Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) is committed to providing quality healthcare education, encouraging students to treat their patients with kindness and respect. As such, they have high expectations for their students, which can be quite daunting. Some students may be overwhelmed by all this pressure and act out in ways that they normally would not. If you or someone you love is struggling in their osteopathic medicine program, has been accused of a disciplinary violation (like academic misconduct), or is being referred for dismissal, an attorney-advisor can help mitigate any unnecessary sanctions. Call our offices today to schedule a consultation.
Academic and Professional Conduct for Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Like most schools, RVUCOM has specific core values it expects its students to uphold. These values are listed in the student handbook, which is distributed to each student on the first day of the academic year. At RVUCOM, the values cover both academics and professional responsibilities, including:
- Having mutual respect for others
- Believing in collaboration and the open exchange of ideas with colleagues, hospital staff, and peers
- Having compassion for others
- Recognizing the individual differences in a community
- Providing new and creative ways for healthcare education to excel
- Maintaining satisfactory grades
- Abstaining from cheating, fabrication, misrepresentation, or plagiarism
If a student violates these core values, they will be referred to a particular committee to either undergo a disciplinary action, form a remediation plan, or be dismissed from the program.
Remediation at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
When a student is found struggling to pass the courses at RVUCOM, they will be referred to the Student Performance Committee (SPC). SPC will create a remediation program so that the student can retake an exam or assignment. It is important to note that only two courses can be remediated.
If a student fails remediation, the SPC will either recommend that the student should retake the course the following year, be dismissed from the program, or some other appropriate action should be taken. But, if the student successfully remediates, they will be able to enter back into the program, right where they left off.
Unfortunately, there have been cases of schools failing to provide their students with remediation plans and instead referring them right to dismissal. If your school has yet not offered you a remediation plan before being notified of a dismissal hearing, an attorney-advisor can help.
Dismissal Procedures for Medical Students at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
At RVUCOM, there are several instances when a student can be dismissed from the osteopathic medical program, including:
- Violating the code of conduct
- Cheating, plagiarizing, or misrepresenting on an official document
- Sexual misconduct
- Failing a remediation plan
- Failing a course more than once
- Inability to finish the program in the allotted time
When a student is referred for dismissal by SPC, they will be able to meet with the committee to tell their side of the story, including presenting witnesses and evidence that adds credence to their defense. Working with an attorney-advisor will ensure you know exactly what kind of evidence and testimony to look for.
Once the meeting is over, the SPC will decide whether the student should be dismissed from the program.
Appeal a Decision at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic
The SPC will notify the student of their decision in writing to the next level of administrator based on who sent the original notification for the meeting. For instance, if the Associate Dean of Student Affairs made it on behalf of SPC, you can appeal to the Dean or Program Director. Appeals must be submitted within five business days of receiving the SPC's decision. They can only be made on one of the following grounds:
- There is evidence of a demonstrated prejudice by the SPC towards the student
- There was a significant material error that impacted the outcome
- New material is available now that was not available at the time of the hearing that will change the outcome of the matter
- A conflict of interest or bias between the student and the SPC
- The sanction imposed was more severe than the incident
- There was a procedural error that affected the outcome of the case
The department you appealed to will review it and decide whether or not to uphold a lesser individual or department's decision, if it should be modified, or if it should be struck down entirely. Whatever the decision, it is final and cannot be appealed further. If you feel stressed and scared by the idea of filing an appeal, an attorney-advisor can help.
How an Attorney-Advisor Can Help
Attorney-advisors have the legal experience to understand the unique situations that these proceedings present. When students are accused of Title IX violations or sexual misconduct, academic misconduct, or are having a hard time getting through the program, they will face committees who hold their future in their hands. There are several consequences that could follow students around long after school ends. For instance, if a student was suspended or dismissed from the program, they will have to explain the incident on their future applications. Additionally, if you have taken out loans to pay for school but have been dismissed, you will still have to pay them back, only now you won't have the D.O. salary to back the payments up. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm have spent years helping students accused of heinous of not being able to meet the university's stringent policies. They will work tirelessly to guarantee you the best possible outcome for your case. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
