The fact that you're premed at Miami U marks you as a special sort of student. It's not just that you're a bit more dedicated than the average undergraduate, a bit more hard-working, though that's certainly true. You wouldn't be on the premed track if you didn't care deeply about others if you weren't committed to improving the health of both individuals and your community.
Special or not, though, you're still held accountable for following all of Miami U's rules and regulations. In fact, your premed status actually raises the stakes for you. Any slip, however minor, could wind up costing you your shot at medical school. No matter how much hard work you've put into this point, your dream of becoming a doctor could be at an end.
Here's the thing: you can wind up accused of misconduct for all sorts of reasons. It could be that you're simply a victim of a misunderstanding. It could be someone has leveled a false accusation at you. And even if you did make a mistake, it doesn't mean you should be punished in a way that ruins your future.
If you've been accused of misconduct, whatever the situation, the Lento Law Firm is on your side. The attorneys who work on our Student Defense team know what you're up against. They also know how the Miami University judicial system works, and they know your rights under the law.
What can the Lento Law Firm 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 Miami University
One of the problems with staying out of trouble at Miami U is that there are just so many rules. The university has a policy that covers virtually every aspect of your classroom and campus life. In fact, you can even be investigated for off-campus behavior.
So let's start with the basics: just what is it that you need to worry about in terms of misconduct?
- Academic Misconduct: There's a lot of pressure on you as a premed student to do well in your courses. That can sometimes drive students to take shortcuts. An academic misconduct ruling, though, can destroy your chances at medical school. Miami U's policy specifically mentions cheating and plagiarism, but any type of dishonesty can result in an investigation.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Medical schools take your personal conduct as seriously as your grades. That means it's just as important to follow Miami U's Student Code of Conduct as it is to keep your GPA up. The Code covers things like underage drinking, weapons possession, and theft. It's a good idea to at least skim through all these rules, but generally speaking, the goal is to respect both other students and the university.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are among the most serious any college student can face. Under Title IX, a federal law, Miami University must investigate all credible allegations. In addition, sanctions can be severe. The minimum penalty is usually suspension.
If you were a typical undergrad, you could afford to think about policy violations in terms of minor and major offenses. Because you're a premed student, though, there are no minor offenses. Even a warning for trespassing could cause problems with your med school applications if it should show up on your record. As a result, you must take every accusation seriously. That means having a Lento Law Firm attorney on your side.
Misconduct Procedures
How you handle a misconduct accusation will depend on the specific nature of the charges against you. Different offices handle different types of offenses, and the university employs a variety of different procedures. The one thing you should bear in mind is that you always have a right to due process. The university can't simply find you guilty and punish you without giving you a fair chance to defend yourself.
- Academic Misconduct: Unless you've already been found Responsible for (guilty of) an offense, these are usually handled, at least initially, by course instructors. Even so, you should have an opportunity to give your side of the story. If you cannot resolve the matter with your instructor, you have the right to appeal to the Office of Academic Integrity.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: The university is bound to conduct an investigation into this type of allegation and to give you the opportunity to defend yourself at a formal hearing. It sometimes happens that you must go through this process in order to prove your innocence. However, Miami University also maintains an Adaptable Resolution process that can allow you to take responsibility for a mistake while avoiding a disciplinary sanction.
- Sexual Misconduct: Again, these are among the most serious charges a college student can face. However, the law (Title IX) provides you with additional due process protections in these cases. You always have the right to a hearing, for instance, and you're allowed special rights such as the right to cross-examine your accuser.
You're entitled to a lawyer, and to choose the Lento Law Firm Student Defense team, in most cases, at Miami University. Even in those cases where you must defend yourself on your own, it's important that you retain counsel to protect yourself. Your Lento Law Firm attorney's job is far more than just accompanying you to meetings and proceedings. They will work with you to map out your strategy, help you gather and organize evidence, draft documents, come up with questions for witnesses, and even coach you in delivering presentations.
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 Miami University 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.
