The University of Vermont's College of Medicine has high aspirations. As the school's Vision Statement puts it, one of its chief goals is to “bring hope to patients by advancing medical knowledge through research.” Bringing hope: That's a sacred responsibility.
In keeping with that responsibility, the College of Medicine holds its students to the very highest standards. It's not just that you're expected to excel academically, though that is certainly true. The expectations are just as high when it comes to your ethical, professional, and personal conduct. A lapse in any of these areas can result in dismissal.
There's nothing wrong with high standards. Indeed, the higher your school's standards, the more valuable your degree will be when you're done. No one is perfect, though, not even medical students. You're smart, hard-working, and disciplined, or you wouldn't be here at all. Even so, to be a student is to learn, and to learn is to make mistakes.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is committed to the proposition that mistakes shouldn't cost you your future. Our attorneys are determined to make sure that you're treated fairly and that you get every reasonable opportunity to complete your degree. To that end, we make it our business to know how your medical school operates. We know exactly what can get you dismissed and how to protect you any time you've been accused. And we're ready to put what we know to work any time you have a problem.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
There are basically two reasons the University of Vermont College of Medicine might decide to dismiss you: academic deficiencies and misconduct.
- Academic Deficiencies: You came to the College of Medicine to study, so let's start with academics. Your progress through your medical school program is ultimately in the hands of the Advancement Committee. This committee reviews your work at the end of each year and makes recommendations as to your academic status. Should you fail a course, the committee will normally work with you to create a reasonable remediation plan to get you back on track. A more serious deficiency might mean you have to repeat a year. Of course, if you consistently struggle to pass courses or to satisfy clinical requirements, the committee also has the authority to recommend stronger sanctions, including probation and dismissal.
- Misconduct: Medical students sometimes don't realize that they're subject to the same university rules as any undergraduate or graduate student. Just like any other student, you're expected to abide by an Honor Code in completing your coursework. You're also expected to abide by the university's Code of Student Conduct. And, like every university student in the US, you are subject to Title IX, a federal law barring sexual discrimination and harassment.
In addition to these general policies, though, you're also required to meet the College of Medicine's standards of professionalism. That means showing characteristics of honesty and courtesy. It means treating patients with respect and maintaining confidentiality. It means learning to work effectively within a medical team.
Misconduct is dealt with through several different offices at the university and the College of Medicine, depending on the nature of the accusation. The important thing to remember, though, is that any violation can result in dismissal.
Fighting Dismissal
Medical school is tough—no question about that. But your school can't simply dismiss you without affording you due process. Dismissals must be supported by concrete evidence, and you always have the right to defend yourself. How you do that, though, may depend on the specific allegations against you.
- Misconduct Procedures: Because it is subject to federal law, Title IX sexual misconduct is handled by the university's Title IX Coordinator using rules and procedures set up by the government. All other cases of misconduct are handled by the School of Medicine. The Dean of Students typically appoints an ad hoc committee to hear complaints. You are allowed to attend this hearing, to respond to evidence against you, to submit your own evidence, and to call witnesses to testify on your behalf.
- Academic Procedures: Dismissals for academic deficiencies are somewhat different from misconduct dismissals. Generally speaking, your academic record is a matter of objective fact rather than a subject for debate. Even so, you have important due process rights in these cases as well. Any time the Advancement Committee is considering sanctions, it must notify you and allow you to be present during discussions. The committee reviews your record during these discussions, and you're allowed to correct any mistakes in that record. You're also allowed to submit additional materials and to call witnesses to testify.
Except in Title IX cases, the University of Vermont School of Medicine does not allow students to be represented by attorneys at investigative meetings and hearings. This leads some students to believe they shouldn't consult an attorney at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, when you're denied counsel during judicial procedures, it's vital that you have someone monitoring the situation to ensure your rights are respected.
Beyond this, though, an attorney from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help you develop your defense, work with you to gather and organize evidence, and even coach you on how to present your case. Even if they can't actually accompany you to a hearing, they can make sure you're prepared for that hearing and that you have the very best chance to win your case.
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 dozens, maybe hundreds of hours studying for the MCAT; you filled out applications, convinced referees to write on your behalf, and sat through demanding interviews. The threat of dismissal puts all of that in jeopardy. It means having to look for a new career. It means having to pay back thousands of dollars in student loans without a medical degree to help you do it.
There's simply too much on the line to go into this situation alone. Judicial rules and procedures can be complex, and your school is not on your side in this instance. You need someone who is, someone who has your best interests at heart and who is willing to fight for those interests. You want an attorney from the Lento Law Firm Team.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team was built to help students. The firm's attorneys 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 the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
