Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, PA, is one of the oldest dental schools in the United States. Founded in 1863 as the Philadelphia Dental College, it became one of Temple University's graduate schools in 1907. A highly selective dental school, it admits about 140 students each year out of more than 2700 applicants (in 2021). In addition to its four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine program, the Kornberg School offers a Master's degree in Oral Health Science and a number of certificates in dental specialty areas such as Orthodontics, Periodontics, Dental Public Health, and others.
The Kornberg School has its own Honor Code but otherwise adopts Temple University's school-wide Student Conduct Code when it comes to administering discipline to dental students. The Student Conduct Code lists a number of different reasons for student discipline and references as well Temple's policies for Preventing and Addressing Discrimination and Harassment. Committing a violation of any of the listed policies can result in serious consequences, up to and including expulsion from the dental school. And students in the Kornberg School of Dentistry who fail to progress through the program on schedule can be dismissed from the school as well. If you find yourself in a serious academic or disciplinary situation that could result in your expulsion from dental school, you need the help of an experienced attorney who can help you negotiate with the school for a less-serious result.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
There are a number of reasons why a student at the Kornberg School of Dentistry may be dismissed from the school. Students who fail to progress through their program on schedule may be dismissed for academic reasons after having an opportunity to appeal to the Kornberg School's promotion and appeals committee. Students in the Kornberg School can also be dismissed for serious violations of the school's conduct and sexual harassment policies, as well as for violation of the dental school's Honor Code. In addition, students who omitted relevant information or otherwise provided misleading information during the application process may also be expelled for dishonesty.
Adjudication Process at the Kornberg School of Dentistry
Aside from academic appeals, which are handled by the dental school's promotion and appeals committee, violations of Temple University's Student Conduct Code are investigated and resolved by the University's Student Conduct Administrator.
Any person can file a complaint about a student. Complaints must be submitted in writing to the university's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. They are reviewed by the Student Conduct Administrator (SCA), who may investigate the complaint to determine if it has merit. The SCA may also attempt to resolve the matter between the parties, though for serious misconduct claims that appear to have merit, this is not likely to be an option that the SCA will explore.
In situations where the SCA decides that a complaint warrants charges being filed against a student, the SCA will notify the student by email to the student's Temple University email address. If the student admits to the charges, a sanctions hearing will be held. If the student does not admit to the charges, the process will generally proceed as follows:
- The SCA will hold a Process Review Meeting with the accused student, where the SCA will give the student information about the student conduct process, the charges, the factual allegations against the student, the possible sanctions, and how the hearing will operate.
- The accused student is required to attend the Process Review Meeting, and may bring a Personal Advisor. The Personal Advisor can appear at the Process Review Meeting, but only in “a non-active role.”
- In some instances, the SCA may determine after holding the Process Review Meeting that there is no basis for the charges against the student. In that case, the SCA will withdraw the charges. This is an unusual outcome of the Process Review Meeting, however.
Where the matter proceeds to a hearing before the Student Conduct Board, the Office of Student Conduct proceeds as follows:
- Hearings are private, and the accused student may bring a Personal Advisor who is permitted to help the student during the hearing.
- The usual rules of evidence and procedure that would apply in a civil or criminal court do not apply in a student misconduct hearing.
- The student will be notified by email to the student's Temple email address about the date, time, and location of the hearing. The Student Conduct Code does not state how far in advance of the hearing this notice must be given.
- At some point (the Student Conduct Code does not say when), the student will receive the name of the Chairperson appointed for the student's hearing. The student may challenge this “for cause” but must do so at least 72 hours before the hearing date.
- At the opening of the hearing, the student may also challenge, for cause, any of the other members of the Student Conduct Board hearing the matter.
- Both the student and the SCA may present evidence. Witnesses may provide testimony, though neither the student nor their Personal Advisor is allowed to question the witnesses. Instead, questions must be suggested to the Student Conduct Board, and the board will decide which questions to ask (or not to ask), and any questions will come from the board.
- Written evidence may be accepted, but only at the discretion of the Chairperson.
- If, after considering the evidence, the Student Conduct Board finds it more likely than not that the student violated the Student Code, the student will be found guilty of the violation.
- Where the Student Conduct Board finds the student violated the Student Code, it will make recommendations as to the appropriate sanction to the University Code Administrator.
- The University Code Administrator may accept the Student Conduct Board's recommendations or may impose other sanctions.
The entire disciplinary hearing process is very different from what takes place in a court of law. The evidentiary standards are not as strict; there is no ability to directly question witnesses, and instead of a jury determining the result, it's a panel that is, for the most part, controlled by the school.
When you're facing these kinds of difficult procedures, it's more important than ever to have a skilled and experienced attorney advising you through the entire process. The LLF Law Firm Education Law Team can help you get ready for this very stressful process by appearing with you at the Process Review Meeting, helping you gather information and witnesses to present on your behalf at the hearing, preparing you for the hearing, and attending the hearing with you to make sure you propose relevant questions and introduce all evidence you have that is helpful to your case.
Appeals Process
It's not the end of the road if the Student Conduct Board or the University Code Administrator rules against a student. There is an appeal process, but it moves very quickly. Appeals need to be filed with the Student Conduct Administrator within five business days of the decision. If the appeal is based on (a) “procedural defects that substantially prevented a full and fair hearing on the merits” or (b) new evidence that wasn't known and couldn't have been known at the time of the hearing, then the SCA will forward the appeal to the Appellate Board.
If the Appellate Board finds that the appeal has merit – whether because of procedural defects or because of new evidence – the result is the same: the matter is returned to the Student Conduct Board for a new hearing.
If you were suspended or expelled by the University Code Administrator after the hearing, you remain suspended or expelled during the appeal process. For other types of sanctions that don't affect your enrollment status, you may usually be allowed to continue to participate in school activities during the appeal process unless the University Code Administrator says otherwise.
Contacting a Student Defense Attorney
If you find yourself in a situation where you are facing dismissal from the Kornberg School of Dentistry, you may be feeling as though things are stacked against you and your luck has run out. But that's not necessarily the case. With the help of experienced education law attorney from the LLF Law Firm Education Law Team, you'll stand a much better chance of avoiding serious consequences such as expulsion than if you try to defend yourself against the charges.
The LLF Law Firm Education Law Team have years of experience representing students accused of serious violations, and they understand how the dental school disciplinary process works. They can help you gather information, evidence, and witnesses to support your side of the story and can discuss your situation with school officials at various points during the disciplinary process to attempt to come to an agreed resolution of your situation that allows you to remain in dental school.
You've worked extremely hard for many years to be admitted to the Kornberg School of Dentistry. You deserve every chance you can get to stay there. If you're facing serious disciplinary action, call education law attorneys at the LLF Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or set up a confidential consultation by filling out the LLF Law Firm Education Law Team's online form.
