Texas A&M University (TAMU) School of Dentistry is dedicated to shaping the future of oral healthcare by turning excellent students into exemplary clinicians who are committed to delivering patient-centered care. Their goal is to provide their students with the education and drive to expand and advance innovative care and clinical research in the dental world.
You've put in a lot of effort to gain admission into dental school. Receiving a notice about disciplinary action, remediation meetings, or dismissal hearings can be stressful. When this happens, the best thing you can do is seek the assistance of an attorney-advisor who can help you develop a well-planned defense. Call the Lento Law Firm Team today.
Texas A&M University School of Dentistry Code of Conduct
Students at TAMU School of Dentistry are given a code of conduct at the beginning of each year. This code of conduct outlines the specific academic and professional standards that students are expected to abide by, including:
- Fostering a favorable rapport with peers, teachers, and clients.
- Behaving appropriately in laboratory settings.
- Receiving and incorporating constructive criticism effectively.
- Dealing with stressful scenarios without resorting to aggression.
- Engaging actively in course activities within prescribed deadlines.
- Communicating any instances of absence to staff.
Moreover, it is imperative for dental students to maintain the utmost standards of academic integrity and avoid engaging in any form of academic misconduct, which is defined as:
- Cheating: intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or notes on an academic exercise.
- Fabrication: making up data and recording them as if it was real.
- Falsification: changing or omitting data or results from research.
- Multiple submissions: submitting the same assignment for credit in multiple courses without permission.
- Plagiarism: using someone else's ideas or words as your own without giving them credit.
- Complicity: intentionally or knowingly helping someone else commit academic misconduct.
If a student is accused of violating the code of conduct, they will be referred for a disciplinary hearing. Getting the advice of an attorney-advisor the moment you learn of the accusation will ensure you are able to defend yourself.
Remediation at the Texas A&M University School of Dentistry
The Graduate Education Council at TAMU School of Dentistry is in charge of reviewing student progress. If they see a student is having a difficult time progressing through the program, they can decide to dismiss the student from the program altogether. Usually, though, they try to refer the student for remediation.
Remediation generally allows dental students to retake a course, exam, or clinical course after failing or not passing with the correct minimum grade. In doing so, the school is hoping the extra revision helps the student really learn the information so that they can rejoin their class where they left off. While remediation is possible for many courses, it may not be possible for clinical courses. As such, it is up to the Program Director to decide whether a student can remediate them.
There are cases where schools basically refuse, or forget, to offer a student a remediation plan. Instead, students are moved right to the dismissal hearing. The idea that your dental career could be over before you even start is incredibly overwhelming. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team can help ease that burden from your shoulders. Call today.
Dismissal Proceedings at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry
All students can be dismissed from TAMU School of Dentistry. Typically, though, students are dismissed for violating the code of conduct, including being unable to complete their remediation plan. It is crucial to prepare a robust defense when notified of a dismissal hearing, as students who attempt to improvise during the hearing often receive unfavorable outcomes. Following the hearing, the Aggie Honor System Office (AHSO) will review both the incident and the evidence presented by the accused student and the university. Then, based on the evidence, they will determine whether the accused student should be dismissed from the program.
If AHSO decides that you are responsible for the code of conduct violation, you can appeal the decision within five days of receiving the decision. Appeals must be made to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Student Diversity. The Associate Dean will analyze your appeal and conclude whether to support AHSO's decision or have it overturned. An attorney-advisor can help you navigate the disciplinary process, including filing a well-thought-out and vigorous appeal.
How an Experienced Attorney-Advisor Can Help with Dental School Issues
Graduate schools are known to foster highly competitive environments where students are constantly struggling to achieve the best grades and honors. Students at TAMU School of Dentistry are no exception. The institution has set high standards for its students, pushing them to perform exceptionally well both academically and professionally. However, this level of pressure can often drive students to behave uncharacteristically, leading to disciplinary action, dismissal hearings, or remediation planning.
Students who face punishment, such as suspension or dismissal from the program, may face challenges later on because these disciplinary actions are recorded on their transcripts. At every admissions interview, they will have to provide explanations for them, and this can make getting into a new program or obtaining a post-grad fellowship quite difficult.
If you have found yourself in a comparable situation, academic defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team can help. They have vast experience working with hundreds of students across the country who have faced similar disciplinary actions. They strive to simplify complex proceedings, help you understand them better, and create a strategic defense that can result in the best possible outcome for your case. Call 888-535-3686 today to schedule a consultation or visit us online.
