You're a premed student at the University of Washington. You're smart, you're hardworking, and you have a bright future ahead of you. Right now, everything looks rosy.
Unfortunately, a single disciplinary misconduct allegation can damage that future. We all make mistakes, even smart, hardworking premed students. Misunderstandings can happen. False accusations sometimes happen. You aren't like other undergrads at UW. A single black mark on your record can keep you out of medical school altogether.
If you should find yourself accused, no matter the reason, it's vital that you contact the Lento Law Firm. Ours is the premier firm in the country when it comes to defending students. Our Student Defense Team was founded specifically for the purpose of protecting student rights, and we take our jobs very, very seriously. We know what the law has to say about students. We also know what UW's own policies have to say. You can count on us to get you the very best possible outcome, no matter what the situation may be.
First, though, you have to contact us. Call 888-535-3686 today to see what we can do for you, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at the University of Washington
We, as a society, hold doctors to higher standards than most other professions. We expect physicians to adhere to strict ethical and moral codes. Those expectations begin now while you're still an undergraduate.
Here's what can get you into trouble at the University of Washington:
- Academic Misconduct: First, you must commit to earning your degree honestly. Even the hint of dishonesty—cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation—is grounds for a sanction under UW's Academic Misconduct policy.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: You're not just a student at UW. You're a member of a campus community. Like any community, UW has rules. The Student Conduct Code bars behavior like underage drinking, disorderly conduct, and violations left, and violations, which can get you into just as much trouble as academic misconduct, if not more.
- Sexual Misconduct: Though technically a form of disciplinary misconduct, sexually-based offenses are treated as their own category of offense. The school's sexual misconduct policy is required by federal law under Title IX, and UW can be aggressive when investigating complaints.
It bears repeating: you cannot afford to take any misconduct allegation lightly. Even minor offenses that result in warnings can derail your career if they wind up in your permanent record. Trust the Lento Law Firm to defend you from any charge. We have the knowledge and experience to make sure you're treated fairly no matter what the charges.
Misconduct Procedures
Know this: the University of Washington cannot simply punish you for an accusation. There are clear processes and procedures in place, and you have due process rights. At a minimum, the university must conduct an investigation and hold a hearing to allow you to defend yourself:
- Cases typically begin with a complaint lodged against you by someone else from the campus community. The nature of the charge will determine which administrative office has jurisdiction over your case. General misconduct cases, for instance, are in the hands of the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct.
- In any case, you'll be advised there are charges pending against you. The university must provide you with details of the allegation and a complete list of your due process rights.
- One of your most important rights is the right to an advisor. In addition, you are entitled to choose an attorney to fill this role. This means from the very beginning, a Lento Law Firm attorney can be beside you to help you answer investigative questions and give your side of events.
- Investigators should give you a chance to meet with them. They'll also meet with the Complainant (your accuser or the alleged victim) and any witnesses to the incident. In addition, they will collect all physical evidence associated with the case.
- Investigations can be as short as a few days, especially in academic misconduct cases. On the other hand, sexual misconduct cases can last for several months. At the end of the investigation, investigators turn over their findings to the university. The university then sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more hearing officers to preside.
- The hearing is your opportunity to make your full case. You may offer up arguments, introduce evidence, and call witnesses to testify. You may also raise questions about the other side's evidence, including cross-examining witnesses.
- All cases at UW are decided using a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” This standard requires decision-makers to find you Responsible (guilty) if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- If you are found Responsible, you can appeal your case, though not simply because you disagree with the outcome. UW allows appeals on the basis of new evidence, procedural error, and bias on the part of an official.
As this outline suggests, cases can be complicated and difficult to navigate. Complexities are compounded by the fact that different types of allegations are subject to slightly different processes and procedures. For example, in Title IX cases, both sides are entitled to cross-examine one another. Such differences can have a large impact on how you prepare for and deliver your case.
This is one reason why you need a Lento Law Firm attorney to help you build your case. We're familiar with all of the University of Washington's judicial systems, and we can help guide you through the various steps and make sure you're treated fairly at every point along the way.
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 University of Washington judicial system, you have to worry about whether sanctions appear on your permanent record. Even if you are eventually cleared of wrongdoing, you have to worry about who might find out about the allegations and whether those allegations might interfere with med school recommendation letters. 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.
