PharmD students complete years of rigorous academic programs and clinical rotation experiences to prepare for graduation, but there is one other requirement that can set students apart heading into their careers in the field. Capstone projects are completed in a student's final year, which involves research that could wind up in a nationally published journal and easily lay the groundwork for a long and impactful career.
While a successful capstone project can open the door to a world of opportunities for a PharmD program graduate, there are obstacles to face along the way. In their final year of academics and rotation, students can become stressed by the pressure to succeed and inadvertently violate program standards. Among the risks are allegations of research misconduct, plagiarism, and ethical breaches that can land a PharmD student in a mountain of trouble—even outside project completion and graduation from the program.
To defend your opportunity to graduate from your PharmD program, get in touch with the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today. Our attorneys have years of experience helping students navigate problems with capstone projects and other graduation-related issues. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 now or submit your case online, and we will contact you.
What are Capstone Projects?
Capstone projects are the culminating requirement for PharmD students and play an essential role in assessing progress and practice readiness before integration into the pharmacy profession. Typically, capstone projects are scientific research that encompasses formulating a hypothesis, researching literature, conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and documenting any conclusions. Most students have the opportunity to dedicate time to their capstones in the last two semesters of their programs.
In addition to participating in testing, PharmD students work with instructors and preceptors to gain research experience, and students will often present their capstone projects to faculty and others in the healthcare field. A well-rounded and successful project is not only a requirement for graduation but will help students in the following ways:
- Capstone projects are often published in the national press and scientific journals.
- Capstone projects are an important addition to a student's CV.
- Capstone projects are a bright beginning to a research-based career.
- Capstone projects may be the reason a student is hired in a competitive job market.
While capstones are essential to becoming a practice-ready pharmacist, students are usually presented with challenges along the way. Even though they may be in their final year of the program and less than a semester or two away from graduation, that doesn't mean instructors or preceptors will be forgiving. Sometimes, the smallest mistake—even an accidental one—can make three years of doctoral work meaningless.
What Challenges Can Students Face with Capstone Projects?
Once students pick a capstone project and clear it with mentors or preceptors, they will begin the initial research stages. Designing a robust research methodology requires careful consideration. Students may encounter difficulties in selecting appropriate data collection methods, dealing with sample size limitations, or addressing potential biases. Also, conducting a comprehensive literature review can be time-consuming, and students may struggle to relate their project to previous studies or face time constraints, leading to delays in project milestones.
Subsequently, students could stray outside the lines of what is permissible for their capstone work. From failing to properly cite sources to violating testing parameters, allegations of misconduct are a big hurdle to avoid for students. Even though they may be inadvertent, there are some common forms of misconduct PharmD students may face during their capstones.
Plagiarism
PharmD students should be familiar with the nature of plagiarism from earlier years in school. Yet, the stress of completing the project in just a few semesters and unforeseen obstacles like a lack of funding, testing issues, or input from other sources can lead a student to complete the project by any means necessary. For instance, engaging in the following:
- Presenting someone else's data or findings as your own without giving proper credit or acknowledgment.
- Using information from sources without appropriate citation.
- Paraphrasing without proper attribution.
Plagiarizing external sources will undoubtedly be grounds for misconduct allegations, but it's often caused by carelessness. Students who submit group assignments but fail to identify the other group members may breach plagiarism rules by some schools' standards. It can even be accidental—one student's work may be unintentionally similar to that of someone else, or you forget to credit a source. Regardless of how it happens, plagiarism is considered so serious an offense that many PharmD programs will discipline you for accidental plagiarism. However, some students remain unaware that they can even plagiarize themselves.
Since capstone projects are a showcase of research skills regarding subject matter important to the student, they may involve incorporating research or studies done in earlier years of school or from outside work. Although PharmD students may want to use previous work, it can possibly land them in trouble.
Self-plagiarism involves using any portion of work one has previously submitted to fulfill the requirements of a different assignment. It's considered plagiarism because even though it may be the student's original work, it's not original to the assignment itself. Programs have strict academic integrity policies, and if a student is found responsible for using previously submitted work or materials used in another class without authorization, they may face severe penalties like failure in the capstone project or even expulsion from the program.
Research Misconduct
Often a catch-all for a multitude of unethical and dishonest practices compromising scholastic integrity, research misconduct is wide-ranging. Sometimes, the scope of an institution or program's research misconduct policy can vary depending on the subject matter or the student's approach to their capstone project. Nevertheless, the following are common violations:
- Falsifying or fabricating data related to experimentation, analysis, or presentation.
- Misrepresenting research findings to faculty members or publicly.
- Engaging in unethical behavior or failure to abide by review board standards.
- Failing to adhere to established research regulations or feedback from authorities.
- Moving forward with a dangerous experiment after being advised not to.
- Confidentiality breaches with participant data and information.
Research misconduct undermines the credibility of academic and scientific endeavors, erodes trust within the research community, and can have serious consequences for individuals involved. Institutions typically have policies and procedures in place to investigate and address allegations of research misconduct, aiming to uphold ethical standards and maintain the reliability of research outcomes.
Students may encounter difficulties in collecting data, whether due to limited access to resources, difficulties in recruiting participants, or unexpected challenges during the data collection process. Understanding and navigating ethical considerations, especially if the project involves human subjects, can pose challenges, as is obtaining approval from review boards.
While plagiarism, research misconduct, and falsification all affect a capstone project in different ways, the consequences of any can follow a student even beyond graduation. Adverse action taken against a student will be seen by post-doctoral programs and employers.
Capstone Evaluation Process
Evaluating a capstone project may involve a combination of assessments by faculty advisors, external reviewers, and sometimes peer evaluations. The goal is to ensure that PharmD students not only demonstrate their pharmaceutical knowledge but also showcase their ability to conduct meaningful research and contribute to the advancement of the practice. Therefore, students will be graded on more than just data collection and analysis but also on their presentation.
Presenting the capstone project findings in a clear and compelling manner can be challenging, however. Some students may struggle with public speaking or crafting a cohesive and engaging presentation. While the research presented in the capstone is a priority, how a student communicates those findings with mentors, preceptors, and other faculty members can weigh heavily on their final determination.
Professional Implications for Capstone Projects
Whether you struggle through the evaluation process, run out of time, or are alleged to have breached the project rules, an unsuccessful capstone project can begin the reputation of a young professional off on the wrong foot. Capstone results will reflect on a student's integrity, ethical standards, and commitment to honest academic work. Therefore, even if a student graduates, there may be a blemish on their record with long-lasting consequences.
Mistakes made on capstone projects, or any sanction placed on a student during the process can lead to the following complications after graduation:
- Negative impacts on the licensing and certification processes.
- Disqualification from competitive employers.
- Loss of trust and credibility among peers.
Following graduation, those seeking to become licensed pharmacists will have to undergo a stringent application process. Among the materials state board officials will review to determine the worthiness of a candidate are records relating to capstone projects. Any marks against a student's capstone project—plagiarism, research misconduct, breaches of confidentiality, and others—are knowledge the board will take into consideration.
Employers may call into question a student's fitness to practice in the field. Whether there are allegations of fabrication, a lack of ethical guidelines, or even disputes with mentors during the course of a capstone project, a student can threaten their future opportunities. Even if allegations are completely unfounded, a student may be left with a negative stigma that becomes a hindrance to their advancement in the field.
Can You Advocate to Change a Grade on a Capstone Project?
When PharmD students receive a grade or evaluation score on their capstone projects, they may not necessarily agree with the outcome. Fortunately, students are often able to challenge a grade and advocate for a more favorable outcome. A PharmD student has the right to vie for a grade change on a capstone project, but only if there are valid reasons for reconsideration. The process for requesting a grade change typically involves adhering to the policies and procedures established by the institution and will likely require an understanding of the specific grading policies outlined in the capstone syllabus or program academic handbook.
While following the rules pertaining to advocating for a grade change may sound straightforward, it's often fraught with difficulties. Students will have to determine if they have grounds for a grade change determined by the program's rules. For instance, it could include instances where a student believes there was a misunderstanding, an error in grading, or if they have additional information that was not considered during the capstone evaluation. Yet, gathering evidence for the appeal and presenting a compelling case in front of program officials can be a challenging task for a young student.
How Can the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Help PharmD Students?
In their last semesters of education before employment or post-doctoral studies, PharmD students need to protect their investment. There's no reason a mistake on a capstone project or a violation of the rules should derail your chances of graduation and beginning a bright career.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team understand how PharmD students can run into trouble during their capstone projects and that it's easily unintentional. The overall workload, combined with the pressure of completing a significant research project from conception to presentation, can cause an immense amount of stress. When you're forced to defend your capstone project by advocating for a grade change, encounter allegations of misconduct, or disputes with faculty or preceptors, you need professional assistance.
Attorneys with the Lento Law Firm Student Defense can also assist students in the following situations related to capstone projects:
- Ensuring regulatory compliance, especially if capstones touch on legal aspects of pharmacy or healthcare practices.
- Provide guidance on protecting intellectual property rights if the project has the potential for commercial applications.
- Advise on ethical research conduct, including navigating issues related to informed consent and confidentiality requirements.
To defend your opportunity to complete your capstone project and graduate from your PharmD program, get in touch with the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today. Our attorneys have years of proven experience helping students navigate the capstone process, including issues with compliance, disputes with faculty, or allegations of misconduct. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 now or submit your case online, and we will contact you.
