Earning a degree at Wellesley is no easy task for anyone. If you're a premed student, though, your path is even more difficult. It isn't just that courses are tough and professors demanding, though that's certainly true. You also have to live up to the highest standards of personal conduct. It's not that you're subject to different rules from others. It's just that even minor offenses can keep you out of medical school.
If you've been accused of misconduct, whether it's the result of a misunderstanding, a false allegation, or a genuine mistake on your part, the Lento Law Firm is here to help. Our Student Defense Team knows exactly what you're up against, and we're committed to protecting your rights and making sure you get the best possible resolution to your case. We know the law, and we know Wellesley policy, and we can show you how to use both to your advantage.
What can we do for you? Call us at 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Wellesley College
There are dozens of rules and regulations at Wellesley, any one of which can get you into trouble. One way to keep them all straight, though, is to group them by category. There are only three of those.
- Academic Misconduct: Wellesley doesn't go to a lot of trouble to list out all the various offenses you might commit. Instead, it maintains a simple, straightforward Honor Code that talks about “honesty, integrity, and respect” and that focuses on “accountability.” You can be sure, though, that any type of classroom dishonesty, including plagiarism and all forms of cheating, will get you into serious trouble.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: The Honor Code isn't just meant to apply to your course conduct, though. It also governs your general campus behavior. Again, there are no specific rules against underage drinking, hazing, or misuse of computer resources. Certainly, though, the Code implies that these kinds of behaviors are strictly forbidden.
- Sexual Misconduct: The one behavioral policy that is clearly spelled out at Wellesley is the sexual misconduct policy. That's largely because this policy is required by law. Title IX spells out exactly what sexual misconduct means, and Wellesley follows those guidelines to the letter.
Finally, though, it is worth pointing out that you cannot afford to take any allegation lightly. Any offense that appears on your record will raise red flags for medical school admission committees. You must fight every charge, you must carefully prepare your defense, and you must make sure you have the Lento Law Firm attorney on your side.
Misconduct Procedures
The good news is that Wellesley gives you some valuable tools for fighting. As a starting point, the school is required to treat you as "innocent until proven guilty," or in this case, "Not Responsible until proven Responsible." There is also a clearly defined process Wellesley must go through in determining whether or not you are guilty.
- First, someone must lodge a complaint against you. The college must then determine that the complaint is both credible and actionable. Allegations that concern off-campus behavior, for example, may not be under the college's jurisdiction.
- Next, the college issues you a Notice of the Charges. This notice should tell you who made the allegation and provide details to help you begin preparing your case. It should also contain a complete list of your due process rights.
- The college then initiates an investigation. You have the right to speak with investigators and give your side of the story. You may also submit evidence and suggest witnesses for investigators to interview. Of course, the Complainant (your accuser) should have the chance to do the same.
- Investigators must submit a written report of their findings. You are allowed to review this document and, in some cases, to suggest revisions.
- Once it has received the investigative report, Wellesley sets a time and date for a hearing and appoints one or more decision-makers to preside.
- Both sides get to present their full case at the hearing. You may introduce evidence, call witnesses to testify, and raise questions for any witnesses against you.
- At the end of the hearing, decision-makers deliberate as to your level of Responsibility (guilt). All cases are decided using the “preponderance of the evidence” standard, which states that you are guilty if it seems “more likely than not” that you committed the offense.
- You can appeal the hearing outcome, but not just because you disagree with it. Grounds for appeal at Wellesley are strictly limited to new evidence or a significant procedural error.
Unless you've been charged with a Title IX offense, Wellesley does not allow you to bring an attorney or other representative with you to meetings and hearings. Instead, the school appoints a student advisor to help you present your case.
You need to know, though, that Wellesley cannot prevent you from consulting with the Lento Law Firm. Even if the Lento Law Firm attorney can't sit beside you during proceedings, they can play a crucial role in constructing your defense. They'll help you refine your arguments, work with you to uncover evidence, draft documents on your behalf, and coach you in how to respond to questions. Most importantly, they'll keep a close watch on what happens and ensure you're treated fairly every step of the way.
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 Wellesley College 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.
