The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV Medicine) is a public medical school established in 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is part of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is the first medical school to offer the MD program in Southern Nevada. As part of UNLV Medicine, you can benefit from more involved instruction and training while building close relationships with peers and faculty. But that also means that professionally, academically, and behaviorally, you face a higher degree of scrutiny that may affect your performance and graduation prospects. And when sanctions include suspension or dismissal, they can haunt you academically and cause irreparable reputation damage.
Although medical school is a significant and exciting milestone on your path to becoming a doctor, it is also stressful and fast-paced. Your training is rigorous to prepare you for the real-life scenarios doctors encounter once they start their careers. That pressure, however, is also why some students slip and make mistakes that come with a heavy cost – and not just financially. These mistakes have adverse repercussions and can permanently damage your reputation and chances of becoming a doctor. With so much that can go wrong during this phase, taking action when encountering issues at UNLV Medicine increases the chances of a better outcome if you face a hearing. If you face sanctions, contact the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team online or call 888-535-3686 to discuss your options.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Medical school standards are notoriously high because your future career as a doctor comes with significant responsibility. Some of the most common reasons medical schools dismiss students include lack of academic proficiency, ethical or behavioral issues, and lack of professionalism. While these standards are essential to building a medical student's skill and character, every student deserves fair due process if accused of wrongdoing. Having the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team to guide you during this process helps decrease the likelihood of an unfair outcome or overly harsh sanctions.
Adjudication Process at UNLV Medicine
Complaint and Investigation Process
The student handbook at UNLV, which applies to all students, outlines its adjudication process and includes a list of sanctions for committing violations. The complete adjudication process exists in the Student Conduct Code at UNLV. Students who do not meet the following standards face academic actions (sanctions):
- Not meeting UNLV's academic progress and advancement standards
- Failing to meet graduation requirements and enrollment time limits
- Violating the Code of Conduct and the Professionalism Code
Any person may report a code violation to the Office of Student Conduct, which appoints a designee to investigate and gather information about the case. Then, it notifies the student of the complaint against them, whom they can contact for a meeting, and when. UNLV may hold a student's transcript and academic records until the investigation and resolution phases conclude. After the designee or the Office of Student Conduct reviews the case, they may decide to either dismiss the charge or take conduct action.
Both parties may agree to an Alternative Conflict Resolution Process through mediation or restorative justice channels. The Office of Student Conduct arranges this process and closes the case once the parties resolve their issues. If this option is not feasible, the Office of Student Conduct may address the issue through informal or formal resolution processes.
Informal Resolution
Under this process, the Office of Student Conduct conducts a resolution discussion where the outcome may be:
- Reaching consensus among the parties
- Allowing the complaining party to drop their complaint
- Allowing an accused student to accept conduct sanctions voluntarily
During this resolution discussion meeting, accused students have the right to have an advisor present. With the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team, you can feel more confident and informed before and during the proceedings, boosting your chances of a positive outcome.
Formal Resolution and Appeals
The formal resolution process leads to a hearing, where all parties stand before a panel and present their case and evidence. Once the Office of Student Conduct decides that the complaint will progress to a hearing, they notify the student regarding the type of hearing they will attend. It may be with an Individual Hearing Officer, a Hearing Panel administered by the Office of Student Conduct, or an Integrity Hearing Board. Accused students may also request a hearing before the Special Hearing Officer or a Special Hearing Committee. Still, the decision is up to the Vice President of Student Affairs.
During the hearing, the committee, hearing officer, or integrity hearing board determines if the student more likely than not committed a violation and recommends sanctions to the Vice President of Student Affairs. The latter has the final say in the matter, which includes:
- Affirming or dismissing the charges and sanctions
- Modifying the sanctions
- Ordering a new hearing
Fortunately, students may appeal the sanctions decision to the Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee. If approved, the VPSA appoints an appeal panel, which deliberates and may order a new hearing or recommend whether to accept, reject, or modify the sanctions.
Contacting the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team
Dismissal from medical school means you must start over somewhere else, which is difficult with a blemish on your record. With all the drawbacks that result from a suspension or expulsion, stay prepared with the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team.
The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team knows what to expect and the intricacies of working with each resolution process. With years of experience working with medical students facing devastating sanctions nationwide, you have their support and knowledge to guide you through every step.
You deserve fair due process regardless of your mistake. Don't let a lapse in judgment incur life-altering consequences on your academic and career path.
If you or a loved one faces sanctions at UNLV Medicine, you can fight against harmful allegations. Send an inquiry to the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team or call 888-535-3686 to discuss your case in detail.
