Physician is a noble profession, but it's not an easy one. You're premed, so you've probably already begun to discover just how hard it can be. Academics are crucial—that goes without saying. No one wants to worry over whether their doctor is competent or not. So, too, though, is character. We expect doctors to have the highest moral and ethical standards, to treat all patients with respect, and to put their communities' interests above their own.
What does "nobility" mean in a practical sense? At this point in your education, it means you're expected to abide by the rules. All the rules. Hamilton College policies and regulations apply to all students, but you have more to risk. Any violation, even for something as minor as plagiarism, can keep you out of medical school.
That's why the moment you're accused of any type of misconduct, it's essential you contact the Lento Law Firm. It's no easy task taking on a college. No one should do it alone. But with so much at stake, you absolutely must have someone from the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team on your side.
To find out more about how we can help you, call 888-535-3686 today, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Hamilton College
Colleges and universities these days seem determined to restrict students as much as possible. Hamilton maintains dozens of policies covering everything from alcohol consumption to guests on campus. The good news is that most of these rules can be grouped into three basic categories. Knowing these can help you avoid a lot of trouble.
- Academic Misconduct: It won't surprise you to learn that cheating and plagiarism are entirely outlawed at Hamilton. That's standard in academics. In fact, under the Honor Code, you can be sanctioned for “any form of academic dishonesty.”
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Your general campus behavior is under just as much scrutiny as your coursework. The Code of Student Conduct lists 20 separate offenses, including drug possession, hazing, and lewd conduct.
- Sexual Misconduct: These are among the most serious offenses with which any student can be charged. Sexual misconduct is also a matter of federal law under Title IX. As a result, you can expect Hamilton College to investigate every credible complaint.
We said it before, but it bears repeating: you're subject to the same rules as other students, but the consequences of a violation can be far more severe for you. Sanctions at Hamilton range from warnings to outright dismissal, but the more serious sanction for you is a black mark on your record. Anything on your transcript will raise questions when you're applying for medical school. Even if an offense isn't listed on your transcript, it could doom your applications if it becomes common knowledge among Hamilton faculty and administrators.
You must take every allegation seriously. Your future depends on it.
Misconduct Procedures
What does it mean to take allegations seriously? First and foremost, it means knowing everything you possibly can about Hamilton College's judicial processes and procedures. Those can differ in small but important ways depending on the nature of the charges against you. In general, though, here's what you can expect.
- Cases begin with complaints. You can be accused by another student, an instructor, an administrator, or other campus employees. Different college offices handle different types of cases, though. The Honor Court handles academic misconduct; the Assistant Dean of Community Living coordinates the college's response to allegations of disciplinary misconduct; sexual misconduct is usually under the purview of the Title IX Coordinator.
- The college cannot simply issue sanctions because you've been charged with an offense. You must be proven Responsible (guilty). In fact, you have the right to a presumption of Not Responsible. You have other important due process rights as well, such as the right to review evidence in the case and the right to be notified prior to all meetings and proceedings.
- Hamilton will conduct some form of investigation. Even in academic misconduct cases, someone must gather examples of your coursework to substantiate any charges. As part of the investigation, you should be asked to provide your side of the story. The college will typically interview other witnesses in addition to collecting any physical evidence.
- Once the investigation is complete, investigators submit a written report of their findings. At this point, the appropriate college office sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more trained decision-makers to coordinate proceedings.
- At the hearing, you're allowed to make arguments in defense of your innocence or offer information to mitigate your guilt. You can introduce evidence and call witnesses to testify. You can also cross-examine any witnesses against you.
- At the conclusion of the hearing, decision-makers deliberate on your level of responsibility. They do not have to find you guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt." In some cases, the standard is "clear and convincing" evidence; in others, it is "preponderance of the evidence."
- Your last right in the process is the right to appeal the outcome if you feel you've been mistreated by the process. Grounds for appeal are normally restricted to issues like procedural error, the discovery of new evidence, and sanctions that are disproportionate to the offense.
In every type of case, you are entitled to an advisor, someone to accompany you to formal proceedings and other meetings. In some cases, you may choose an attorney to serve as your advisor. In other cases, you are specifically prohibited from having an attorney with you.
Know this, though: you always have the right to consult an attorney, and someone from the Lento Law Firm can do far more than merely sit beside you during a hearing. You can count on them to build your defense strategy, find and organize evidence, suggest questions for witnesses, draft documents, and even coach you in presenting your case. The Lento Law Firm attorney's most important job, though, is always to keep a close watch on how the case unfolds and to protect your rights in every situation.
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 Hamilton 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 form.
