The University of California, San Francisco — or USCF — is home to a renowned School of Dentistry. Students studying at this school join a legacy of education that spans over a century and enjoy access to an innovative curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and lots of hands-on clinical experience.
Such is any aspiring dental professional's dream. If you attend USCF's School of Dentistry, it's tempting to think that you have it made (or that only hard work stands between you and your hoped-for degree).
That's not the case. Dental schools all across the country are turning to severe disciplinary practices, including dismissals, to keep their students in line. In some situations, these students don't merit dismissals — or dismissal is an overly-harsh, inappropriate punishment for the action allegedly committed. (And, in still less helpful situations, dental schools are dismissing students because the students aren't doing well enough academically.)
No matter who you are and how well you're doing in dental school, you need to be prepared. And, if the UCSF School of Dentistry has indicated that you're at risk of dismissal, you need to jump into action now. Retain the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm today to work towards protecting your reputation and your future as a dental professional.
Why Would UCSF School of Dentistry Dismiss Me?
As counterintuitive as it may seem, there are several reasons why a student may (ostensibly) merit dismissal.
Your best source for figuring out what these reasons are is your school's code of conduct. (The UCSF School of Dentistry's code of conduct is available on the school's website.)
Perusing that code of conduct will tell you a great deal about your school's standards for behavior and academic excellence. It will also inform you about your school's strategies and timelines for meeting our discipline.
By scrolling through the above code of conduct, you'll learn that the UCSF School of Dentistry considers the following actions worthy of punishment (up to and including dismissal):
- Cheating
- Plagiarism
- Unauthorized collaboration
- Failure to progress
- Weapons violence
- Bullying
- Extreme hazing
- Drug-related offenses
- Stalking
- Sexual misconduct
- Sexual violence
Many of these actions are not surprises, but you might be a little shocked to realize that your school could dismiss you because you're “failing to progress.” That may not seem fair — but that's not the worst of it: Many schools don't have concrete guidelines determining what constitutes a failure in academic progression. If one of your teachers alleges that you aren't performing well enough, that could trigger your school's disciplinary processes.
What Does the UCSF School of Dentistry Disciplinary Process Look Like?
Your school's code of conduct will detail what will happen after your school initiates its disciplinary process.
For example, depending on the procedures in place at UCSF School of Dentistry and the severity of your alleged punishable behavior, you may be able to expect the following:
- A written notification from your school detailing the allegations against you
- An investigation, which may include interviews with your friends, your educators, and a look into your past academic performance and behavioral history
- An opportunity for you to provide a formal response to the allegations against you
- An invitation to a formal hearing
- A hearing, at which you'll present your defense, and your school will weigh all the information it's gathered.
- A decision from your school regarding your responsibility for the allegations against you
- A recommendation for sanctions from your school, which may include a dismissal
This may seem like an extensive process, but it can happen very quickly.
And in our experience, we've seen that many schools come to a decision about a student's responsibility for problematic behaviors (or failure to progress) very early on in this process — as early as in the initial investigation phase.
Once your school has recommended discipline, it's important to realize you still have options.
What Are My Options After the UCSF School of Dentistry Has Recommended Dismissal?
After your school has made it clear that dismissal is in your future, you can try the following:
- Filing a strategic appeal directly with your school's officials to ask for a lesser sanction.
- Negotiating directly with your school's Office of General Counsel (a task the Lento Law Firm will tackle on your behalf!).
- Deciding to file a lawsuit if none of the previous steps have provided the outcome you want and if your situation calls for this type of action.
This can sound daunting. And it is — there is, after all, a lot at stake.
Luckily, premier Attorney-Advisor Lento and his Student Defense Team are available to help guide your path toward your preferred outcome.
UCSF School of Dentistry Students: Worried About Dismissals? We Can Help
Getting dismissed from your dental school is a big deal. Not only does it place a significant wrinkle in your current academic plans, but it can also make getting into another school (or even getting your first job in your industry) incredibly difficult.
Avoiding dismissals, if at all possible, is therefore very important.
Of course, this is easier said than done. If your school has already begun its dismissal or disciplinary processes, you may wonder if there's really anything you can do to work towards a more successful outcome.
There is. By retaining premier Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team, you can take the most powerful actions possible to protect your reputation, your schooling, and your future as a dental professional. For years, the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm has supported hundreds of ambitious dental students as they've avoided unfair or inappropriate discipline. If you require similar services, give the Lento Law Firm a call today.
The number is 888.535.3686. Or alternatively, you can fill out this brief form to schedule a consultation with our team.
