If the premed path were easy, everyone at Centre College would be headed to medical school. The fact is it takes an enormous amount of discipline and hard work just to get yourself into a position where you can apply to medical school. Courses are tough, and you've got to be active in tons of extracurriculars. Yeah, by the way, you've got the MCAT to worry about.
The challenges you face don't end with academics and extracurriculars, though. We expect doctors to be among the most honest, ethical members of our society, and those expectations start now. You can probably get away with a low grade or two on your transcript, but no medical school is going to take a chance on you if there's a sexual misconduct finding against you or even a cheating allegation.
You cannot afford to take any disciplinary charge lightly. They all carry enormous weight. That means knowing the rules. It means knowing how Centre College's judicial process works. And most importantly, it means having a professional on your side to help you defend yourself. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We know the law, we know the system, and we're always on your side.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 today to find out, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Centre College
Let's start with the basics—the rules—not because we think you're likely to break them but because you can't hope to defend yourself if you don't understand what you've been accused of doing. In fact, innocent students can be at a significant disadvantage because they didn't actually do what they're supposed to have done and may have no understanding of the offense.
- Academic Misconduct: All schools prohibit academic dishonesty. Centre College's policy specifically mentions plagiarism, “in-class academic dishonesty,” unauthorized access to materials, disallowed collaboration, and “defacing library materials,” but any offense that could give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework qualifies.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Outside the classroom, your behavior is governed by the Student Conduct Code. This is where you'll find rules against things like underage drinking, hazing, and disorderly conduct. In simple terms, the Code helps keep the community of the college functioning properly.
- Sexual Misconduct: Centre College's sexual misconduct policy is actually mandated by federal law (Title IX). All colleges and universities must bar sexual discrimination and harassment, all must investigate credible complaints, and all are encouraged to issue harsh sanctions.
Centre College maintains a wide range of sanctions, from warnings to loss of privileges and probation to outright dismissal. You can't get caught up in weighing the severity of the proposed sanction, though. For you, any sanction can keep you out of medical school. A warning for plagiarism is enough to jeopardize your future if it should appeal on your permanent record. The moment you find yourself accused, you need to contact the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. We can ensure you're treated fairly and that you get the very best possible resolution to your case.
Misconduct Procedures
Just what are you facing if you've been charged with some form of misconduct? Cases can vary depending on the specific nature of the charges, but in general, here's what you can expect.
- Cases begin when someone lodges a formal complaint against you.
- If the college elects to proceed with the case, it must issue you Notice of the Charges. This Notice should identify your accuser and describe the exact nature of the allegations. It should also apprise you of your due process rights.
- Next, the college undertakes an investigation. This can sometimes be a simple matter. If you've been accused of cheating, it may mean nothing more than collecting examples of your coursework. On the other hand, sexual misconduct cases can last for several months and involve physical evidence and witness testimony.
- Investigators compile their findings into a report, and this report serves as the basis for a hearing.
- At the hearing, you'll present your entire case to one or more decision-makers. You may introduce evidence and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions for any witnesses against you.
- Ultimately, decision-makers employ a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” to determine whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) an offense. This standard mandates that you are guilty if it seems “more likely than not” that you are guilty.
- You do have yet one more right, even if you should lose your case—the right to appeal. However, appeals must be filed within 48 hours of the end of the hearing. In addition, grounds for appeal are limited to
- Questions over the fairness of the hearing
- Questions about whether the evidence was substantial enough to justify the verdict
- Questions over the appropriateness of the sanction
- The discovery of new evidence
Unless you're fighting a Title IX sexual misconduct charge, Centre College bars you from bringing an attorney with you to meetings and proceedings. That sometimes convinces students they shouldn't hire an attorney at all.
The thing is, the Lento Law Firm attorney can do far more than simply sit beside you during a hearing. They can help you plan out your defense, develop arguments, come up with questions for witnesses, organize evidence, and even practice your presentation. More important than anything else, they can also keep a close watch on how your case unfolds. It's their job to make sure Centre College respects your rights and gives you the justice you deserve.
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 Centre College 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.
