You've been at the UT HSC School of Dentistry long enough by now to know that earning your degree will be hard work. Courses are rigorous, clinical experiences demanding, and professors and supervisors hold all students to the very highest standards. And that's just academics. Your personal life is under just as much, if not more, scrutiny. Even small mistakes can cost you your place in the program, and should you wind up dismissed, it will likely be difficult to impossible to find another program willing to accept you.
What do you do if it happens to you if you can't keep up with your coursework or find yourself accused of some type of misconduct?
First, you don't panic. A threat of dismissal is always serious, but you have the right to defend yourself and your record.
Next, you contact the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team was established to help defend students. The firm's attorneys are well-versed in education law, and they know how your school's system works. Whether you find yourself facing sexual harassment charges or you simply can't seem to pass your pediatric dentistry rotation, the Lento Law Firm can make sure you're treated fairly and that you get the very best possible resolution to your case.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
You're a student, so you have to know that going to class and studying is your first priority. That means passing exams and keeping your grades up. In fact, even your class attendance is monitored. One low grade probably isn't enough to get you dismissed, though it might get you put on probation or assigned a remediation program. Continued academic deficiencies, though, can certainly result in dismissal.
The other common reason for dismissal from dental school is misconduct. In fact, you're subject to a number of different school policies relating to your behavior. Violating any one of these can be grounds for dismissal.
- Student Code of Conduct: Like any other student in the UT system, you're required to follow all Student Code of Conduct rules.
- Academic Integrity: The Health Science Center also maintains a strict policy against all forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism.
- Title IX: All students at all US universities must abide by federal Title IX policies regarding sexual discrimination and harassment, including sexual misconduct.
- Professionalism: Finally, as a dental student, you're expected to meet certain standards of ethics and professionalism.
Decisions about progress and promotion are in the hands of the dental school's Academic Performance Committee, though it is the dean's responsibility for actually implementing this committee's recommendations.
The Adjudication Process
Unfortunately, you're not allowed to participate in Academic Performance Committee decisions. Meetings are held in closed session. You have no opportunity to address the committee or even to submit documentation in support of your record.
You do have options for defending yourself, though.
- Grade Appeal: If your dismissal is for academic deficiencies, the easiest solution may be to appeal your grades. If you can convince your course director that a grade is too low, raising it could be enough to avoid dismissal.
- Sanction Appeal: You can appeal the Academic Performance Committee's decisions related to both academics and misconduct. Appeals are directed to the dean of the school, who conducts their own investigation before determining whether or not to uphold the committee's findings and sanctions.
- Student Grievance: Finally, you always have the right to file a grievance over your treatment by individual faculty members or the dental school generally. All grievances should be filed with the UT Health Assistant/ Associate Dean for Student Affairs, who reviews your statement as well as any documentary evidence before making a final decision.
You'll notice that none of the UT Health Science Center's policies include the right to a hearing. At no point in the process are you allowed to make your case in person, to submit evidence, or to call witnesses to testify, all due process rights you would ordinarily have in a court of law. Any time a school limits your ability to defend yourself in this way, it is essential that you have an attorney on your side to make sure you are being treated fairly. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you with a number of aspects of your case, from collecting and organizing evidence to actually drafting grievances and appeals. By far, their most important job, though, is monitoring how your school treats you. At the very first sign of trouble, you need to contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team to make sure you're protected.
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 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 Team.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team 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 Student Defense Team can do for you. Contact the firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
