Academic misconduct—cheating and plagiarism—are always serious matters. They take on added weight for medical students, though. It isn't just that you need to know every subject relative to the field of medicine, though that's certainly true. Physicians are expected to uphold the highest values of ethics and integrity. Academic misconduct, by its very nature, suggests a student may not be suitable for a career in medicine.
Just because Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSUSOM) has accused you of academic misconduct, though, doesn't mean you're guilty. Misunderstandings happen. Things are not always what they seem. Even if you did make a mistake, it may not necessarily mean you deserve a serious sanction like suspension or dismissal.
If you've been accused, it's important you have help on your side. You can't hope to challenge the WSUSOM on your own. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was established to protect student rights. We know what you're up against, and we know the stakes. More importantly, we know how WSUSOM judicial policies operate, and we can show you how to use them to defend yourself.
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 what we can do, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Academic Misconduct at the Wayne State University School of Medicine
By this point in your academic career, WSUSOM expects you to understand what academic integrity means and why it's important. In fact, the School of Medicine doesn't actually take the time to define academic misconduct. In general, you're supposed to know what it means and how to avoid it.
Wayne State, however, of which the School of Medicine is a part, does offer a clear academic integrity policy, listing the most common classroom offenses.
- Plagiarism: The use of another person's words or ideas as though they were your own. This would include any unauthorized use of AI to complete coursework.
- Cheating: The unauthorized use of any source material--from advanced copies of the exam to disallowed books--to complete coursework.
- Fabrication: The invention or falsification of any material as part of a coursework assignment.
In addition to these examples, WSU more broadly bars “any activity that tends to compromise the academic integrity of the institution or undermine the education process.”
The real difference in how Wayne State and the School of Medicine treat academic misconduct is less in the definition of offenses than in the seriousness with which they treat such offenses. A first offense at the university typically means a classroom sanction, like a lowered grade on the given assignment or a lowered course grade. At the School of Medicine, in contrast, a first offense can very well mean suspension or even dismissal.
If you've been accused of breaking the rules, it's no exaggeration to say that your entire future may be on the line. There's far too much at stake to risk trying to defend yourself or even to put your fate in the hands of a local attorney. You need someone who works specifically in the field of student defense. You need someone from the Lento Law Firm.
Defending Yourself From an Academic Misconduct Accusation
The rules are strict, and the consequences can be severe. There is good news if you've been charged with academic misconduct, though. You have the right to defend yourself. In fact, WSUSOM must provide you with due process protections like the presumption of innocence (“not responsible”).
Here's how the process usually works.
- While you may face consequences from Wayne State and be forced to go through the university's general disciplinary misconduct process, your more immediate concern will likely be with the School of Medicine's Student Promotions Committee (SPC). This Committee makes all decisions regarding your progress at the School and has the power to recommend dismissal in cases of academic misconduct.
- If the SPC is considering dismissal, you'll be provided with notice of the charges against you. This notice should explain the allegations and apprise you of your due process rights.
- The Senior Associate Dean (SAD) then conducts an investigation into the matter. As part of this investigation, you'll be invited to meet with the SAD and respond to the charges. You may also offer evidence and suggest witnesses who might have relevant information about the case.
- Once the SAD has gathered the relevant facts, they'll turn the case back over to the SPC for a full hearing. At this hearing, you'll provide your side of the story and answer any questions from Committee members. You may also have a chance to introduce evidence, including witness testimony.
- Ultimately, the SPC applies a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to determine whether or not you are responsible for (guilty of) the offense. According to this standard, you are guilty if it seems “more likely than not” that you violated policy.
- Finally, you also have the right to appeal the hearing outcome if you believe you were treated unfairly by the process. Generally, grounds for appeal are limited to issues like the discovery of new evidence, a procedural error, or a disproportionate sanction.
At the hearing, you are entitled to bring a support person who may be an attorney. The Lento Law Firm attorney can offer advice throughout the hearing and help you make your arguments. More importantly, though, you can count on them to help you prepare for this hearing. They'll work with you to uncover evidence, for example, and make sure you're ready for your initial meeting with the SAD. They can help you define your arguments and prepare your remarks to the SPC. They'll also draft any necessary appeals. It's the Lento Law Firm attorney's responsibility to protect you from mistreatment and to ensure you receive the best possible outcome to your case.
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, and they care about your future. No one else has the knowledge of campus justice that 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.
