Being a dentist isn't just about knowing how to work on people's teeth. Any job in health sciences is a position of public trust. You literally have your patients' physical well-being in your hands. We expect dentists to know all there is to know about taking care of our oral health, but we also expect them to be professionals, to operate under the strictest ethical codes, and to serve as pillars of the community.
It makes sense, then, that a school such as the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine holds its students to the highest standards, both academically and personally. Dental schools have a responsibility to produce well-educated, morally upright graduates, and they take that responsibility seriously.
No one is perfect, though. Being a student is about making mistakes. That's how learning happens. Despite its high standards, you'll find most faculty and administrators at Western University understand this fact, and their goal is less to punish you for mistakes than to help you learn from those mistakes.
When you should run into someone who doesn't understand this, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is here to help. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know how hard you've worked to get to this point, and they want to do everything they can to make sure you reach your goals. If you're facing dismissal for any reason, they're ready and willing to step in, whether that means negotiating for a fair sanction or fighting to prove your innocence.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Western University can't simply dismiss students without good cause. If the College of Dentistry is considering dismissal, it likely means you've either failed to keep up academically, or someone has accused you of some form of misconduct.
- Academics: Your first responsibility as a student is to perform up to academic expectations. In most cases, the school gives you the opportunity to make up any deficiencies through remediation. Should you fail a class, for example, you'll likely be assigned some plan for making up this work. However, the College of Dentistry can also dismiss you should you struggle consistently. As the COD Catalog states, any GPA below 2.0 and any remediation score below 70 percent are grounds for outright dismissal.
- Professional Misconduct: Dental students don't always realize that their personal conduct is under just as much scrutiny as their academic performance, if not more. Again, the school takes seriously its responsibility to train healthcare professionals who will be productive leaders in their communities. Like any undergraduate, you're expected to adhere to principles of academic honesty, abide by federal Title IX guidelines regarding sexual misconduct, and follow the university's general Code of Conduct. Additionally, it's worth remembering that the Code of Conduct contains rules against violating local, state, or federal laws. Even something as innocuous as a DUI can get you dismissed. Finally, you're also expected to maintain high standards of professionalism. Mistreatment of a patient or an inability to work with your colleagues as part of a team can also be grounds for dismissal.
All promotion decisions are in the hands of the college's Student Performance Committee (SPC). This committee makes recommendations to the Dean of the college and has the power to recommend anything from a warning to remediation to probation and dismissal.
The Adjudication Process
Western University has procedures in place that allow you to challenge a dismissal decision, and you have some important due process rights. However, it's not always easy to navigate the system. Rules can be complex.
- Misconduct Hearings: Any time you've been accused of misconduct, whether that misconduct is of an academic, disciplinary, sexual, or professional nature, you have the right to defend yourself at a formal hearing before the SPC. At this hearing, you may offer evidence, call witnesses to testify, and raise questions of witnesses against you. Of course, the other side in the case has the right to do the same. At the end of the hearing, members of the SPC determine whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) a violation, using a legal principle known as “preponderance of the evidence.” Crucially, you have the right to a “mentor” throughout the process, and this mentor can be an attorney. A lawyer from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can't speak for you during the hearing, but they can accompany you and monitor the situation to make sure the school doesn't violate your rights.
- Academic Appeals: Most academic decisions don't require a full hearing. Grades and grade point averages are objective facts that aren't usually open to interpretation. As a result, the SPC makes most of its decisions in closed sessions without input from students. However, You are entitled to appeal grades, which can have a large impact on your progress. Additionally, you can appeal academic sanctions, including dismissal, to the Dean of the college. However, appeals must be based on one of three factors—bias on the part of an SPC member, the discovery of new information, or a procedural error. In addition, appeals don't afford you the opportunity to defend yourself in person. Instead, you submit written documents in support of your case.
No matter what your particular situation, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can play a crucial role in helping you develop your case. They can help you collect and organize evidence, work with you to prepare your hearing presentation or assist you in drafting your appeal. Even if they can't represent you directly, they can make sure you're treated fairly throughout the process and that you get every right you deserve.
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 can do for you. Contact the firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
