You've been through college and a rigorous screening process to get into the University of Illinois College of Medicine, so by this point, you know the score. Even the hint of academic misconduct can doom your career—not just at UIC but in health care generally. Patients want to know that their doctors are well-educated—that they are experts in their fields. Just as importantly, patients and the public want to know their doctors are honest and ethical. Cheating flies in the face of those expectations.
Not everyone accused of cheating has actually cheated, though. Schools do make mistakes. And even if you have committed some type of academic misconduct, it doesn't necessarily mean you should have to give up your medical career.
The Lento Law Firm wants to protect you, no matter what your specific situation. We believe in what you're doing, and we want to help you earn your medical degree and go on to a successful career. How do we do that? By representing you at any time, your integrity is called into question. We're licensed defense attorneys, but we're focused on protecting student rights. Our Student Defense Team knows the law, and they know how UIC operates. They'll use every resource at their disposal to ensure you the best possible resolution to your case.
We've helped hundreds of students fight charges their schools have leveled against them. We can help you to do the same. Call 888-535-3686 to find out what we can do, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Rules of Academic Misconduct
Again, you're not exactly new to the academic game. By this point, you understand that every school at every level prohibits academic misconduct. You are expected to earn your degree honestly. That means avoiding any action that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework. UIC's Academic Integrity Policy specifically mentions
- Cheating
- Fabricating
- Facilitating Misconduct
- Offering Bribes
- Taking an Examination by Proxy
- Grade Tampering
- Submission of Non-original Work
Medical schools take violations like these far more seriously than undergraduate institutions. The fact is that there are no unimportant subjects at this point in your academic career. You need to know it all. Most colleges impose classroom sanctions for first offenses—lowered grades on papers or lowered course grades. A first offense at UIC can mean dismissal.
With so much on the line—all the work you've put into this point and all the prospects you have for the future—you cannot afford to take any allegations lightly. The moment you find yourself accused, you must contact the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. Only we have the background and experience to help you navigate the disciplinary process.
Academic Misconduct Defense
As daunting as an academic misconduct accusation can be, you do have some important due process rights to protect you. Here's what you can expect if you should find yourself charged with an offense.
- Academic integrity allegations at UIC are handled through an Academic Liaison process. The complaining faculty member contacts the Dean of Students Office, and a Liaison is assigned to facilitate a discussion between the faculty member and the student respondent.
- The school must then undertake some type of investigation. This can sometimes be as simple as the collection of samples from your work. One way or another, though, the school must have some evidence to substantiate the charges against you. Otherwise, it cannot proceed.
- As part of the mediation process, the faculty member recommends a resolution. The student is supplied with official notice of this resolution and then has the option to accept or reject it. If the student accepts the resolution, the resolution is put into place, and the case is at an end. If the student rejects the resolution, the case then moves to a formal disciplinary hearing.
- The purpose of a disciplinary hearing is to establish whether or not you are responsible for the academic misconduct offense. At the outset, you should be given the presumption of innocence. The burden of proving your responsibility (guilt) rests entirely with the college.
- · Hearings take place before a Committee. As part of the process, you have the right to introduce physical evidence and to call witnesses to testify. Further, you are entitled to raise questions about any evidence used against you, including witness testimony.
- The standard of responsibility (guilt) at UIC is “preponderance of the evidence.” Basically, you are guilty if it seems more likely than not that you committed the offense.
- You also have the right to appeal a responsible outcome. However, you must have “grounds” with which to do so. Grounds usually mean a procedural error, the discovery of new evidence, or a disproportionate sanction.
As part of the process, you have the right to an advisor of your choice. Importantly, this means a Lento Law Firm attorney can accompany you to the hearing and any other meetings to offer advice and help you make your case. While your attorney cannot speak for you, they can be instrumental in developing and presenting your case, from uncovering evidence to suggesting questions for witnesses to drafting any necessary appeals.
Beyond anything else they do for you, your Lento Law Firm attorney will monitor everything that happens and ensure you're treated fairly and afforded every right you deserve.
The Lento Law Firm is on Your Side
The Lento Law Firm knows what's at stake in a way other firms just don't. The attorneys who make up our Student Defense Team have dedicated their lives to ensuring schools treat students fairly. They care about your future. No one else has the knowledge of campus justice they do. No one else can show you how to use the system to your advantage.
If you're being forced to fight for your educational future, don't try to handle the situation yourself, and don't trust your case to a local attorney. Find out more about what the Lento Law Firm can do by calling 888-535-3686, or take time right now to fill out our online questionnaire.
