The Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSD) is a private dentistry school that is part of Marquette University. Established in 1907 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the school of dentistry awards multiple graduate and undergraduate degrees for aspiring dental professionals. With its relatively low student-to-faculty ratio and emphasis on serving over 66 of the state’s 72 counties, students attending MUSD have the opportunity to learn in an intimate, caring environment that prepares them for the rigors and challenges of their future profession. But to remain a part of MUSD and benefit from the programs it offers, you must maintain excellent professional and ethical qualities and refrain from committing acts of academic misconduct. Failure to abide by the rules may lead to negative consequences for your future, like suspension and expulsion from the institution.

As a future dentist, you will receive the training and information you need to make informed decisions and lead the direction of your future. But dental school is oftentimes stressful, and you may be juggling multiple personal and academic functions that can leave you burnt out. In an attempt to stay in line with your peers, you may engage in actions that are not usually like you, such as cheating, plagiarism, or conspiring with others to participate in a prohibited action. While your professors understand that mistakes are a normal part of the learning process, some have repercussions that affect your reputation in the long and short term. If you are accused of committing academic misconduct at MUSD, don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact the LLF National Law Firm at 888-535-3686 to learn more or send our team a message through this link to discuss your next steps.

Academic Misconduct Policy at MUSD

The online student handbook at MUSD details examples of what constitutes academic misconduct and the repercussions students face if they get caught engaging in these actions. It defines academic misconduct as any action that places students at an advantage over their peers, giving specific examples of violations. These include:

  • Copying from others during an academic exercise, test, or quiz
  • Obtaining or attempting to obtain assignments, tests, quizzes, or exams without authorization
  • Using unauthorized electronic devices
  • Offering one’s own work to another person or presenting another person’s work as one’s own
  • Outsourcing assignments
  • Plagiarism in all of its forms
  • Altering or forging documents
  • Submitting the same work to multiple professors without asking for permission
  • Using purchased answers or selling answers to others
  • Falsifying records of clients or patients
  • Engaging in research misconduct

Although this is not a comprehensive list of the actions that can get you into trouble, any actions that fall within the above categories may count as a violation and lead to an investigation, hearing, and sanctions that can ruin your chances of becoming a dentist.

Adjudication Process at MUSD

Any person who witnesses or knows about a potential violation of the academic misconduct policy by a dentistry student must submit a report to the department chair or the program director within five business days of obtaining information about the alleged incident. The chair or program director will conduct a preliminary review within six days of receiving the report to determine whether the charges hold merit. During this time, they may also request a meeting with the accused student or the accuser to decide on whether to pursue a full hearing or dismiss the matter.

If the student does not accept responsibility for the accusations against them, the case proceeds to a full hearing headed by the Board. The Board consists of multiple faculty members who are chosen by the chair or program director. The latter may also act as a member of the Board.

The Board reviews all materials, evidence, and documents relating to the alleged misconduct. Usually, the hearing is held within ten business days of the Board’s formation, but this may extend to up to 30 days if the Board cannot be convened.

During the hearing, both sides are allowed to bring forth witnesses. However, the Board decides whether it wishes to call these witnesses. Moreover, the accused student may also request evidentiary witnesses and provide any additional information that they believe is relevant to the case and may bolster their stance. The handbook does not mention whether accused students are allowed to have an advisor present during the hearing. This does not mean that the team from the LLF National Law Firm cannot be a shoulder to rely on behind the scenes, helping students ensure that all protocols are being followed correctly.

Once the hearing ends, the Board excuses all non-Board members and deliberates. This process may take up to six days. The chair or program director will then inform the student of the findings and the outcome. They also send the associate Dean a copy of the file relating to the alleged misconduct.

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the Board’s decision based on the following grounds:

If they believe that the determination was unfounded, biased, or capricious

The emergence of new information that was not available at the time of the initial hearing, and which may affect the final decision

Students who wish to appeal may send an appeal request to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences within five days of receiving the Board’s decision. Once the Dean receives the appeal request, they may ask to meet with the student, instructor, and any other person relevant to the case to determine an outcome. Once the Dean decides on the final outcome, no further appeals are possible.

Contacting the LLF National Law Firm

Being a dentistry student comes with its own challenges, especially when you are accused of wrongdoing like academic misconduct. Whether you are completely innocent or committed an action that you regret, you still deserve an impartial hearing and a fair adjudication process. That’s where the LLF National Law Firm Education Law Team comes in.

The LLF National Law Firm has years of experience working with dentistry students nationwide accused of academic misconduct. With their passion for justice and thorough knowledge of how the adjudication process works, the team works tirelessly to increase the chances of a favorable case outcome.

Don’t wait until you can no longer take action. Call the LLF National Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 for help during this challenging time or send a message through the online portal for more information.

Marquette University School of Dentistry

Tell About Your Case

Students Who Claim Disabilities Aren’t Faking It — And By Law They’re Entitled to Accommodations

The popular notion that college and university students are faking disabilities in order to game the system to their advantage is a myth, the Chronicle of Higher Education says. Instead, the real problem is its opposite: students who need disability accommodations are struggling to get them, and that puts them […]

Bad News From College Board? We Can Help!

The College Board has just released the 2026 AP scores, and many students are now trying to figure out how their results fit into their higher-education plans. Checking AP results, however, is not always clear-cut. The College Board may raise concerns about your student’s score or testing conditions, forcing you […]

Department of Justice Sues UCLA: What Does It Mean for Students?

Questions about antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias continue to dog the University of California at Los Angeles. Now, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice is suing UCLA, claiming it doesn’t do enough to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment. Specifically: The DOJ claims UCLA has been out of compliance with […]

Charter Schools vs. Public Schools: Understanding Your Student’s Rights and Due Process

Charter schools operate differently from traditional public schools. As a result, understanding your students’ rights is often challenging. When school administrators push for severe discipline that can alter your student’s academic trajectory, you need a legal team that can help you negotiate with the school and push back. At the […]