The Howard University College of Medicine is a school with a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1868, just four years after the Civil War, the College of Medicine takes particular pride in its commitment to minority education, with a student body made up primarily of underrepresented communities. Its statement of Core Values emphasizes the school's commitment to “the unrelenting pursuit of knowledge” and “service to the community, the nation, and the world.”
You have to know when you sign up for a school like this one that the expectations will be high. It's not just that you have to master the fundamental components of medicine, though that's certainly true. You also have to develop and maintain ethical, professional, and personal standards that are above reproach.
Of course, you're not perfect. We all make mistakes, even medical students. How do you make sure your mistakes don't come to define you? How do you make sure they don't cost you your spot at Howard?
You start by understanding the Howard College of Medicine's basic requirements. Just what is it that can get you into trouble, and how do you stay out of it? You find out all you can about the school's judicial system. What do you if, despite all your best efforts, trouble comes looking for you? What is the process for defending yourself?
And you recognize that you're also going to need help. Taking on a medical school is no simple matter. The Lento Law Firm was founded to help students get the fair treatment they deserve. The firm's Student Defense Team knows what you're up against. They also know the Howard College of Medicine system. If you're facing dismissal, for any reason, you owe it to yourself to see what they can do for you. Contact us today by calling 888-535-8636 or sending us a message online.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
When medical students are dismissed, it's most often for one of two reasons. Either they've failed to keep up academically, or they've committed some form of misconduct.
- Academic Deficiencies: No one wants to worry that their doctor isn't fully qualified to practice medicine. It shouldn't surprise you, then, that even minor academic slips can put your medical career in jeopardy. The Howard College of Medicine requires you to earn satisfactory grades in all your coursework and clerkships (70 percent or better). Fall below that number in a course and you'll likely be asked to participate in some form of remediation. You may even be asked to repeat a year. You can also be dismissed from the school entirely. Three unsatisfactory course grades or two unsatisfactory clerkship grades are grounds for immediate expulsion, but consistent struggles can lead to expulsion as well. All decisions regarding academic promotion are in the hands of the school's Committee on Promotions and Graduation. This committee meets periodically throughout the year to consider each student's entire academic record.
- Medical School Policies: Medical students are sometimes surprised to discover that they're held to higher standards of personal behavior than of academic achievement. The section in Howard's Policies and Procedures Manual on professionalism begins on page 29. Academic expectations aren't mentioned until page 67. And, while you can usually recover from an academic deficiency, one serious instance of misconduct can be enough to get you dismissed.
What qualifies as misconduct? Obviously, you're expected to abide by Howard University's Student Code of Conduct, just like anyone else at the school, and to follow federal Title IX guidelines about sexual discrimination and harassment. You must strictly adhere to the College of Medicine's Policies and Procedures in terms of academic honesty. As a medical student, you're also expected to develop habits of professionalism. Patient mistreatment or an inability to get along with other members of a healthcare team often suggest you don't have the temperament for medicine.
Accusations of misconduct are handled through the college's Council on Honor, Professionalism, and Ethics. This group meets on an ad hoc basis to conduct investigations and hold hearings into allegations.
Fighting Dismissal
You always have the right to defend yourself if you're facing dismissal. How you do that, though, can differ considerably depending on the specific nature of the dismissal.
- Academic Appeals: Generally speaking, students have no input into Committee on Promotions and Graduation decisions, at least initially. Those decisions are based on your academic record and usually are not considered a matter open to debate. However, you do have the right to appeal the committee's decisions to the college's Grievance Committee. As part of the process, you have the right to present your full case. You can submit evidence, call witnesses, and raise questions for any witnesses against you.
- Honor Council Hearings: In contrast to academic dismissals, misconduct dismissals are only made after an investigation and a full hearing. Again, you have the right during this hearing to mount a full defense. In addition, you can appeal the hearing outcome through the Grievance Committee.
You should know that the College of Medicine has other types of judicial procedures as well. For instance, there is a process for appealing individual grades. In addition, violations of Howard University's rules or of Title IX guidelines are subject to investigation and adjudication under the university's system rather than the College of Medicine's system. Of course, any violation of university policies is likely to trigger a College of Medicine investigation.
In short, the judicial system at the Howard College of Medicine can be complex and difficult to navigate. You never want to try and handle a case on your own. Unfortunately, the college doesn't afford you the right to bring an attorney with you to meetings and proceedings. However, the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can still play a vital role in helping you prepare your case. They can work with you to develop a defense, help you to gather and organize evidence, develop questions for witnesses, draft documents, and even give you practice in presenting your case.
Fighting for Your Future
Make no mistake: if you're facing dismissal, everything is on the line. You've worked for many years to get to this point. You earned an undergraduate degree; you spent dozens, maybe hundreds of hours studying for the MCAT; you filled out applications, convinced referees to write on your behalf, and sat through demanding interviews. The threat of dismissal puts all of that in jeopardy. It means having to look for a new career. It means having to pay back thousands of dollars in student loans without a medical degree to help you do it.
There's simply too much on the line to go into this situation alone. Judicial rules and procedures can be complex, and your school is not on your side in this instance. You need someone who is, someone who has your best interests at heart, and who is willing to fight for those interests. You want the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. The Student Defense Team knows the law as it applies to education. They also know how campus judicial systems work. They're highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and have helped hundreds of students just like you get the justice they deserve.
If you're facing disciplinary action, don't wait to see what might happen. Find out exactly what the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
