We've worked with hundreds of premed students, enough to know just how important you take your education. You wouldn't have signed up if you didn't know how hard the path is. You wouldn't still be in the program if you weren't smart enough and dedicated enough to handle it.
We've also worked with enough premed students to know, though, that you don't always realize just how important your disciplinary record is. You're under a lot of stress and strain trying to meet academic expectations. It's only natural that you might want to blow off a little steam every once in a while. You're subject to the same rules and regulations as every Barnard undergraduate, though, and in your case, any slip can cost you your shot at medical school.
Of course, we all make mistakes, even bright, hard-working premed students. Or maybe you didn't make a mistake at all. Maybe you're the victim of a misunderstanding or a false allegation. It happens. Whatever your particular situation might be, the Lento Law Firm is here to help. Our Student Defense Team is committed to protecting student rights and getting you the best possible resolution to your case.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Barnard College
Let's start simple. Just what is it that can get you into trouble at Barnard? What do you need to avoid if you're going to make it to the next level of your education?
- Academic Misconduct: The academic pressure premed students are under can sometimes be so intense that it drives them to try bending the rules. That's never a good idea. You know the Barnard Honor Code, and you know that any attempt at course dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, will be met with swift disciplinary action.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Non-academic misconduct is treated just as seriously as academic misconduct, if not more so. The Student Conduct Codeoutlines all the various campus rules and regulations. Examples include disorderly conduct, theft, weapons possession, underage drinking, and all types of violence.
- Sexual Misconduct: These are among the most serious offenses with which any student can be charged. Sexual misconduct is not just against Barnard's. Title IX, a federal law, bars all forms of sexual discrimination and harassment on college campuses.
If you've been at Barnard for any length of time, you probably have a feel for which offenses are more serious and which ones carry the most weighty penalties. Unfortunately, as a premed student, you don't have the luxury of ignoring any rules and regulations. You may know, for instance, that a professor probably won't fail you in a course just for one incident of plagiarism. The problem is, even if that professor just issues you a warning, that warning can cost you your shot at medical school if it shows up in your academic record.
You must take every allegation of misconduct seriously. That means carefully preparing your defense. It also means making sure you have the best possible legal representation to help you fight. No one understands student disciplinary cases better than the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm.
Misconduct Procedures
It's always better to avoid a misconduct allegation if you possibly can, but if you should find yourself accused, the good news is that you have some important due process rights. Barnard must, for instance, presume you are “Not Responsible” (innocent) until you've been proven “Responsible” (guilty).
- Anyone at Barnard can accuse you, but the college must decide whether the accusations are credible and actionable before pursuing an official investigation.
- If you have been charged with an offense, Barnard must provide you with an official Notice of the Charges. This document identifies your accuser, includes details of the allegation, and contains a complete list of your rights.
- Investigators typically begin by meeting separately with the Respondent (the accused, you) and the Complainant (your accuser or alleged victim). Then, they move on to talking with other witnesses. They'll also collect any physical evidence.
- When the investigation is complete, investigators submit a written summary of their findings. This becomes the central piece of evidence at the hearing that follows. You always have the right to examine this evidence before the hearing.
- The hearing provides you an opportunity to formally defend yourself. You can introduce evidence and question witnesses. Of course, the other side gets these same opportunities, and both of you have a right to raise questions about evidence and cross-examine one another's witnesses.
- One or more decision-makers preside over disciplinary hearings. They'll follow college policy when conducting the hearing. They'll also determine the final outcome, using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to do so. This standard requires they find you guilty if they believe you “more likely than not” committed the offense.
- Your final right is the right to appeal the hearing outcome. However, you must have clear grounds to do this. Grounds for appeal at Barnard include
- Issues of fairness, or whether or not there were any procedural irregularities in your case
- The discovery of new evidence
- A disproportionate sanction
If you've been charged with Title IX sexual misconduct, the law guarantees you the right to choose any advisor to accompany you to all proceedings. Otherwise, you are allowed a support person, but this person may not be an attorney.
There is far more to defending yourself than presenting your case at a hearing, though, and the Lento Law Firm attorney can play a crucial role in developing your defense whether or not they can sit beside you during your hearing. They'll help you develop the central arguments of your case. They'll work with you to gather evidence, draft documents on your behalf, suggest questions for witnesses, coach you in answering questions, and even prep you to deliver your presentation. Most important of all, they'll keep a close watch on your entire case and make sure you're treated fairly from the moment you're charged until your last appeal is exhausted.
Fighting for Your Future
Fighting a misconduct charge is never an easy proposition for anyone. As a premed student, though, you face special challenges. Beyond the complexities of the Barnard College judicial system, you have to worry about whether sanctions appear on your permanent record. Even if you are eventually cleared of wrongdoing, you have to worry about who might find out about the allegations and whether those allegations might interfere with med school recommendation letters. You have to keep a close watch on social media and make sure your reputation doesn't suffer online. It's an enormous amount of work to have to deal with on your own.
That's why the minute you suspect you might be in trouble, it's vital that you contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. We can negotiate with faculty and administrators if that's what's called for, but we can also be fierce in defending our clients.
Let us help you fight for your academic future. To find out more, contact the firm today at 888-535-3686 or complete our online questionnaire.
