine how to best handle the situation if your school finds out about your DUI.

Hearings

If you are charged with a DUI, you will have to appear at a court hearing. Also, you must appear at a hearing at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In addition, if you commit crimes such as possession of alcohol or a DUI on your college campus, your college may sanction you separately for illegal use of alcohol. You might have to attend a hearing at your school to explain your behavior and argue your case. You should take this hearing seriously, because it could determine the extent of your punishment.

Your college has the right to take disciplinary action against you as they see fit. While you will also be worrying about your court hearing and your DMV hearing, you should try to focus on your school hearing as well. Presenting a strong, clear case to a disciplinary board or the president of your school can help you in the long run.

Sanctions

A typical sanction will consist of a suspension. The duration of a suspension will vary, but it will generally last from one semester to a whole school year. You might also have to attend alcohol or drug treatment classes. These are the typical punishments that you will receive if you are charged with a DUI on school property. However, other ramifications of your DUI can occur. One other major consequence of getting a DUI on school property is the loss of scholarship. Many programs will terminate your scholarship if you are found to be in violation of school rules. In some cases, the loss of a scholarship can be serious. You might have to find an alternative way to pay for college, such as taking out student loans. In some cases, you might be unable to pay for college and will be forced to take time off.

In Connecticut, we have represented students charged with DUI at the University of Connecticut at Storrs or any of the regional state university campuses.

Getting Help

Getting a DUI on school property can lead to severe punishments. Every case is different, so you should talk to a DUI attorney about how you should approach your individual case. You could face suspension, expulsion, or the loss of a scholarship if you are caught drinking and driving on your school campus. It is important to prepare thoroughly for a disciplinary hearing at your school and make sure that you present yourself as a mature, responsible student who made a mistake that will not happen again. Finding character witnesses can help your case. For assistance with your court hearing, DMV hearing, or disciplinary hearing, you should consider contacting an attorney.