Audiologists serve a noble, essential role in the healthcare fabric, helping patients of all ages address and prevent hearing-related issues. However, good intentions do not protect audiology students from the potential consequences of academic hardship or allegations of academic misconduct, behavioral misconduct, or sexual misconduct.
If you've had academic problems or faced credible or false allegations of misconduct, your degree in audiology, fellowship, accreditation, or certification may be at risk. There is almost always a solution that eliminates or mitigates potential harm to your reputation and goals in audiology, and the Lento Law Firm team will seek that solution for you.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team represents students and postgraduates who risk losing the rewards of their hard work. We will represent you and seek the best possible outcome for the challenging circumstances ahead of you.
The Cost of Losing Your Chance at an Audiology Degree
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) explains that the median compensation for an audiologist is nearly $80,000. That is, the middle-of-the-pack salary for an audiologist constitutes a comfortable living for most—a potential income that you may lose because of an audiologist student issue.
However, a competitive salary is only one benefit of a career in audiology. Many audiologists choose this specific field of allied medicine because:
● They want to help the deaf, a community that UT Health-San Antonio explains is medically underserved
● They want to help hearing-impaired patients retain their sense of hearing and quality of life
● They find audiology to be a challenging, stimulating, and fulfilling career
Whatever your motivations for entering audiology are, those motivations may be dashed if you fail to defend yourself from a degree-threatening student issue.
Challenges to Receiving an Audiology Degree, Including Accreditation Concerns
Most allied medicine degrees require students to master complex medical concepts and then prove their ability to apply those concepts. Audiology students must display aptitude before receiving their degree, which is a challenging mandate.
Furthermore, Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that to practice audiology without restriction, you must:
1. Earn a Master's degree in audiology from an accredited university, though Johns Hopkins notes that "today many audiologists have a doctorate in audiology (AuD)
2. Complete one year in a fellowship or externship related to audiology
3. Pass board exams
4. Complete continuing education credits, which may be part of licensing requirements
5. Achieve national certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
6. Achieve licensing in the state where you intend to practice audiology
This is a rigorous gauntlet, and issues during your time as an audiology student may compromise one or more of these steps toward a career in audiology.
Even if academic progression issues or alleged misconduct do not prevent you from graduating or receiving all necessary licenses and accreditations, they may diminish your reputation in the field of audiology. If your record and reputation suffer, your career opportunities and earning power may be limited.
Academic Misconduct Allegations Threaten Your Degree
Audiology students should expect to face sanctions if found responsible for academic misconduct. The adjudication procedures for alleged academic misconduct will vary from school to school, though most schools will take disciplinary measures if you're accused of:
● Cheating
● Forging data
● Using unauthorized testing materials
● Providing test answers to other students
● Engaging in any other behavior that violates your school's academic integrity guidelines
The student handbook for Audiology students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln explains that audiology students "are expected to know, understand, and comply with the Code and the university's policies on academic integrity, and act at all times with unwavering integrity."
This school notes that the Dean for Graduate Studies oversees academic misconduct issues and that students have the right to due process and appeals. However, if school officials determine that you're responsible for academic misconduct, you may face suspension, expulsion, and other harmful consequences should you fail to clear your name.
We will review your case and put forth a detailed, impassioned defense against accusations of academic misconduct.
How to Contest or Mitigate Allegations of Academic Misconduct
Your attorney will review the allegations against you, listen to your account of events, and research how your school handles allegations of academic misconduct. Our Student Defense Team may:
● Utilize your school's disciplinary processes to seek a dismissal of the allegations against you
● Accompany you to any hearings and interviews that occur during the disciplinary process
● Secure and present evidence that suggests you have not committed the alleged academic misconduct
● Negotiate with your school's Office of General Counsel (OGC) to resolve your case
The OGC is the school's attorney, and they may be willing to resolve your case without risking a potential lawsuit. Negotiating directly with other attorneys is one of our firm's value propositions to you.
Behavioral and Professional Misconduct Allegations May Also Jeopardize Your Audiology Degree
An allegation of behavioral or professional misconduct may be just as damaging as an allegation of academic misconduct. At Pacifica University Oregon School of Audiology (p.16), a violation of behavioral (including professional) standards "can result in the dismissal of the student from the AuD program at any time in the student's academic career."
From the possession of illicit drugs to intoxication on campus grounds, dangerous actions toward patients, and disrespect toward university employees, there is a wide range of activities that violate the behavioral rules of audiology programs nationwide. If you find yourself in violation of your program's behavioral integrity guidelines, our team will work to resolve the problem with minimal harm to you.
How to Contest or Mitigate Allegations of Behavioral Misconduct
Every program handles allegations of unprofessionalism or behavioral misconduct differently, though there may be similarities between various disciplinary proceedings. Our Education Law team may respond to allegations of misconduct against you by:
● Getting witness accounts that indicate you are not responsible for the alleged misconduct
● Securing evidence that exonerates you
● If you have made a mistake and committed misconduct or unprofessional behavior, seek leniency from those with the power to sanction you
We can also negotiate with your school's OGC in seeking a resolution to your behavioral misconduct issue. If necessary, we will make clear that we are willing to pursue legal action against the university, especially if pending sanctions threaten your degree or future prospects in audiology.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Allegations Can Spell the End of Your Audiology Graduation Track
Universities that receive federal funding must abide by Title IX, a regulation that requires Title IX Coordinators to adjudicate complaints of:
● Sexual misconduct
● Gender-based discrimination
● Certain other offenses of a sexual or discriminatory nature
Complaints involving sexual misconduct and gender-based discrimination threaten to leave an ugly stain on your reputation. Perhaps more so than allegations of academic dishonesty or unprofessionalism, sanctions for a Title IX violation could put your future in audiology in doubt.
Title IX-specific policies at Gallaudet University are similar to those at other programs across the nation, as federal oversight calls for a Title IX Coordinator to handle complaints at each school. Your university likely follows a Title IX Coordinator-centered model for adjudicating complaints, and our firm will work within these parameters to resolve your case.
Defending Yourself From Title IX Allegations
Students facing allegations of sexual misconduct or other Title IX-related offenses are typically entitled to an attorney-advisor. Take advantage of this allowance, as an experienced student defense attorney-advisor can:
● Explain how you should protect yourself, which generally includes admitting no wrongdoing and making statements only when required
● Seek out evidence and witnesses who may clear you of the Title IX complaint
● Accompany you to all meetings and hearings related to the Title IX adjudication process
● Advise you on all aspects of your Title IX defense
The standard of proof in Title IX cases has changed over time. You may be found responsible for a Title IX violation even if evidence does not meet the "beyond a shadow of a doubt" standard required in criminal cases.
Our firm frequently represents students whose degrees and careers are threatened by allegations of sexual misconduct. We will provide the defense you deserve and will certainly negotiate a resolution with your school's Office of General Counsel if it may lead to a favorable resolution.
How Academic Progression Issues May Compromise Your Degree and Financial Aid
Audiology students must generally obtain a post-secondary degree to practice professionally. Therefore, you are expected to excel academically in order to:
● Graduate from prerequisite undergraduate programs
● Gain entry to an accredited Master of Audiology program
● Gain entry to any required doctorate programs
● Obtain a position as a fellow or clerk
● Gain accreditation
To gain admission to the University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences, for example, applicants must have a 3.0 GPA, minimum scores on various exams, proof of prerequisite coursework, and meet certain other entrance requirements.
At Metropolitan State University of Denver, audiology students' performance must "reflect mastery of content and skills appropriate for this course," and "a competitive grade point average is required for entrance to graduate school in audiology."
If you hope to reach your goals in audiology, you'll need to put forth consistently strong academic performance.
Potential Solutions to Academic Progression Issues
Poor grades can compromise your graduation, financial aid, and candidacy into postgraduate programs and jobs. An attorney-advisor can respond appropriately to your academic progression issues, exploring resolutions such as:
● An exemption for poor academic performance or lack of sufficient attendance based on personal issues or medical problems
● A grade change
● Make-up assignments
● Another resolution that allows you to maintain good academic standing and progress toward your degree
Different resolutions work for different students. If you are facing potential suspension or dismissal, academic probation may be an acceptable solution. In other cases, a student may not be comfortable with any formal sanctions.
Our team puts the student's interests and goals first. If you want to target a specific outcome to your audiologist student issue, we'll respect that goal. However, we'll provide an honest evaluation of your circumstances and recommendations based on that evaluation.
How a National Education Law Firm Team Can Help You Protect Your Goals and Ambitions as an Audiologist
The Lento Law Firm helps students facing issues in all fields of study, including audiology. Their Student Defense Team fights tirelessly to help students overcome their challenges, even when circumstances seem dire.
Our team can assist with your audiology student issue by:
● Completing a detailed evaluation of the circumstances that are causing you problems
● Familiarizing itself with the policies, procedures, and administrative bodies that affect your case
● Drawing up a tentative plan to resolve your student issue
● Seeking all evidence and testimony that could help resolve your problem
● Hiring any experts who may strengthen our case
● Preparing you for interviews and hearings, then accompanying you to these appointments
● Negotiating with your school's attorneys in pursuit of a favorable resolution
Our familiarity negotiating with Offices of General Counsel sets us apart from "the local attorney." Our experience with student defense issues, and audiology student issues, in particular, is another defining aspect of our firm.
Our entire team will support you through this challenging time. By hiring us, you don't only gain the experiences and knowledge that we have accumulated through decades of service to students. Our services will also allow you to continue focusing on your education and professional training without worrying about your defense.
Call the Lento Law Firm Team Today to Discuss How We Can Help
Our team is always available to field your calls. When it comes to audiology student issues, there is a real risk in waiting to retain an attorney. A single comment could compromise your future in audiology, and we will protect you from the very moment you hire us.
Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your needs and how we can help. You can also tell us about your case online, and we will contact you.
You are not alone during this trying period of your life, and it's never too late to find solutions to your student issues. Let the Lento Law Firm Team serve you.
