You worked hard to get to this point. You earned an undergraduate degree; you did well on the Dental Admissions Test; you filled out applications, convinced professors to write letters of reference, and sat through difficult interviews. You made it, though. You got into the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, a school renowned nationally and internationally for its commitment to patient care, community outreach, and technological innovation.
Of course, getting in was just the beginning. If you've been enrolled for more than a minute, you know that UKCD expects the best of you, and not just in the classroom. Sure, courses are tough, and clinical work is demanding. In addition, though, you're held to the highest ethical and professional standards. If you can't live up to those, all the work you put in to get here won't amount to much of anything.
You want your school to expect the best from you, to challenge you to new heights. Never forget, though, that you're a student. Your school shouldn't make unreasonable demands. If you should find that it is, it's important to know how to get help.
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are committed to making sure all students get fair treatment, that they are given due process when they make mistakes, and that they always get the justice they deserve. If you're facing dismissal from dental school for any reason, Joseph D. Lento and his team are ready to work with you—to defend your reputation and to make sure your career stays on track.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Let's start by talking about the various reasons the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry might decide to dismiss you. That information can help you avoid trouble in the first place, but it can also give you vital information for defending yourself should you find yourself in trouble.
Generally, UKCD holds you accountable in three separate areas.
- Academic Expectations: First, of course, you're a student. That means you have to attend classes, study, participate in research, and master the finer points of clinical rotations. You're a student, so a lapse here or there shouldn't interfere with your advancement. Consistent failures, though, can be grounds for dismissal.
- Professional Expectations: These can be harder to meet than academic expectations. Forgetting the name of a muscle or a new drug on the market is excusable. Being rude to a patient or violating an ethical principle is not. You're expected to abide by the UK Health College's Code of Professional Conduct. Failure to do so can certainly result in dismissal.
- Finally, the school will also hold you to high standards of personal behavior. Any sort of misconduct can get you into trouble, whether you are on campus or off. A DUI or a domestic abuse conviction, for instance, usually warrants dismissal.
The Adjudication Process at the UK College of Dentistry
If you've been accused of a mistake, you need to know how to defend yourself. How you go about doing that will depend on the particular kind of mistake you've been accused of making.
- Disciplinary Dismissals: As the Student Handbook makes clear, general disciplinary allegations, such as a complaint of plagiarism, are handled through the University of Kentucky's Code of Student Conduct. The university's judicial process includes a full investigation and an opportunity to defend yourself at a formal hearing. Importantly, you may choose an attorney to serve as a Support Person at meetings and proceedings. However, a Support Person's role is limited to offering advice.
- Dismissals for Professional Violations: Any type of professional violation is under the jurisdiction of the Dean of the College of Dentistry. After a preliminary meeting about the allegation, you are allowed to present your case to a Hearing Committee. You may submit evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine any witnesses against you. As with university disciplinary cases, you may choose an advisor to help you with the case, and this advisor may be an attorney, but they may not speak for you during the case.
- Sexual Misconduct: Sexually-based offenses are subject to federal law under Title IX. That law mandates specific procedures for how cases should be investigated and adjudicated. Generally, these procedures mirror those in other UKCD cases. That is, the school conducts a thorough investigation followed by a full, live hearing. There are some important differences, though. For instance, you are allowed to cross-examine your accuser, and they are allowed to cross-examine you.
- Academic Deficiencies: Finally, your academic progress is in the hands of the UKCD Academic Performance Committee (APC). The APC meets periodically to evaluate student progress and has the power to issue sanctions such as academic probation, the suspension of privileges, a curriculum modification, suspension from the program, and outright dismissal. You have no right to a formal hearing in these cases. The committee makes its decisions in closed-door sessions.
You can appeal the committee's decision to an Appeals Committee, but grounds for appeal are limited to circumstances out of your control or an unauthorized instructor policy. Appeals Committee meetings are also closed, though you are invited to make a statement to the committee and to have a faculty member make a statement on your behalf.
Joseph D. Lento and his Student Discipline Team are well-versed in all the judicial procedures at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. No matter what type of charge you may be facing, they can help you navigate the process. And, whether they are allowed to accompany you to meetings and hearing or not, they can offer crucial support in preparing your case, drafting documents, presenting your case, and ensuring you are afforded every right you deserve.
Fighting for Your Future
Make no mistake: if you're facing dismissal, everything is on the line, all the work you've put in up to this point. Expulsion means the studying, the papers you've written, the research you've conducted—all of it comes to nothing. It means trying to find an entirely new career. It means having to pay back any student loans you've accumulated without a dental degree to help you do it.
You don't want to go into this situation alone. Not only is everything at stake, but if your school is considering dismissal, it's already actively working against you. You need someone who's on your side, who has your best interests at heart, and who is willing to fight for those interests. You want Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. Joseph D. Lento and his team know 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 Joseph D. Lento and his team can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today, at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
