East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (ECUSODM) educates dental students in an 188,000-square-foot, high-tech facility replete with clinical research areas, simulation labs, and the latest in dental education technology. This backdrop is a firm launching pad for dental school graduates hoping to make a living in dentistry.
However, ECUSODM holds its students to high standards. From ethics to academics and off-campus behavior, there are myriad traps that dental students can fall into, jeopardizing their education and career as a result.
Many of our clients face dismissal even though they've done nothing wrong. False allegations can be just as threatening as credible ones, so the Lento Law Firm fights for every student we represent with tenacity.
You may be at a point where you've undergone investigations and hearings and are facing imminent sanctions. Potential sanctions may include dismissal. This is the time to retain experienced attorney Joseph Lento and his Team at the Lento Law Firm.
Our legal team will exhaust all remaining options, including negotiations with ECU's attorneys and appeals, as we work to prevent your dismissal.
Reasons You May Face Dismissal From East Carolina School of Dental Medicine
Dental programs, including ECU School of Dental Medicine, don't take dismissal lightly, but there are a number of reasons why a student may face dismissal, including allegations of:
- Professional misconduct
- Persistent academic difficulties
- Academic misconduct
- Criminal behavior
- Unexcused absence from the program
- Substance abuse or misuse
- Insubordination
A student may also face dismissal if numerous infractions mount over time. Of course, allegations of misconduct or insufficient performance are not always merited. Even when a dental student at ECU underperforms, they deserve due process before facing dismissal.
How ECUSODM Handles Allegations That Could Lead to Dismissal (The Adjudication Process)
The ECU School of Dental Medicine Student Handbook contains the program's latest policies on student dismissal. The disciplinary process generally entails:
- Reporting misconduct: If your dismissal involves an alleged code of conduct violation, the disciplinary process begins with a report. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs receives this report, and a report is invalid if not submitted within 30 days of the alleged infraction. (Note: If the complainant did not file a report against you within this 30-day window, it may be a strong point of appeal.)
- Notice of academic underperformance: If your potential dismissal from ECUSODM relates to academic or clinical difficulties, the program will likely notify you of formal proceedings that could lead to dismissal. The student handbook explains that “academic progress” issues follow the same complaint-based adjudication sequence that allegations of misconduct do.
- Investigation of the matter: The Associate Dean and Program Director will investigate any allegations of misconduct or academic underperformance lodged against you. These parties will determine whether to dismiss the complaint, deal with the complaint administratively, or refer the matter to the Professional Conduct Committee for further review.
- Review by the Professional Conduct Committee: Upon receiving the complaint, the Professional Conduct Committee will review all available facts and evidence to determine whether you're responsible for the alleged infraction. The Committee may then conduct a hearing and ultimately recommend discipline, which could include dismissal.
Note that the Associate Dean for Student Affairs has the discretion to refer a complaint to different authorities, typically based on the nature of the complaint. Therefore, the adjudication process may differ based on the nature of the issue that you face, particularly if your pending dismissal is related to academic difficulties.
You may have already completed the investigative and initial adjudication processes. If you need help with appeals or other options for fighting a pending dismissal, we can help.
How You May Appeal a Dismissal as an ECU Dental Student
ECUSODM details several rights that may pertain to you, including the right to:
- Receive written notification of the alleged reason for disciplinary proceedings
- A hearing and fair notice of the hearing's date and location
- An advisor accompany you to hearings and other proceedings
- Review evidence and testimony against you
- Appeal
That last right, to appeal any ruling that the presiding Dean imposes upon you, is critical. Whether you've already completed the hearing process or not, the right to appeal could be a buffer between you and potential dismissal from ECU School of Dental Medicine.
Possible Grounds for Appeal
Section VIII of ‘Standards for Ethical and Professional Behavior for Students and Residents' in the Student Handbook details the appeals process for ECU dental students who face adverse disciplinary decisions. This section states the acceptable grounds for appeal, which are:
- There was a violation of due process: Generally, someone can file an appeal if the governing body did not follow stated procedures properly. A violation of due process may also arise from unjustly suppressing evidence, disallowing witness testimony, or denying motions.
- Additional or new information has emerged that the Professional Conduct Committee or Dean did not initially consider: If the ruling body did not have complete information at the time of its hearing or ruling, or new information has emerged in the interim, this could be grounds for a successful appeal.
In many cases, a student can also appeal if the ruling body's decision does not align with the facts or evidence of a case. We may find other credible reasons to, at the very least, request an appeal. There is no downside to pursuing an appeal, even if the odds of success do not seem strong.
Even if an appeal does not prove successful, there are other options for fighting a dismissal.
Our Team Will Investigate Non-Appeal Options for Fighting a Potential Dismissal From ECU School of Dental Medicine
The Lento Law Firm often finds resolutions for students facing an appeal by negotiating directly with a program's Office of General Counsel (OGC). This is your school's attorneys, who typically have the ability to resolve a disciplinary case outside of formal channels.
An Attorney From the Lento Law Firm Can Help, Even If You've Exhausted Your Initial Defense Options
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team will work to help you avoid dismissal and any other adverse consequences you face. Call our team today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to discuss your case.
