Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine prizes collaboration and a determination to serve others above all else. When the university invites students to join each year's incoming class, it makes its expectations clear in its student handbook. Here, students learn more about the school's values, including its drive to promote innovation, integrity, professionalism, and compassion.
That said, no student is perfect. There may come a time when students find themselves contending with academic challenges, accusations of unprofessional behavior, or even academic misconduct. Facing down these concerns and allegations is more than just stressful. When a university acts without its students' best interest at heart, it can ruin their careers. Medical students who end up dismissed from their programs can have a difficult time making their way into their chosen field.
That's where an attorney-advisor can help. Students addressing accusations of unprofessional behavior or academic misconduct can discuss their cases with a professional in their area. Together they can work through a school's hearing process to better fight for a student's future.
Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine Honor Code and Professionalism
Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine's students are held to both professional and academic standards. In terms of professionalism, students are expected to approach their academic work – as well as their service to patients – with integrity and a healthy respect for others. Failure to abide by the school's professionalism standards can see a student face remediation or even consequences as severe as expulsion.
Violating the school's academic code can merit many of the same consequences. The Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine code of conduct specifically highlights the following behaviors as unacceptable:
- Cheating
- Fabrication
- Falsification of documentation
- Plagiarism
- Self-plagiarism
- Complicity in academic misconduct or the deliberate violation of the school's professionalism standards
The school takes this a step further and notes that applicable university representatives have the right to consider any behaviors not listed here but in gross violation of the spirit of professionalism to merit university sanctions.
Remediation
Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine has programs in place designed to curb student behavior that seems unprofessional. Similarly, the school is willing to fit its students with programs aimed to improve their academic performance. This process is known as remediation.
If the school's professors or staff believe that a student isn't meeting the university's standards, then they're invited to get in touch with the Medical Student Performance Committee. If the committee believes that a student may benefit from intervention, then its representatives will schedule a performance review with that student.
All students brought in for performance reviews with the Medical Student Performance Committee will receive notification of their hearing at least two days prior to that hearing. Before the committee convenes, the chair of the committee will let the student know what behaviors prompted them to call a hearing to order.
During a committee hearing, attending parties will discuss a student's alleged performance and behavior while representing Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine. If it appears that the student's deficits are particularly severe, then the committee will recommend remediation, otherwise referred to as “corrective actions.” Both the committee and the student will work to outline these actions in a learning contract. The student must abide by those actions outlined in their contract or face university sanctions.
Sanctions and Expulsion
Students believed to have violated the school's requirements regarding professionalism or academic misconduct and who fail to attend to their proposed remediation may face more severe sanctions. Those parties will allegations brought against them will face an investigation helmed by the associate dean for Educational Affairs.
All parties accused of violating the school's code of conduct will face an initial inquiry followed by an investigation into their alleged behavior. While students have the right to seek out legal counsel prior to inquiries made during the investigation phase, they may not bring an attorney-advisor into their interviews. The only time that Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine allows attorney-advisors to be present during an initial interview is when the university believes the student committed a crime.
An applicable Investigation Committee must report back on their findings within ten business days of a case's opening. Once the team concludes its investigation, they will provide the student and the associate dean for Education Affairs with a summary of their findings as well as recommendations for sanctions.
Appeals
Medical students have the right to appeal decisions made by either the Medical Student Performance Committee or the associate dean for Education Affairs regarding their standing at Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine. At either stage of the process, the university may choose to call on the Student Appeals Committee for additional input regarding a student's request.
To appeal either decision, students must present a written request for appeal to the associate dean for Educational Affairs within five business days of learning the decision of each applicable committee. In their request, students must detail the reason they believe they deserve an appeal as well as evidence to back their statement.
Students granted appeals at either stage of this process can see any of the following responses:
- The applicable committee may determine that the initial decision regarding the student's behavior holds true.
- The applicable committee may decide that the sanctions or actions imposed against a student were inappropriate compared to the allegations leveled against the student.
- New information invalidates the decision made by the applicable committee, rendering its decision null and void.
Collaborating With an Attorney-Advisor
University remediation, sanctions, and dismissals are difficult to deal with. Not only are impacted students left feeling hapless, but their careers may be at risk. It's difficult for a student facing academic challenges, accusations of unprofessional behavior, or academic misconduct to break into the medical field.
No student, however, has to go through that fight alone. Instead, interested parties can get in touch with the Lento Law Firm. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm know how to break down a university's academic expectations and code of conduct and make better sense of its hearing process. As a result, students working with an attorney-advisor have the opportunity to fight for their place within their program.
To sit down and discuss a medical school case with experienced professionals who have helped hundreds of medical students nationwide tackle school-related concerns, reach out to the Lento Law Firm. Call 888-535-3686 or get in touch via the Firm's digital form.
