The path to a medical degree requires discipline and sacrifice--not once you've started a residency, not once you've started medical school, but right now, while you're an undergraduate. If you want a chance at getting into a good medical program, you need stellar grades, a strong record of extracurricular activities, and a high MCAT score.
You need something else, too: a clean disciplinary record. In addition to smarts, medical schools want students they can count on to maintain high ethical standards and moral values. That means it's not just failed classes you need to worry about; a disciplinary finding against you can put your future at risk as well.
How do you protect yourself? Obviously, you want to make sure you know the rules at UPenn and how to avoid getting into trouble. That might not be enough, though. You never can tell when trouble might come looking for you in the form of a misunderstanding or a false allegation. So, you also need to know how to defend yourself should you need to. More importantly than anything else, you need to know how to get help when you need it.
Whatever your situation, the LLF Law Firm is here for you. Our Student Defense Team believes in your dream of being a doctor, and we want to make sure you get there. We've helped hundreds of students defend themselves from all types of charges. What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and use our online form to tell us more about your case.
Misconduct at UPenn
You have some special qualities both as a student and as a person: you have to if you're looking to go into medicine. When it comes to discipline at UPenn, though, you're subject to the same rules and policies as any other student. Your status as a premed student won't protect you.
- Academic Misconduct Policy: UPenn expects you to earn your degree honestly, and medical schools take academic integrity very seriously. Cheating, plagiarism, and any other action that could give you an unfair advantage in completing your degree are expressly prohibited at UPenn, and even a misunderstanding could put your future as a physician at risk.
- Disciplinary Misconduct Polices: UPenn maintains several policies related to your conduct outside the classroom. There's a general Student Conduct Code that covers things like trespassing and theft. There are also codes dealing with hazing, alcohol and drug usage, and what qualifies as acceptable electronic usage. Again, medical schools take your behavior and temperament as seriously as—if not more seriously than—your grades.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, like all college and university students across the country, you're subject to federal Title IX legislation regarding sexual discrimination and harassment. In fact, most violations of UPenn's sexual misconduct policy result in outright dismissal from the university.
We just cannot emphasize it enough: there are no minor infractions when you're a premed student, and there are no unimportant sanctions. Even a warning for disorderly conduct can cost you a position in medical school if it should find its way into your record.
Misconduct Procedures
Unfortunately, no matter how careful you may be, misconduct allegations can still happen. We all make mistakes, but you don't even have to have made a mistake to find yourself charged. Misunderstandings happen; false accusations happen.
The good news is that an allegation isn't the same as being found "Responsible" (guilty). You're entitled to an investigation. You're entitled to defend yourself at a hearing. UPenn also provides you with some important due process rights to help you.
- Cases can begin in several different ways. Disciplinary misconduct is usually reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Sexual misconduct is reported to the Title IX Coordinator. Academic misconduct allegations are generally handled by faculty, at least initially.
- You are always entitled to Notice of the charges against you, even if you're just dealing with a plagiarism allegation. As part of this Notice, you should be informed of your due process rights.
- In most cases, the university will undertake some form of investigation, even if that is just gathering documents to prove you've cheated on an exam. You should have an opportunity during this process to give your side of the story, present evidence of your own, and suggest witnesses for investigators to interview.
- Investigators may draw conclusions as to whether or not you are Responsible for an offense. You always have the right, though, to defend yourself at a hearing.
- Should you choose a hearing, you can make opening and closing statements, introduce evidence, and call witnesses to testify. In addition, you have the right to raise questions about the prosecution's evidence and to cross-examine witnesses against you.
- Even if you are found Responsible, you have the right to appeal the hearing outcome under certain conditions, such as a procedural error in the case or if you should discover new evidence.
You always have a right to bring an advisor with you to meetings and proceedings. In Title IX sexual misconduct cases, that advisor can even be an attorney. Keep in mind, though, that whether or not your LLF Law Firm attorney can accompany you to your hearing, they can play a crucial role in your defense. Not only will they work with you to develop an overall strategy, but they'll help you to find and organize evidence, draft documents with you, suggest questions for witnesses, and even coach you on how to present your case. Of course, their most important job is to make sure your rights are protected and you're treated fairly.
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 UPenn 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 LLF 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.
