The University of West Indies at St. Augustine (UWI) is one of the most prestigious medical schools in the Caribbean. It draws a wide range of highly motivated students and offers them a medical degree that meets accreditation standards in many countries, including the United States. If you are a student at this institution, you know how hard you worked to get there, and your academic standing is of paramount concern to you.
The UWI Code of Principles and Responsibilities for Students gives you the right to due process and to employ legal representation in your defense against any student discipline or complaint. Having an education attorney from the Lento Law Firm can help make a difference in your case. If you are a UWI student facing student discipline, call the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or contact us online today!
Why Student Discipline Defense is So Important
The UWI holds its students to a high standard through an academic code of conduct, and the UWI administration takes enforcement of its code of conduct very seriously. Anything from a simple misunderstanding, a perceived lack of academic progress, or a wide range of other offenses could result in harsh discipline, including suspension or permanent dismissal from the University. Your disciplinary record can be just as important to your post-graduate future as your academic record.
Even less severe punishments like university reprimands can be uncovered by prospective employers on background checks. That's why you must take any student discipline seriously. The minute you receive notification of an academic complaint against you, the clock could be ticking on your academic career. With that said, you do have options when it comes to defending your good name.
Your choice of education attorney could be one of the most important decisions you make in your adult life. The Lento Law Firm has successfully defended students from academic discipline of all times, and we are here to help you, too. Remember, the UWI Administration's priority is to protect UWI. Our priority is to protect you, your reputation, and the lifetime of hard work you did to get into medical school in the first place.
What Kind of Offenses Can Potentially Lead to Student Discipline?
The UWI student handbook lists 45 specific code of conduct violations that can be grounds for student discipline. The offenses range from relatively minor, such as failure to return books to the library and pay the fine, to very serious, such as plagiarism or destruction of campus property. Other offenses include disrupting University activities or failing to make sufficient academic progress in your studies.
It's important to note that rule 46 of the UWI code of conduct gives the UWI Administration power to discipline you for what they deem to be “conduct unbecoming” of a UWI student. That means UWI can discipline you for things not specifically listed in the code of conduct. Even having what you believe to be a heated discussion with a fellow student or faculty member may be grounds for student discipline.
Who Can Make a Complaint?
Any person can make a written complaint against a UWI student if they believe that the student has violated the UWI code of conduct. That means not just UWI Faculty and Staff, but also members of the public, can make a formal complaint against you to the University.
The fact that many of the potential causes for student discipline are subjective means a simple misunderstanding can lead to a disciplinary complaint. This underscores the importance of having experienced education lawyers on your side. The bar for student discipline is much lower than it is in criminal court. This isn't a process you want to try to manage by yourself.
How the UWI Student Discipline Process Works
A UWI Principal will review every written complaint and assess whether it has sufficient merit, or the principal will rely on an investigative report from the Director of Student Services. If the principal believes the complaint merits immediate action due to a threat to public safety or other causes, they can suspend you immediately and without a hearing. However, you have the right to a disciplinary hearing within 21 days of your suspension.
If the principal believes the complaint has sufficient merit to hold a disciplinary hearing, they will refer the complaint to the Campus Registrar, who will set a date for a disciplinary hearing within 28 days. The Campus Registrar will then advise you that you are the subject of a complaint, and this notice will include the following:
- A description of the violation.
- The date of the violation.
- The time the violation took place.
- The place where the violation took place.
Once you receive notice of complaint from the Registrar, you will have three days to request the complaint be handled summarily by the principal (or their nominee) or by the Disciplinary Committee. This Disciplinary Committee will be made up as follows:
- A Chairperson,
- Two UWI staff members, and
- Two UWI students.
How a Summary Hearing Works
In a summary hearing, the principal (or their nominee) will decide the merits of the case themselves. If they believe a violation occurred, they will also impose the discipline they deem appropriate. If you fail to request a Disciplinary Hearing within three days of receiving notice of complaint or fail to attend your summary hearing, the principal will make their determination, which will be final.
How a Disciplinary Committee Works
If you opt for a hearing before the Disciplinary Committee, you must be given seven days' notice before the hearing takes place. You may also be represented by an education attorney of your choosing at the Disciplinary Committee hearing. After the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee will forward their conclusions to the Campus Academic Board. A copy of this report will be forwarded to you.
If the Disciplinary Committee finds you violated the UWI code, the Campus Academic Board may choose to adopt the committee's recommendation on discipline. However, they also reserve the right to make the final determination. The possible disciplinary sanctions include suspension or expulsion from the University. With that said, your education lawyer may be able to seek judicial relief if the board's discipline is egregious or the facts in the case don't merit the punishment.
Don't Face UWI Student Discipline by Yourself
Student discipline is always a scary thing to face, especially for medical students. If you don't graduate, you can't practice medicine, and this could have severe financial implications for your future. That's why you must take it seriously if you receive a notice of complaint. You have the right to a legal defense against student discipline, and you deserve effective representation.
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm knows how hard you worked to get into medical school, and we are here to protect your reputation when it matters most. We will do everything we can to preserve your medical school career and reputation. That includes everything from finding witnesses and defending you in front of the Disciplinary Committee to working with the Academic Board to find an alternative to suspension or expulsion.
You wouldn't try to conduct surgery on yourself, even as a medical student. For the same reason, it's not advisable to try to face a Disciplinary Committee without the benefit of an experienced nationwide education attorney. The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm will do everything in our power to protect your academic reputation. Call us today at 888-535-8686 or contact us online today!
