The Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH) is a private graduate school of dentistry established in 2003. ASDOH is the first dental school to open in Arizona and is affiliated with A.T. Still University. Although the institution is relatively new, its mission is to be a leader in transformative dental education and provide a quality experience for dental students. As a result, ASDOH implements strict guidelines regarding student professionalism, performance, and behavior. Any violation listed in the Student Handbook leads to multiple repercussions, the most harmful to your future being dismissal.
Dental school dismissals happen for multiple reasons, including poor progression, failure to meet ASDOH's clinical standards, violating professional conduct standards, or not maintaining ethical guidelines. Expulsions have grave consequences on your progress with short and long-term effects. However, dealing with the issue alone is less likely to produce the desired results. If you face expulsion at ASDOH, you must take every possible step to prevent it from ruining your future. Without the help of a skilled attorney-advisor, your chances of successfully negotiating a less harmful outcome for your future decrease significantly.
Common Reasons For Dismissal
Dismissal is a big deal at any institution of higher education like ASDOH. There are multiple causes for expulsion from dental school, including academic misconduct, professionalism concerns, lack of progress in your program, and unethical behavior. Of course, not every violation leads to a dismissal, especially if it is not severe. However, remember that multiple infractions will lead to a dismissal, even minor ones. For more egregious actions, a panel may issue the decision immediately, even with no past issues on your part.
At ASDOH, the most common reasons for dismissal include severe ethical violations, failure to maintain passing grades in your program, discrimination, harassment, and giving out confidential information accessed through ASDOH devices.
Adjudication Process at ASDOH
The Student Handbook contains information on how the institution handles violations and the adjudication process when something goes wrong. Per the handbook, any person may report a student for violating the Code of Behavioral Standards. The complainant must report the alleged violation to the Dean's office or the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), after which the proceedings begin. The adjudication process starts with an investigation to determine if the complaint holds merit. If it does, the Dean or the VPSA will inform the student of the allegations in writing and propose sanctions. If the student does not accept the sanctions, they may request a hearing by the Standards and Ethics Board.
- The SEB hearing process, as stated in the handbook, proceeds as follows:
- After establishing a date, the SEB conducts the hearing privately.
- Accused students must attend the entire hearing. If they want another attendee with them, they must seek the permission of the chairperson.
- The complainant, accused student, and SEB may present witnesses but must give at least two days' notice.
- The chairperson accepts any pertinent records, exhibits, and statements by all parties at their discretion.
- The chairperson determines all procedural questions during the hearing.
- Once the hearing ends, the SEB determines, by a majority vote, whether the student violated the code and the appropriateness of the proposed sanctions.
- The student receives the result of the hearing within five business days.
Hearing processes are stressful and may include interrogations by university officials and faculty members. The handbook mentions that you may have an advisor present during the hearing process. However, they may not answer for you during questioning or contact the other party outside of the hearing setting. What the advisor can do is pose questions on your behalf. But even if you attend the hearing alone, Attorney-Advisor Lento can still assist you beforehand by helping with responses and prepping for the interrogation process.
Appeals Process
Fortunately, even after passing a dismissal sanction, students can appeal the result. Per the handbook, you can appeal the SEB's decision to the Senior Vice President-Academic Affairs (SVPAA) within ten calendar days of receiving the written decision. You will need to submit all the necessary documents to the SVPAA, which will review the case and make a final decision within five calendar days. The SVPAA will communicate the decision to you, the Dean, and Enrollment Services through a letter.
You may continue attending your classes until the final decision. Imposed sanctions, including dismissal, apply after the final decision. After you receive the result, no further appeals are possible unless your advisor appeals to the Office of General Counsel. Due to the gravity of the situation, never approach this process alone. The longer you wait to speak to a professional attorney-advisor, the less likely you will remain enrolled at ASDOH.
Contacting A Student Defense Attorney-Advisor
As a dental student facing dismissal, you may assume you have no options. But with the help of skilled Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his team, you have a higher chance of getting a less severe sanction if you act quickly. Attorney-Advisor Lento has experience working with dental students across the nation who are facing tough sanctions like expulsion. With his knowledge and passion for justice, he guides you through the process by offering solid legal advice, a compassionate shoulder to rely on, and stellar representation regardless of the violation's severity.
With a professional by your side, you can gather and present evidence during the hearing and focus on the result instead of what can go wrong. If the sanctions result in a dismissal, having the guidance of Attorney-Advisor Lento and his team helps you formulate a strong appeal before the penalties take effect and ruin your future. He can also help you negotiate a fair resolution, if appropriate, and pinpoints issues that may lead to an unfair outcome during the investigation or hearing process.
If you or someone you love is facing dismissal from ASDOH due to professional concerns, ethical issues, or lack of progress, there is hope. Having Student Defense Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can and increase your chances of a positive outcome. Contact the Lento Law Firm today for a discreet and thorough consultation at 888-535-3686.
