If you're facing dismissal from the UT College of Dentistry, there's no question about it: the situation is serious. How serious? You need to find out exactly what you've been accused of doing immediately. You also need to learn all you can about the college's judicial rules and procedures. That won't be enough, though. You're also going to need to get professional help.
Make no mistake: everything is on the line. Dismissal likely means the end of your career in dentistry. Few dental programs are willing to take a chance on a student who's already been dismissed from one program. And the UT College of Dentistry doesn't make it easy to protect yourself. You can appeal dismissal decisions, but you don't have the right to a hearing; you don't have the right to call witnesses to testify on your behalf; you don't have the right to address the appeals committee in person.
With such limited due process rights, you need someone in your corner to make sure you're being treated fairly and that you get the justice you deserve. You need an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
First things first: just what is it that can get you dismissed from the College of Dentistry? Knowing that will help keep you out of trouble in the first place. It's also crucial in building a defense.
- Academic Standards: It won't surprise you to learn that you're held to high academic expectations. It's a student's job to learn, and a dental student is held to higher standards than most students. No one wants to worry that their dentist isn't competent. At the UT College of Dentistry, you're expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Any course failures require you to complete a remediation program. And, should you consistently struggle to earn grades of C and above, you can be put on academic probation, suspended, or dismissed from the program altogether.
- Misconduct: You'll find that the college has some flexibility when it comes to your GPA. Despite its strict policies, it does want you to succeed and will work with you when you're struggling. In contrast, faculty and administrators have almost no tolerance for misconduct. Of course, you're expected to abide by the UTHSC Student Conduct and Community Standards, including rules regarding Academic Dishonesty. You're also subject to federal Title IX rules regarding sexual discrimination and harassment. Beyond these general expectations, though, as a dental student, you must also follow strict ethical and professional guidelines. You must treat patients with respect, for instance, maintain patient confidentiality, and work well with other health care professionals.
Promotion decisions are made by the college's Student Status Committee (SSC). This committee meets each semester to review both your academic record and any misconduct issues. It has the authority to recommend remediation, as well as sanctions, including dismissal.
You should also keep in mind that the University of Tennessee and the UTHSC also have the authority to dismiss you if you should commit academic, disciplinary, or sexual misconduct.
The Adjudication Process at the UTCHS College of Dentistry
How you defend yourself from dismissal will depend on the specific charges against you. For example, if you've been accused of cheating or plagiarism, sexual misconduct, or some other general misconduct offense, you're subject to UTCHS discipline. The good news is that under university procedures, the school must investigate you and provide you with the opportunity to defend yourself at a formal hearing before it can initiate dismissal proceedings. You have a number of important due process rights during these processes, including the right to submit evidence and the right to call witnesses. One of the most important of these rights is the right to an advisor. Further, this advisor can be an attorney. That means someone from the Lento Law Firm can be by your side from the moment you're charged until you've exhausted your very last appeal.
In contrast, issues of academics and professionalism are handled by the College of Dentistry's SSC. Under their policies, your rights are far more limited. Decisions—including dismissal decisions—are made by the committee in closed-door sessions. That is, you have no right to offer evidence, call witnesses, or address the committee yourself before it decides to dismiss you. You do have the right to appeal a committee decision, but only if
- You can point to some circumstances the committee wasn't aware of when it made its decision.
- An error existed in your record that might make a difference to the committee's decision.
- You can demonstrate that you're being treated differently from other dental college students.
Even should you qualify for an appeal, you still have no opportunity to defend yourself at a hearing. You may submit documents in support of your appeal, but again, the final decision is made in a closed-door session. That doesn't mean you shouldn't consult an attorney from the Lento Law Firm in such cases. In fact, when a school is trying to limit your rights, you need an attorney more than ever. An attorney can help you develop your defense arguments, collect evidence, and draft appeals. Most importantly, though, they can make sure you're treated fairly.
Fighting for Your Future
We said it earlier, but it bears repeating: 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 hours studying for the Dental Admissions Test; you filled out applications, convinced referees to write on your behalf, and sat through difficult interviews. You've also put in the work since you were admitted to dental school: long hours of studying and even longer hours of clinical work. Expulsion means all of that work 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 an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. The Lento Law Firm 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 Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
