Premed students are tested every day and not just in their classes. Sure, academics are hard if you're planning to go into medicine. So, too, though, is living up to personal and professional expectations. We expect our doctors to be men and women of unimpeachable character, and that starts now while you're still just an undergrad.
You aren't subject to any special rules or regulations while you're at Pomona College, but you definitely face consequences well beyond what most other students face if you should break any of those rules. If you're found Responsible for (guilty of) an offense, it can show up in your permanent record, and that can keep you out of medical school. It's no exaggeration, then, to say that your entire future is on the line.
You can't afford to take any allegations lightly. You must respond, and you must have the best possible help to do that. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team has worked with hundreds of clients, protecting them from all types of charges. We know the law, we know how Pomona College works, and we're on your side no matter what.
To find out more about what we do, call 888-535-3686 today, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Pomona College
Defending yourself from a misconduct charge at Pomona starts with knowing the rules. You can't hope to mount a defense unless you understand exactly what you've been accused of doing. At Pomona, there are three policies you need to know.
- Academic Misconduct: First, of course, you are expected to earn your degree honestly. The Standards of Academic Integrity bars cheating, plagiarism, and any other action that might tend to give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: The Standards of Academic Integrity cover your academic behaviors. The Student Code covers your non-academic behaviors. This can include anything from forgery and “unauthorized access” to student property and equipment to underage drinking and firearms possession.
- Sexual Misconduct: Above and beyond all forms of disciplinary misconduct, you're also expected to refrain from sexual misconduct, anything from simple verbal harassment to stalking, dating violence, and rape. Such offenses aren't just counter to school policy but are violations of federal law under Title IX.
Potential sanctions for misconduct at Pomona range anywhere from verbal warnings to dismissal and even revocation of a degree. More important than any specific sanction, though, is whether or not that sanction appears on your record. It doesn't matter if you've merely been cautioned for cheating; if it's on your record, it can keep you out of medical school. You might convince an application committee to overlook a low grade. After all, you take some pretty tough classes as part of the premed curriculum. If the committee thinks you can't be trusted, though, they'll simply find another candidate.
The bottom line is that you must take every allegation seriously.
Misconduct Procedures
Taking an allegation seriously starts with knowing how Pomona's judicial system works. You need to be prepared before you show up to any meeting or any official proceeding.
Cases can differ somewhat depending on the nature of the charges against you. In general, though, here's what you can expect.
- If you've been charged with an offense, it means someone has lodged a complaint against you. That could be another student, an instructor, an administrator, or some other campus employee.
- The college then issues you a Notice of the Charges. This official document should identify your accuser and describe the allegations. It should also contain a complete list of your due process rights. You have the right to be presumed Not Responsible (innocent), for example, and the right to review all evidence in the case.
- Pomona College then undertakes an investigation. As part of this investigation, you should have the opportunity to provide a statement. In addition, investigators talk to the Complainant (your accuser) and any other witnesses. They also collect relevant physical evidence.
- Ultimately, investigators are responsible for compiling their findings into a written report. Once Pomona receives this report, the college sets a time and date for a hearing.
- You make your case before one or more trained decision-makers. You can introduce evidence, call witnesses to testify, and raise questions for any witnesses against you. Of course, the Complainant has the opportunity to do the same.
- All hearings at Pomona College are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” According to this standard, decision-makers are required to find you Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you committed an offense.
- You have yet one more right once the hearing is over the right to appeal the outcome. However, you must have grounds for an appeal. The possibilities include improper judicial procedure, new evidence, and an inappropriate sanction.
Pomona doesn't allow you to bring an attorney with you in every case. Your Lento Law Firm attorney can accompany you to Title IX hearings and conduct cross-examination on your behalf. In other types of cases, though, the college bars attorneys from proceedings.
No matter what the charges, though, your Lento Law Firm attorney can play a crucial role in organizing your defense. They'll help you develop your central arguments, work with you to uncover evidence, suggest questions for witnesses, draft documents, and even coach you on your presentation. Of course, they'll be at your side during meetings and hearings if they possibly can, and no matter what, they'll monitor your case, start to finish, and ensure you are afforded every right 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 Pomona 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.
