Premed is no easy task. Premed at MIT? That's a real challenge. Every course matters. The work is demanding, and professors moreso. Plus, you're trying to juggle extracurriculars, shadowing, and studying for the MCAT.
That's a lot to have on your plate. You can't let yourself get so distracted by all of your academic goals, though, that you forget that discipline can matter just as much to your medical school applications. We all make mistakes, even premed students, and you don't want a mistake to cost you your shot at becoming a doctor.
We can help. What do lawyers know about getting you through college? You might be surprised, actually. A disciplinary misconduct charge means an investigation and hearing, just like out in the world, that exists beyond campus. And while no one is going to put you in jail because you cheated on a final, the consequences can be pretty serious. Any black mark on your record could mean finding a new career path. So trust your future to the premier law firm in the country for student defenses. Trust your future to the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm.
You'll find basic information about what's involved in a misconduct defense below. You can always find out more, though, by calling 888-535-3686. Or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at MIT
You know what's at stake, so you're careful to abide by every rule and regulation at MIT. Even so, mistakes happen. You may not be able to avoid a misunderstanding, for instance, and you have absolutely no control if someone should decide to accuse you falsely.
So, it's a good idea to know the rules, even if you're not planning to break any. That way you'll be prepared should any allegations come your way.
- Academic Misconduct: MIT takes academic integrity extremely seriously. The school publishes an entire handbook on it. That handbook provides guidance on both cheating and plagiarism. Any type of classroom dishonesty, though, can get you into trouble.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Outside the classroom, your conduct is governed by the MIT Student Conduct and Community Standards policy. Here, you'll find rules about non-academic behavior, like underage drinking, weapons possession, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. This kind of misconduct can have just as big an impact on your med school applications as academic misconduct.
- Sexual Misconduct: This is among the most serious kinds of charges any student can face. Most instances of sexual misconduct are covered under federal law (Title IX). MIT must follow mandated guidelines concerning investigations and hearings, and the government encourages stiff penalties, like suspension and dismissal.
Obviously, sanctions can differ widely at MIT depending on the nature of the charges. Forgetting to include a citation in a paper isn't going to be punished the same way as stalking. We can't tell you what sanction to expect for every allegation. In some ways, though, it doesn't matter. You're planning to apply to medical school, which means your biggest worry is whether a sanction should find its way onto your permanent record. Just being given a warning for spitting on the sidewalk could be enough to ruin your chances of admission. You have to take every accusation seriously. Part of doing that is making sure you have a Lento Law Firm attorney on your side.
Misconduct Procedures
As we mentioned earlier, any time you find yourself accused of misconduct, whether academic, disciplinary, or sexual, you can expect an investigation and a hearing. Here's how those processes typically unfold.
- Cases begin with a complaint. Anyone may make a complaint against you, including instructors, other students, administrators, and staff. Different offices deal with different types of complaints.
- If MIT decides to move forward with formal charges, it will issue you written notice of those charges. This notice should contain the name of your accuser and a description of the allegation. It should also apprise you of all your due process rights.
- MIT then conducts some type of investigation. You have the right to give your side of the story. Investigators also interview Complainants (accusers) and any witnesses, and they collect all physical evidence associated with the case.
- Once they've completed their task, investigators submit a written summary of their findings. At this point, MIT sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over it.
- At the hearing, you get to present your entire defense. You may, for instance, introduce evidence. You may also call witnesses to testify and cross-examine any witnesses against you. Of course, the other side in the case haas these same opportunities.
- All cases at MIT are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, decision-makers must find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- Even if you should lose your case, you still have the opportunity to appeal. However, appeals must be based on one of five factors:
- New evidence
- Procedural error
- The decision-makers findings are not consistent with the evidence in the case.
- The sanction issued in the case is disproportionate to the nature of the offense.
- An official involved in the case has some sort of bias against you (only available in Title IX, sexual misconduct cases).
MIT does not allow you to bring an attorney with you to meetings and hearings unless you've been accused of Title IX sexual misconduct. Do not make the mistake, however, of assuming that means you can't consult with a Lento Law Firm attorney. Your attorney can play a crucial role in your defense, even if they never set foot on MIT's campus. They can develop your arguments, uncover evidence, develop questions for witnesses, and even coach you in presenting your case. Above and beyond all of these specific functions, your Lento Law Firm attorney will also make sure you're treated fairly and that you get a just resolution to your case.
Fighting for Your Future
Fighting a misconduct charge is never an easy proposition for anyone. As a pre-med student, though, you face special challenges. Beyond the complexities of the MIT 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.
