Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Dentistry has had a major impact not just in New Orleans but also across Louisiana. More than three-quarters of the state's dentists are LSU School of Dentistry graduates. LSUSD's degree programs in doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.), dental hygiene (B.S.), and dental laboratory technology (A.S.) have even had a national impact, graduating over 6,000 dental health professionals. LSU Health New Orleans also offers comprehensive dental training in endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Your LSUSD dental education is a gateway to a rewarding career.
But you must graduate first. And LSU School of Dentistry presents just as challenging and rigorous of a program as other dental schools across the nation. You must meet LSUSD's academic, professional, and behavioral standards and benchmarks, or you may face dismissal. Make no mistake: dental student issues can derail your LSU School of Dentistry education. Discipline and dismissal for behavioral misconduct, professional misconduct, failing or poor grades, frequent course withdrawals, and incomplete clinical hours, whether due to illness, pregnancy, divorce, or other loss, can stand in the way of your dental career. Don't let dismissal derail you. The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team and national student defense attorney advisor are available in New Orleans to fight for your LSUSD education.
Common Reasons for LSU School of Dentistry Dismissal
Unsatisfactory Academic Progress
Academics are the first cause for dental student concern and dismissal at LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans, just as elsewhere. LSUSD reflects the necessary rigor of its dental education program in a satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy contained in LSUSD's student handbook. LSUSD's SAP policy requires that you complete all work in every course while maintaining at least a 2.00-grade point average each term. If you don't meet LSUSD's academic benchmarks, you can lose your financial aid and face the dental school's Academic Performance Advancement Committee: "The committee may recommend that a student who is not making satisfactory progress be dropped from the rolls of the school and, with approval from the Dean, the student's enrollment will be terminated." Poor grades and incomplete coursework can get you dismissed from the LSU School of Dentistry.
Professional and Behavioral Issues
LSUSD's student handbook authorizes the dental school's Committee on Professional Conduct to dismiss students whose behavior or professionalism doesn't meet the school's standards: "A student not satisfactorily meeting all of the TECHNICAL STANDARDS or not satisfactorily demonstrating PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT expected of a health professional may be denied at any time permission to continue in the educational program at the School of Dentistry." Issues like attending clinical courses while intoxicated, falsifying clinical hours, claiming credit for the work of other students, incompetent patient care, and disrespect toward supervisors can lead to LSUSD disciplinary charges and dismissal. LSUSD's student handbook similarly provides that the school's Academic Performance Advancement Committee "may deny a student permission to continue in the educational program when the student's conduct/professionalism, mental or physical fitness casts grave doubt upon the student's professional capabilities."
LSU School of Dentistry Sanctions
LSUSD's student handbook authorizes a range of progressive sanctions adjusted to academic or professional misconduct issues. Those sanctions include lowering a course grade, requiring extra coursework, and short-term suspensions of from one to three weeks. Not every charge results in dismissal. Minor sanctions may be an acceptable alternative for some students whom LSUSD threatens with dismissal. But any discipline can impair a dental student's record and opportunities.
LSU School of Dentistry Adjudication Process
Dental schools must generally provide protective procedures against unfair discipline and dismissal. LSUSD's student handbook clearly offers detailed disciplinary procedures. An accused student, though, will generally need to actively participate with skilled representation to strategically invoke those procedures. A chairperson of the appointed committee convenes a Review Council to ensure that charges are appropriate. If the accused student refuses to accept the Council's proposed findings and sanction, the matter proceeds to a formal hearing before the full committee. The accused student may retain an attorney advisor to assist the student in presenting witnesses and challenging the dental school's case at the hearing.
LSU School of Dentistry Appeal Process
LSUSD's student handbook provides that the accused student may appeal an adverse committee decision for dismissal or other serious sanctions. An appeal must reach the dean within five days of the adverse decision. The student's notice of appeal must include detailed information, including the grounds for reversal. An Ad Hoc Panel decides the appeal based on the submitted information. The student's appeal must meet one of the school's specified appeal grounds.
LSU School of Dentistry Defense Attorney Services
LSU School of Dentistry's detailed pre-hearing review, formal hearing, and appeal procedures present an accused student with a confusing array of strategic challenges and opportunities. Don't attempt to navigate those procedures without an attorney advisor skilled and experienced in student defense. To have their salutary effect, dental school appeals and other procedures require substantial preparation and documentation and articulate advocacy. You'll need a qualified student defense attorney, not an unqualified local criminal defense lawyer, for your best outcome to LSU School of Dentistry's dismissal defense.
LSU School of Dentistry Alternative Relief
Don't give up, though, if you have already exhausted LSUSD's formal hearings and appeals and still face dismissal. Dental schools and other college and university programs rely on oversight officials to ensure that they treat students fairly without creating undue regulatory or litigation risks. National student defense attorney advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team have the reputation and relationships in general counsel offices and with outside retained counsel to negotiate reinstatement as alternative special relief in some cases.
Premier LSU School of Dentistry Defense Services
Your LSUSD dental education is worth the fight. The Lento Law Firm's premier Education Law Team and national student defense attorney advisor Joseph D. Lento have helped hundreds of students nationwide overcome and avoid dismissal. For your best outcome, call 888.535.3686 or go online now for skilled and experienced defense representation at LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans.
