The William F. Connell School of Nursing (CSON) is a private nursing school established in 1947 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It is part of Boston College, offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs for students wishing to enter the nursing field. Despite its relatively small size, CSON ranks high in the quality of its graduate programs and has a prestigious and rich history. As part of this institution, you can expect a hands-on learning experience that merges theory with practice to shape you into a well-rounded nursing professional. But to benefit from the reputation and perks CSON offers, you must demonstrate academic integrity, professional behavior, and progress in your program to stay enrolled. Failure to abide by the code of conduct leads to issues such as probation, suspension, and permanent dismissal.
As a nursing student at CSON, you are under significant pressure to succeed, keep up with your peers, and progress personally and professionally. While you may know that nursing school comes with challenges, making mistakes is a normal part of the learning process. But some mistakes have heavier repercussions than others, especially when these violations go against the core tenets of your future practice as a professional in public trust. With all that can go wrong, you need the help of the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm if something goes awry. The longer you wait to act, the more damaging these repercussions are for your future. Don't delay – call 888-535-3686 or contact the Student Defense Team here for more information.
Behavioral and Progression Standards
According to the Student Handbook, academic progress and success are essential for students who wish to continue their program at CSON. The handbook states that once each semester ends, faculty members review every student's academic performance and examine those who fail or underperform in their courses. Those with deficiencies must take remedial classes and pass them successfully to remain enrolled. While educational standards are necessary to graduate, student behavior is as important and leads to the same repercussions if violations occur. Since nursing involves working with vulnerable patients, medical teams, doctors, and healthcare systems, strong performance and ethical behavior are a must to pass your program at CSON.
Professional and Academic Integrity Standards
CSON holds all nursing students to high standards of integrity and professionalism that extend from the classroom to clinicals and beyond. The nursing school expects students to maintain honesty and appropriate behavior befitting their future professions. In the handbook, the following actions constitute academic integrity violations:
- Using unauthorized aids during exams, clinicals, and academic exercises
- Falsification or fabrication of data
- Copying from another student or allowing another to copy from your work
- Unauthorized cooperation during assignments or exams
- Purchasing term papers
- Dishonesty in requests for extensions of assignments or make-up exams
- Plagiarism in all of its forms, including failure to cite sources or citing improperly
- Colluding with other students to partake in actions that give them a fair advantage over their peers
Engaging in one or more of these prohibited behaviors leads to sanctions, which negatively affect your future. Whether you receive a suspension or dismissal, these actions stay on your permanent record and cause reputation damage that may prevent you from accessing another institution. Moreover, the time, money, and effort you spent working on your degree no longer matters, as you must start over in another program if you receive an expulsion. With all that can go wrong, do not act alone or wait for the issue to pass. The longer you wait, the less likely the chances of a negative case outcome.
Adjudication Process
The official student handbook for Boston College outlines the adjudication process for all Boston College students, irrespective of their major. If any person suspects that a student committed a violation, they must submit a Report of Alleged Violation form to the Office of the Dean of Students. The office then investigates the matter to determine whether the complaint is valid and, if it is, sends the accused student a notification to schedule a hearing. During the hearing, the student may have an advisor and witnesses and prepare a statement regarding the accusations. Once the hearing ends, the hearing panel deliberates and decides on an appropriate sanction.
You may appeal the hearing panel's decision under specific grounds as outlined in the handbook. These are:
- The existence of a procedural error that likely adversely affected the hearing's results
- Emergence of previously unavailable information that would likely affect the findings
Students may submit the appeal within five business days of receiving the panel's decision. A member of the Office of the Dean of Students determines whether the appeal leads to a deferral or change of the sanctions. Once they decide, they send the student their decision within ten business days of receiving the request. This decision is final and not subject to re-appeal.
Contacting the Student Defense Team
When you are a nursing student, you may experience stress and pressure to succeed, which can lead to issues you may not expect. However, regardless of the violation or lapse in judgment, you deserve due process, fair adjudication, and a shoulder to rely on during this stressful time.
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm is here to help. With years of experience working with nursing students nationwide, the team has your back and guides you through the process. With compassion, knowledge, and a passion for justice, the Student Defense Team works hard from the time you receive notice of a violation to the appeals process, helping you navigate what comes next.
You worked hard, spent considerable time and effort, and dreamt about being a nurse for all these years. Don't let a violation be the end of your future career before it starts. Every second counts when your reputation and degree are on the line.
If you or someone in your family face allegations of unethical behavior, academic issues, or lack of professionalism at CSON, help is just a call away. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact the team now for more information.
