The College of Dentistry at the University of Florida is one of the premier dental schools in the country. In fact, it regularly ranks in the top 10 in NIH research funding. Just as important as its commitment to research is its commitment to patient care. Each year, the school serves over 135,000 patients.
It will come as no surprise to you, then, to find out that the school has a rigorous program of study. UFCD expects you to perform both academically and professionally, and any lapses can get you dismissed pretty quickly.
High standards are important, of course. No one wants a dentist working on them who graduated from a second-rate school. There are high standards, though, and there are unreasonable standards. You always have the right to fair treatment.
If you find yourself struggling to meet academic requirements, clinical or professional expectations, or ethical guidelines, know that you don't have to simply accept dismissal. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are here to help. They know what you're up against, and they're experienced at helping students protect themselves and their futures.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
One of the biggest challenges of being a dentistry student is that you have so many responsibilities. You aren't just a student anymore. You're a professional, and you're expected to behave like a professional. Of course, you're still in training, and your instructors should, and probably do, understand that you're going to make mistakes. You'll find most sanctions, especially for first violations, are educational rather than punitive.
Multiple and especially egregious violations, though, can get you expelled. You be expelled for failing to keep up academically. You can also be expelled for things like discrimination, harassment, failure to protect confidential information, and other serious lapses in ethical judgment.
The Adjudication Process at the University of Florida College of Dentistry
As the Student-faculty Handbook at UFCD notes, all student issues—both academic and disciplinary—are handled by the school's Student Performance and Evaluation Committee (SPEC). This committee regularly reviews student records and makes recommendations about student progress. SPEC is also empowered to respond to academic and disciplinary infractions and to issue punishments, from written warnings to probation to outright dismissal.
The SPEC process at UFCD generally follows a set structure.
- First, you're given an opportunity to explain your side of the situation in an official interview. SPEC does not hold hearings, so it's important that you take this interview seriously and prepare for it thoroughly. The good news is, you have the right to bring a support person, and this person may be an attorney. Keep in mind, though, that your support person may not speak on your behalf.
- SPEC then meets to consider your case. The committee considers all pertinent information, including your academic record, any reports about your behavior, and your interview responses. However, discussion and deliberation occur in a closed-door setting. That is, you have no right to address SPEC directly, to present evidence yourself or to call witnesses.
- Decisions are based on a majority vote by a committee quorum. A quorum consists of half the committee. Voting is done by secret ballot.
- Finally, you are notified as to the SPEC decision, both in terms of your responsibility and any sanctions the committee may have applied.
Joseph D. Lento and his team may not be able to speak for you at official meetings, but they can offer crucial support any time you are interviewed. As a starting point, they can help you prepare for these meetings. That means collecting evidence, drafting documents, and generally developing a defense strategy. At the meeting itself, they can advise you what to say and—often more important—what not to say.
And while SPEC does not hold hearings, Joseph D. Lento and his team can monitor the entire adjudication process to make sure you're being treated fairly and that you're given all the due process rights you deserve.
The Appeals Process
A dismissal decision by SPEC isn't necessarily a death sentence. You have the right to appeal this decision to the Dean of the College of Dentistry. The Dean has sole authority to decide whether or not to uphold SPEC recommendations. However, they may meet with you to gather additional information; they may convene a faculty panel to consider the appeal; they may even hold a meeting where you are allowed to address the panel directly.
As with any other academic or disciplinary meeting, you have the right to invite anyone to these meetings you choose, including a legal representative. Again, you must speak on your own behalf, but that doesn't mean Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team can't offer advice on what to say and how to say it.
Fighting for Your Future
Make no mistake: if you're facing dismissal, everything is on the line. You've worked for many years to get to this point. You earned an undergraduate degree; you spent hours studying for the Dental Admissions Test; you filled out applications, convinced referees to write on your behalf, and sat through difficult interviews. You've also put in the work since you were admitted to dental school: long hours of studying and even longer hours of clinical work. Expulsion means all of that work comes to nothing. It means trying to find an entirely new career. It means having to pay back student loans you've accumulated without a dental degree to help you do it.
You don't want to go into this situation alone. Not only is everything at stake, but if your school is considering dismissal, it's already actively working against you. You need someone who's on your side, who has your best interests at heart, and who is willing to fight for those interests. You want Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. Joseph D. Lento and his team know the law as it applies to education. They also know how campus judicial systems work. They're highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and have helped hundreds of students just like you get the justice they deserve.
If you're facing disciplinary action, don't wait to see what might happen. Find out exactly what Joseph D. Lento and his team can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
