College isn't easy for anyone, but premed students like you face special challenges. You take tougher courses than most, for instance. If you want to get into med school, you need to pad your resume out with extracurriculars. You have to juggle all this with shadowing doctors and finding time to study for the MCAT. It's a lot.
In the midst of all that you have going on, it's easy to forget that your behavior can be just as important to your med-school applications as your academic ability. One black mark on your disciplinary record can easily be enough to keep you from moving on to the next level. In fact, the truth is that you might be able to slide by with a low grade in calculus or OChem. A single allegation of cheating, though, could ruin your chance of earning your M.D.
You can't afford to take any misconduct charge lightly. You have to fight. We can help. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team has helped hundreds of students just like you defend themselves from all types of charges. We are committed to protecting your rights and to getting you the justice you deserve.
Want to know more? Call 888-535-3686. Or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Cal Tech
Let's start with the basics. Just what is it that can get you into disciplinary trouble at Cal Tech? There are three categories of offense you need to worry about.
- Academic Misconduct: It probably won't surprise you to learn that Cal Tech expects you to earn your degree honestly and ethically. Any action that could give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework qualifies as academic misconduct. That means cheating and it means plagiarism, but it isn't limited to those two offenses.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Beyond the classroom, your conduct as a CIT student is governed by the CalTech Honor Code Handbook. Rules and regulations here have to do with issues such as campus violence, substance abuse, hazing, and theft.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, like all schools, CIT is bound to follow Title IX, a federal law barring sexual discrimination and harassment on college campuses. Under Cal Tech's policy, "sexual misconduct" can include anything from simple verbal harassment to stalking, dating violence, and rape.
Cal Tech maintains a variety of different sanctions, and the proposed punishment in a given case will depend on the specifics of the case. Weapons possession, for instance, might be grounds for dismissal. On the other hand, a first cheating offense would more probably result in a lowered grade. Obviously, suspension or dismissal has the power to devastate your career at Cal Tech. Any sanction, though, even a warning, can hurt your chances at medical school if it should wind up in your permanent record.
As a result, you must take every accusation seriously, no matter the charge and no matter the proposed penalty. It is always in your best interest to have the Lento Law Firm attorney at your side.
Misconduct Procedures
Cal Tech's disciplinary processes are less formal than at other schools, and they provide fewer protections. It's important, then, that you know what to expect so that you can take advantage of the rights you do have to protect yourself.
- Cases begin with a complaint. Anyone may lodge such a complaint—instructors, staff, administrators, and other students. The institute must decide the complaint has merit, though, before proceeding to a formal charge.
- If you've been charged, Cal Tech should furnish you with a Notice of the Charges. This notice should explain the allegations and provide a list of your due process rights. You have the right, for instance, to a presumption of innocence (“Not Responsible”), and you have the right to review all evidence in the case.
- You can also expect Cal Tech to undertake some form of investigation, either formal or informal. If you're facing an academic misconduct charge, the school may simply ask you and your instructor to submit relevant evidence. In a Title IX sexual misconduct case, on the other hand, investigators may take several months to gather physical evidence and talk with witnesses.
- In especially serious cases, you may have the right to a hearing, where you can introduce evidence and call witnesses to testify. More often, however, decisions at Cal Tech are made by an administrator or a committee, and while you may be invited to answer questions, you are not allowed to present a full defense.
- Cases are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” This standard is very different from “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Simply put, it requires decision-makers to find you Responsible (guilty) if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed the offense.
- You can appeal the case outcome, but only if you have “grounds” for such an appeal. Cal Tech only recognizes three such grounds: procedural error, the discovery of new evidence, and a sanction that is disproportionate to the offense.
Finally, you should know that, except in Title IX cases, you are not allowed to bring an attorney with you to proceedings. The Lento Law Firm regards this as a violation of your due process rights. However, it is not an excuse for trying to handle a case on your own. The Lento Law Firm attorney can do far more than merely accompany you to hearings. They can help you formulate your defensive strategy, work with you to collect evidence, draft documents, and coach you on how to respond to likely questions. Ultimately, when a school is stingy about allowing you your rights, you absolutely need someone in your corner to monitor the situation and make sure you're being treated fairly.
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 difficulties posed by the CIT judicial system, you have to worry about whether sanctions are recorded in your record. You have to worry about who might find out about the allegations and whether those allegations might interfere with recommendation letters, even if they're proven false. 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, fill out our online questionnaire.
