One of the foundational steps in building your dentistry career is choosing a dental school. Howard University College of Dentistry (HUCD) is an acclaimed institution in Washington, D.C., with a mission to attract motivated and proficient dental students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who want to serve their communities as dentists and dental hygienists.
If you choose to attend HUCD, they have an academic misconduct policy like virtually every other dental school. Dental students must be hands-on. It is crucial to be aware of what this policy entails, as your education and professional future are at stake if you are accused of academic misconduct. If you face such allegations, you should seek the advice of an experienced student defense attorney. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is committed to advocating for dental students nationwide who are accused of academic misconduct, and we care about defending your future.
Are you facing allegations of academic misconduct? The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team can help. Call us at 888-535-3686 or send us a message online.
What Constitutes an Offense at HUCD?
HUCD students must adhere to academic and professional standards outlined in the student policy manual. As dental students, you are held to a higher standard than typical college students as you will interact with patients as part of your education. The following infractions are considered an offense at the school:
Cheating or Not Following Instructions for Exams: You cannot take books, papers, or your phone to the exam room. You also cannot bring virtually anything else, including pens and pencils, bags, water bottles, and coats, although you can ask permission for certain items based on the temperature of the room. You can only bring your own functional computer with the exam loaded on it 24 to 48 hours in advance for the date and time assigned to you via your HUCD official email.
Academic Cheating: It constitutes academic cheating at HUCD if you intentionally act dishonestly in how you fulfill your academic course or program requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, utilizing unauthorized individuals, organizations, documents, or aids not sanctioned by your department or instructor. It is generally assumed that, except for group assignments or take-home assignments, all work is completed by individual students without consultation or collaboration.
Plagiarism: If you copy another student’s or previously published work and pass it off as your own without acknowledging the author, this is an academic offense at HUCD.
Copyright Infringement: This primarily involves using copyrighted material in a derivative work without permission of the copyright owner, or distributing, reproducing, or publicly displaying copyrighted material.
Missing Required Health Screenings: Your dental education at HUCD includes an occupational exposure plan that instructors will go over during orientation. You are obligated to undergo health screenings before you can interact with patients, and you also must be screened after injuries or infectious disease exposure as a result of your assigned clinical activities. Failure to comply with the occupational exposure plan will result in your being unable to continue your education.
Consequences for Academic Misconduct at HUCD
Denial of Graduation
HUCD students will not be able to graduate if they cannot make satisfactory academic progress, fail to complete Parts I and II of the National Dental Boards, and/or cannot meet academic or clinical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations.
HUCD holds students to a standard of ethics and will not promote a dental student or permit them to graduate if HUCD staff has reason to believe you grossly neglected your clinical responsibilities, were dishonest in your academic studies, or clearly demonstrated poor professional conduct with patients.
Dismissal
If your academic performance is unsatisfactory, in both didactic and clinical coursework, it can lead to needing to repeat the academic year or being dismissed entirely. If you have one failing grade, you will need to repeat the academic year. If you have two or more failing grades, you will be dismissed from HUCD.
If you are a repeating student who fails any course, you will be dismissed for lack of academic progress. Repeating students with any incomplete grades can also be subject to dismissal.
If you are not failing classes but still do not satisfy the qualitative and quantitative clinical dentistry requirements for your dentist or dental hygienist credentials, you may be scheduled for additional clinical work.
Academic Probation
HUCD dental students are deemed to be on academic probation if they fail to take and/or pass the National Board Examination prior to the end of the summer session and/or spring semester. Probation only ends when the current academic year is completed without any failing or incomplete grades, and incompletes are removed within two weeks of the next semester. While on academic probation, students will be unable to participate as officers in professional organizations and cannot receive institutional scholarships.
Suspension and Formal Reprimand
If HUCD finds you in contempt of ethical and professional standards, you may be suspended from school. You may also receive a letter of reprimand that is copied to the American Dental Association (ADA) and all state board examiners, which can drastically affect your ability to find employment after your education is complete.
Disciplinary Process for HUCD Students
HUCD students subject to discipline may have a limited hearing, in which due process does not apply. In a limited hearing, neither side is allowed to have legal representation. However, both you and the school are allowed to present witnesses and evidence to support your position concerning the charges. You will also be questioned and all evidence examined. The standard of proof for the hearing is substantial evidence.
The hearing will be conducted by a committee of at least three faculty members, none of whom can be the accuser or a witness to the alleged misconduct. The hearing committee will be chaired by a member chosen by the Dean, and this chairperson has the right to cast a tie-breaking vote. Votes are cast by secret ballot to sustain or reject the charges after the hearing is over, and the results are sent to the Dean. The Dean decides to sustain the committee’s recommended penalty, or reduce or increase the severity, and then notify you. You then have five working days to directly appeal to the Provost and Chief Academic Officer or Senior Vice President for Health Sciences to reconsider any disciplinary action.
If you appeal, the Provost and Chief Academic Officer or Senior Vice President for Health Sciences makes a final decision.
Dental school is an extremely difficult and rewarding endeavor. As a HUCD student putting in grueling clinical hours to prepare for your dentistry career, the prospect of massive delays or dismissal can be frightening. The LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team is experienced in helping dental students nationwide prepare strong defenses for hearings and appeals. We are here to help you defend your future and professional integrity. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online intake form to tell us about your situation.