Going to graduate school can feel exciting and overwhelming. You've gone through an undergraduate program, so you know how academia works, but dental school provides an all-new feat to overcome. Dental school tends to be extremely competitive. There are only so many “A” grades to be handed out, and the administration is focused on educating students who will become incredible dental professionals who believe in evidence-based science and further research into oral health.
With this kind of pressure, some students may find it hard to live up to the expectations. If you or someone you love has been notified of a dismissal hearing or they are fighting for a chance to remediate, an attorney-advisor can help. Call our offices today. Lento Law Firm can help.
Ohio State University College of Dentistry Code of Conduct
Ohio State University College of Dentistry is committed to providing creating dental professionals who will provide comprehensive oral health care to their community. As such, students are expected to abide by a specific code of conduct. These policies include:
- Assisting medical students in need
- Serving the interest of patients above their own self-interest
- Respecting patients' rights
- Upholding patient confidentiality
- Maintaining satisfactory grades
This code of conduct also stipulates that students must not commit academic misconduct. Every institution, including high schools, has an academic misconduct policy. At OSU College of Dentistry, students are asked to refrain from dishonorable actions that disrupt the academic environment on campus. These actions include:
- Cheating: allowing someone to copy your work; taking an exam as someone else; possessing copies of the exam or its answers prior to it being administered; and copying someone else's assignment and acting as if it were your own work.
- Plagiarism: using the work or thoughts of another as if they're your own on an exam, paper, or other academic assignment; and not citing a source properly on a paper.
- Helping someone else commit academic misconduct.
- Providing false information on laboratory assignments or research projects.
If you are caught violating any of these policies, it could mean being held back from progressing in the program. You may be forced to repeat a year, pushing off your ability to graduate on time. Alternatively, you could be dismissed from the program altogether. It is important to discuss your options with an attorney-advisor. Attorney-advisors have the knowledge and experience to help you advocate on your behalf.
Remediation at OSU College of Dentistry
Dental schools are committed to creating dental professionals who not only uphold the standards of patient care and evidence-based science but who truly understand the medical information they are learning. As such, OSU College of Dentistry reviews the progress of each student at the end of the academic year. If any student is found falling behind in their studies, or receiving less than the required grade on a course, exam, or clinical, they will be given the option to remediate.
Remediation allows a student to retake the course, exam, or clinical to try and get a better grade. The hope is that the extra effort will help the student really understand the material. When the student successfully remediates, they are able to continue in the program.
Unfortunately, some students are unable to successfully remediate and find themselves being referred for dismissal. If you or someone you love is being referred for dismissal, they will need a strong defense.
Dismissal Proceedings at OSU College of Dentistry
Like most graduate programs, OSU College of Dentistry has high expectations for its students. Dental medicine is part of the medical field, and as such, students must be well educated so that they cannot harm their patients. OSU will not allow students without the required academic and professional acumen to graduate.
Students who are referred for dismissal will have an opportunity to appeal the decision. They are owed a specific set of due process rights, including presenting witnesses and evidence on their behalf. Additionally, once a dismissal committee has made a determination on whether the student should be dismissed, the student has the right to appeal it further.
Generally, appeals must be made on particular grounds and within a certain number of days after receiving notification of the dismissal determination. The exact instructions can be found in the dismissal determination notification. If the idea of defending yourself in a dismissal proceeding or crafting a thoughtful appeal is overwhelming, an attorney-advisor can help.
Why You Should Work With a Skilled Attorney-Advisor
There are several consequences you may experience if you are dismissed from dental school. For instance, you will still be expected to pay you're your student loans even though you do not have the dental profession income to fall back on. Additionally, dismissals are noted on your transcripts. If you do decide to apply to another dental school in an attempt to continue your education, you may find it hard to gain entry. Dismissal proceedings will need to be discussed on every other admissions application, including applications for other graduate programs, should you decide dentistry isn't the field for you. Dental schools are only concerned with educating individuals with the ability to represent them well in the world. If they believe you have not learned from the incident which caused your dismissal, or they believe you do not fit the requirements of their application process, you will be denied admission. Something like this could cause serious mental health issues.
Student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm have spent years helping students across the country in similar situations. They will ensure you the best possible outcome for your case by building a quality defense, gathering witnesses, and presenting evidence in order to present your side of the story. Call our offices today at 888-535-3686 to schedule a consultation or visit us online.
