All students at the University of Chicago are held to high standards. As a premed student, you are held to higher standards than most. You've got courses like OChem to contend with, and you have to keep your GPA up if you're going to have a hope of getting into medical school. Meanwhile, you've got an extra-curricular resume to build, shadowing to complete, and the MCAT to study for.
Of course, you knew about all of this when you signed up. You came to the university with your eyes fully open to your academic responsibilities.
Have you taken time, though, to consider the disciplinary expectations at the University of Chicago? Have you combed through the rules and regulations? Do you know what happens if you should find yourself accused of misconduct? We're going to go out on a limb and say you probably haven't. After all, you're premed. Premed students don't get accused of breaking the rules, right?
You might be surprised. Mistakes happen. Misunderstandings happen. False allegations sometimes happen. Make sure you're prepared. Make sure you know the rules, you know how the university's judicial system works, and you know how to get help. You don't want to take a risk handling a case yourself. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was built to protect student rights. We know the stakes, we know what you're up against, and we know how to use the process to your best advantage.
We can't help if you don't contact us, though. Call 888-535-3686 today, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at the University of Chicago
First things first: what is it you need to worry about in terms of discipline? There are three types of misconduct you should review—academic, disciplinary, and sexual.
- Academic Misconduct: As the name implies, academic misconduct has to do with your behavior in the classroom and, more specifically, with how you go about completing your coursework. The University of Chicago's Academic Integrity policy specifically mentions cheating and plagiarism. Any form of dishonesty, though, qualifies as academic misconduct.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You aren't just a student at the University of Chicago. You are a member of a community. As such, you must abide by community rules. You can find a full list of these in the same place as the academic integrity rules, but they include prohibitions on things like theft, violence, trespassing, and disorderly conduct.
- Sexual Misconduct: Last but certainly not least, you are responsible for following the University of Chicago's sexual misconduct policy. This policy is required by law under Title IX. That law sets the guidelines and encourages schools to issue strong sanctions against those found Responsible (guilty).
There are three categories of offense and a wide range of sanctions associated with individual offenses. Here's the most important thing to know, though: any Responsible finding, no matter how minor the offense and no matter how light the particular punishment you might be facing, could potentially keep you out of medical school. You aren't like other students. We as a society hold doctors up to the very highest standards of moral and ethical behavior, and one black mark can tank your applications.
You must take every allegation seriously. That means making sure you have the Lento Law Firm attorney on your side from the moment you're charged.
Misconduct Procedures
Knowing the rules is an important first step to protecting yourself. You never know, though, when, despite your best efforts, you may find yourself facing a charge. So, in addition to actively staying out of trouble, you also want to know how the University of Chicago disciplinary system works.
- In most instances, the first thing that happens is that someone—an instructor, a student, an administrator, or some other member of the campus community—lodges a complaint against you. If you know this is coming, it's a good idea to contact the Lento Law Firm before the complaint develops into a formal charge.
- If you are charged, the university issues a Notice of the Charges. This notice should include the name of your accuser and all pertinent details about the allegation. It should also provide a list of your due process rights, such as your right to view all evidence in the case.
- The University of Chicago then undertakes an investigation. As part of this investigation, you should be asked to provide your side of the story. In addition, investigators interview Complainants (your accusers) and any other potential witnesses. They also collect any relevant physical evidence.
- Investigators submit a written summary of their findings. Both sides have a chance to review this document before the university sets a time and date for a hearing.
- Depending on the specific nature of your case, you may face one decision-maker or a committee. You get to make arguments, introduce evidence, and call witnesses. You can also raise questions for any witnesses testifying against you.
- Decision-makers employ a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence” in determining whether or not you committed an offense. According to this standard, you are Responsible (guilty) if they believe it is “more likely than not” that you violated policy.
- You also have the right to review, or “appeal,” the hearing outcome, but that right is not universal. That is, you must have “grounds” for a review. Grounds at the University of Chicago are limited to
- New information has come to light that could have a bearing on the outcome.
- The investigation was in some way incomplete.
These procedures in and of themselves can be complex and difficult to navigate. Additionally, though, cases can differ in small but significant ways depending on the specific nature of the charges against you. In academic and disciplinary misconduct cases, for instance, only the officials presiding over the hearing may ask questions, though you may submit questions for them to ask. In Title IX cases, in contrast, only student advisors may ask questions.
The Lento Law Firm attorney is well-versed in all of the university's judicial procedures and can help you prepare whatever the charges might be. They'll help you prepare all aspects of your defense, and they'll be on hand during meetings and hearings to help you present your case.
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 University of Chicago 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.
