It takes a special kind of student to sign up for premed at Williams College. The path to medical school is not an easy one. It's not just about taking some pretty tough classes. It's also about studying hard enough in those classes to keep your GPA up. It's about finding time in between studying to prep for the MCAT, shadow physicians, and get in some clinical hours. You have the kind of discipline and persistence that just aren't found in the typical undergrad.
None of that changes the fact, though, that you're held accountable to the same rules and regulations as every other undergrad. Being a premed student won't get you any special treatment if you wind up accused of cheating, stalking, or misusing computer resources.
We get it, though: just because you've been accused doesn't mean you should give up your future. You could be the victim of a misunderstanding or a false allegation. Even if you did make a mistake, it doesn't mean you deserve a sanction that might keep you out of medical school.
The Lento Law Firm is on your side, no matter what. We know how schools like Williams College work. We also know your rights under the law. We'll do whatever we can to protect those rights and to get you the best possible resolution to your case.
To find out more, call 888-535-3686, or, take a few minutes right now and tell us a little about your situation.
Misconduct at Williams College
There are three kinds of misconduct at Williams College. A Responsible (guilty) finding for any of them could cost you your shot at medical school.
- Academic Misconduct: First, you're expected to abide by the school's Honor Code. This Code governs your behavior in your courses, how you go about earning your degree. Williams doesn't actually list out specific offenses. Instead, it talks broadly about the need for academic honesty and integrity. You can expect, though, that cheating, plagiarism, and any thing else that could potentially give you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework, can get you into serious trouble.
- Disciplinary Misconduct: Outside the classroom, you are subject to the Williams College Code of Conduct. That document focuses on crimes against the Williams community—other students, and the university itself. Any offense can result in a black mark on your record. Some offenses, such as hazing, drug use, and weapons possession, carry much more serious consequences, including the possibility of dismissal.
- Sexual Misconduct: Finally, like all college and university students, you are accountable to Title IX, a federal law. The law doesn't punish you directly, but it holds Williams College responsible for preventing sexual misconduct. As a result, the school investigates every credible complaint, and it issues harsh sanctions to anyone found Responsible for an offense.
- Should you find yourself dismissed from Williams College for misconduct, you'll have much bigger problems than getting into medical school to worry about. Keep in mind, though, that even a minor offense like plagiarism could jeopardize your med school application if it should wind up on your permanent record. You must take every accusation seriously. That means fighting hard, and it means having someone from the Lento Law Firm in your corner fighting with you.
Misconduct Procedures
No one wants to wind up accused of misconduct. The good news, though, is that Williams does provide you with several due process protections. You're entitled to an investigation and a hearing, for example. And the college must treat you as Not Responsible (innocent) until such point that it can prove you are Responsible (guilty).
If you've found yourself accused, here's what you can expect.
- Virtually anyone can accuse you of misconduct—faculty, staff, administrators, and other students. Different offices within the college handle different types of allegations. General disciplinary conduct falls under the purview of the Dean's Office or the Office of Campus Life. Academic misconduct is handled by the Honor Committee. Sexual misconduct is dealt with by the Title IX Coordinator.
- No matter who is handling your case, you are entitled to Notice of the Charges. That Notice should include a description of the allegations and a full list of your due process rights.
- You should expect Williams to undertake some form of investigation. Investigators typically begin by questioning Respondents (the accused, you) and, if applicable, the Complainant (the alleged victim, your accuser). In addition, they'll speak with any witnesses and collect physical evidence.
- Investigators complete a written report summarizing their findings. This becomes the foundation of any hearing that follows.
- Hearings can be administrative—before a single school official—or formal—before a panel or committee of students, faculty, and administrators.
- You should always have the opportunity to offer arguments in your own defense, to introduce evidence, and to call witnesses to testify. You should also be allowed to raise questions for any witnesses testifying against you.
- All cases at Williams are decided using a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence." According to this standard, decision-makers must find you Responsible if they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt.
- You have the right to appeal the outcome of your hearing, but only under special circumstances, such as a procedural error or the discovery of new evidence.
One of the biggest challenges to defending yourself at Williams College is the fact that there are so many different procedural paths your case could take. While the outline above applies in all cases, processes can differ in important ways based on the specific nature of the charges against you. For instance, you are entitled to choose an attorney to advise you during Title IX sexual misconduct cases. In all other cases, you may bring an advisor, but that advisor must be someone from campus and a non-attorney.
No matter what kind of case you're facing, you need someone from the Lento Law Firm on your side. Even if they can't accompany you to meetings and hearings, your attorney plays a crucial role in organizing your defense. They can help you come up with arguments, work with you to find and develop evidence, draft documents on your behalf, suggest questions for witnesses, and even coach you in presenting your case. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are well-versed in every type of judicial procedure used at Williams, and they can make sure you navigate the system effectively.
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 Williams College 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.
