It takes a special sort of student to go into medicine. Premed is by no means an easy path. You've got a course schedule that's harder than most, and you've got plenty of extracurriculars to worry about, from shadowing professionals to studying for the MCAT. You're willing to put in an enormous amount of hard work and discipline in order to enter a career that's primarily centered on helping others.
You're still just like all the other undergrads at Tufts, though, when it comes to the rules. Cheating can get you into trouble. So can underage drinking or harassing other students online. The only difference is that as a premed student, you have more to lose if you're found Responsible for (guilty of) an offense.
There's too much on the line, and processes and procedures are too complicated to try and handle an allegation all on your own. You're obviously bright, or you wouldn't be premed, but you're not an attorney. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was built to protect student rights. We know the law, and we know how Tuft's judicial system operates. We also believe in what you're doing, and we want to give you the very best chance to make it to medical school and a career as a doctor.
What can we 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.
Defining Misconduct at Tufts University
You wouldn't be the first premed student to be so wrapped up in your studies that you didn't bother to learn Tuft's rules. And maybe you think you'll never have to worry about them. Accusations of misconduct can happen to anyone, though, and they can happen at the most unexpected moments. Knowing the rules is the first step to defending yourself if it does.
- Academic Misconduct: These offenses have to do with how you complete your coursework. Tuft's policy, which you can find listed along with other Community Standards, prohibits cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of classroom dishonesty.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: It turns out, the Community Standards include a lot more than just academic misconduct. In fact, most of the rules have to do with general campus behavior, things like underage drinking, hazing, and theft.
- Sexual Misconduct: This is among the most serious charges that any student can face. Tuft's policy adheres to Title IX, a federal law, and most students found Responsible wind up dismissed from the university.
Not all rules are created equal, and not all offenses are punished in the same way at Tufts. A first offense for cheating might get you a lower grade on an assignment. Date rape almost certainly means dismissal. It's important you recognize, though, that for a premed student like you, any offense—even a minor one—can prevent you from getting into medical schools. M.D. programs take personal conduct very seriously, and a warning for stealing could be enough to keep you from getting in if it should appear on your permanent record.
Misconduct Procedures
The bottom line is you simply can't afford to take any charge lightly. You have to fight, and you have to be smart about how you do it.
The good news is that Tufts can't simply dismiss you. You're entitled to several due process protections, including the right to an investigation and the right to a hearing. Here's how those processes generally work.
- Anyone can accuse you of misconduct, from professors to students to campus staff. Academic and disciplinary misconduct complaints are handled through the Office of Community Standards. Title IX sexual misconduct is under the purview of the Title IX Coordinator.
- The university will conduct some type of investigation. Tufts calls it “Information Gathering.” This might be conducted by the University Police Department, an academic department, the Office of Community Standards, or a designated Title IX investigator.
- You should have an opportunity to give your side of the story, to submit evidence, and to suggest witnesses. You also have the right to review all evidence against you.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, the appropriate university office sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside over that hearing. In most cases, the investigative findings become the foundation of the case.
- · The hearing gives you a chance to formally argue for your innocence or explain your behavior. You may introduce evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine any witnesses against you.
- · Cases are decided using a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence." Less stringent than "beyond a reasonable doubt," it allows decision-makers to find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- You have the right to appeal the hearing outcome, should you lose, but not simply because you disagree with that outcome. Appeals must be based on issues such as procedural error, the discovery of new evidence, or an inappropriate sanction.
Different types of offenses are handled by different offices, and while this general outline applies to all cases, judicial procedures can differ in small but important ways depending on who is handling the case. For example, both sides in a Title IX sexual misconduct case are allowed to cross-examine one another. In all other types of cases, you have the right to remain silent.
In all cases, though, Tufts allows you to select an advisor, and that advisor can be an attorney. That means your Lento Law Firm attorney can be at your side from start to finish. They'll not only help you answer questions and offer advice; they'll guide you through the process from start to finish and make sure your rights are respected at every step 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 Tufts 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.
