Dental school is tough. Don't believe us? Take a look at the percentage of students who don't finish their programs. The University of Pittsburgh can dismiss you for any number of reasons, from low grades to cheating, to sexual harassment.
The good news is you don't have to deal with the threat of dismissal all on your own. It's no easy task to protect yourself from a misconduct allegation or a claim that you're not meeting academic expectations, but the LLF Law Firm is here to help. The attorneys at the LLF Law Firm are dedicated to the principle that you deserve a chance to complete your education, that you deserve fair treatment, and that a mistake or two shouldn't stand in the way of your success. They've helped hundreds of students defend themselves against dismissal charges and get the justice they deserve, and they can help you to do the same, no matter what specific problem you might be facing.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Let's start with the basics. Just what is it that can get you dismissed from the University of Pittsburgh SDM? Knowing that will help you avoid problems in the first place, but it can also be crucial to constructing a dismissal defense should you need one.
- Academic Standards: It won't come as a surprise to you to learn that you can be dismissed for low grades or poor clinical performance reports. After all, you're a student. It's your job to meet academic expectations. You might be surprised to learn just how strict the Pitt SDM expectations are. “Good” standing requires you to maintain a minimum 2.6 cumulative GPA. You also need to earn at least a C in all your coursework. You can be issued a Warning for anything lower than a C. You can be placed on Probation or required to complete a Remediation program any time your GPA falls, or you receive an F in any required course. You can be suspended should you continue to struggle while on Probation. You can be dismissed entirely for three consecutive semesters on Probation, failing to pass a required course while on Probation, or failing to pass a course after Remediation.
- Misconduct: Satisfactory coursework is crucial to earning your dental degree, but the truth is misconduct can actually get you into more trouble than struggling to meet the GPA requirement. A dentist is a position in the public trust, and Pitt's SDM takes seriously its obligations to make sure you are fit for that responsibility. Any unprofessional behavior can get you suspended or dismissed, even on a first offense. That includes basic misconduct such as violations of the university's Code of Student Conduct, the Guidelines on Academic Integrity, or the Title IX sexual misconduct policy. It also includes instances of professional misconduct such as patient mistreatment, violation of doctor-patient confidentiality, or misuse of prescription privileges. Finally, you should know that your personal behaviors can also earn you dismissal. A criminal conviction—even for something relatively minor, like a DUI—can be grounds for dismissal.
All promotion decisions, including dismissal decisions, are ultimately in the hands of the Student Progress Committee. This committee meets at the end of every semester and at other times as needed.
The Adjudication Process at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
How you respond to the threat of dismissal will depend on the specific nature of the allegations against you. For instance, if you've been charged with general misconduct, you'll face a university investigation and hearing. If you've been accused of sexual misconduct, you'll most likely be investigated and adjudicated under Title IX guidelines established by the federal government. If, however, you're facing an allegation of academic misconduct or professional misconduct, you'll be dealing with an SDM SPC hearing.
The details of these various processes can differ in small but important ways. For the most part, though, the basic outline of these processes is the same.
- Anyone at the university can lodge a complaint against you. The appropriate officials must then determine whether the allegations are credible and actionable.
- If you're being investigated, you're entitled to a Notice of the Charges. This notice should provide you with details of the allegations and a list of your due process rights.
- As part of the investigation, investigators will conduct separate interviews with both sides. They'll also talk to witnesses and collect any physical evidence.
- You'll then have the chance to make your case at a hearing. As part of the proceedings, you may offer evidence and call witnesses to testify. You may also cross-examine any witnesses against you.
- One or more decision makers decide whether you are Responsible for (guilty of) a violation using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” In simple terms, they must find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed an offense.
- You have a limited right to appeal if you can demonstrate a procedural error occurred, you can offer up new evidence, or you can show that your sanction is disproportionate to the offense.
You have the right to a hearing in academic dismissal cases, just as you do in misconduct cases. It can be more difficult to defend yourself in these cases, however, as they are primarily based on your grades. Those aren't normally subject to debate.
Finally, you should note that the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine doesn't allow you to be represented by an attorney in judicial proceedings. Nevertheless, an attorney from the LLF to Law Firm's Education Law Team can be crucial in building your defense. They can map out your strategy, work with you to collect evidence, help you develop witness questions, and even coach you in presentation approaches. The bottom line is you should never go into a campus hearing without having consulted with someone from the Education Law Team at the LLF Law Firm.
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 any 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 an attorney from the LLF Law Firm.
The LLF Law Firm was built to help students. The LLF Law Firm team knows 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 the LLF Law Firm can do for you. Contact the firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
