Recently, Johns Hopkins University has come under fire from former graduate students who said they were forced out of their clinical mental health counseling program on the basis of race, mental health disability status, or both, and that their accommodations or level of consideration for graduation were denied to them because of this discrimination.
Johns Hopkins contends that they are committed to providing an educational experience and academic environment that supports its students – including providing services for mental health disabilities. After an internal investigation, they found that there had been no records of disability or race discrimination by any faculty member in the counseling program.
The Accusations
Accusations were made by four students earlier in March 2022. They shared their stories with the university's student newspaper and stated that they had been on academic improvement plans for a failing, or close to failing grade, when a second academic issue arose, Johns Hopkins did not provide them with help, despite having mental health diagnoses and other mitigating situations. Additionally, Johns Hopkins students are given the ability to appeal poor grades, but not dismissals, and two failing grades can trigger an automatic dismissal.
One student said that at a clinical counseling internship, the evaluator sent in a late review, which triggered her dismissal despite it being a positive review when it was received. Another reported a poor relationship with her internship supervisor, having prevented her from succeeding in the program. A third student, a male, said he left an internship after his clients began acting sexually inappropriate toward him, and Johns Hopkins did not offer him enough support to course correct. The final student reported that at the time of her dismissal she was not yet in the internship phase and didn't fully understand the program's grading policies. Additionally, three out of the four students were students of color.
How an Attorney Advisor Can Help
Most universities try to create academic environments filled with support and resources for their struggling students, but sometimes, they fail at actually helping. Students who feel like they are being pushed out by their universities, whether it is because of discriminatory behavior like the instances described above, or for other unknown reasons, have options. You do not have to leave the university quietly. In fact, working with an attorney advisor is the best way to ensure your case is not only heard but that your due process rights are protected.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have spent years helping hundreds of college students around America who feel like their university is making it impossible for them to continue pursuing their education. If you have found yourself in a similar situation, working with Attorney Lento and his expert team will ensure the best possible outcome for your case. He will work diligently to collect evidence and witnesses who can speak on your behalf.
You do not have to go through this alone. The Lento Law Firm can help. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
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