If you want hands-on experience in a warm setting, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Glendale, Arizona, is a great choice. But like most colleges and universities, students are expected to adhere to a school code of conduct that includes expectations about behavior, attendance, clinical judgment, and more.
When it comes to school regulations, the LLF National Law Firm Team knows the term “professionalism” can be vague and confusing. Our education lawyers are familiar with Midwestern’s standards and can help students who are facing potential disciplinary action for unprofessional conduct. If you’re a dental student under investigation, give us a call at 888-535-3686 or fill out this confidential form.
Midwestern’s Definition of Professionalism
Professionalism is a top priority at Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Glendale, along with teamwork, mutual respect, and an immersive, hands-on experience. The Glendale, Arizona, campus follows the same policies and procedures as its Downers Grove, Illinois, campus, but Arizona is the newest of the two locations. Both schools prioritize professionalism in their student populations.
At Midwestern’s Arizona campus, students are expected to exhibit professional behavior, including:
- Demonstrating honesty and integrity, while also honoring patient confidentiality
- Maintaining a professional demeanor in front of patients, faculty, staff, and classmates
- Showing reliability by arriving on time and being prepared for clinics, classes, and rotations
- Upholding the school’s image in public and on social media
The Subjectivity of Professionalism Judgments
While Midwestern emphasizes professionalism, what actually constitutes unprofessional conduct can vary from one evaluator to another. For example, one faculty member might consider occasional classroom tardiness a minor issue, while another flags it as a pattern of unprofessional conduct. Similarly, a student who challenges instructors might be seen as assertive by one instructor and disrespectful by another.
Bias can further complicate the enforcement of professionalism standards. Instructors or staff might interpret a student’s accent or speech pattern as rudeness or disinterest. Generally speaking, a few faculty members might judge some students more harshly than others.
Disciplinary Action for Professional Misconduct Accusations
At Midwestern’s Arizona campus, accusations of professional misconduct are taken seriously. In more extreme cases, students may face severe disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
On the lighter end of the school’s penalties, you may face a disciplinary warning or probation. This type of sanction won’t be recorded on your transcript, but it will become part of your student file, where it will be shared with affiliated clinical sites and documented in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).
The most severe penalty for professional misconduct is permanent dismissal from the university. Grounds for dismissal can include dishonesty, violation of school rules, and falsification of records.
Potential Long-Term Consequences of Unprofessional Conduct Accusations
Accusations of unprofessional conduct can follow a student long after graduation, even if no disciplinary sanctions are imposed. Word spreads in the dental industry, and that’s particularly true if you plan to remain in Arizona once you have your degree.
Here are a few long-term consequences of misconduct accusations at the Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine:
- Inclusion in your MSPE: Also known as the dean’s letter, the MSPE is a document that states how you performed while in school. Having even one notation of unprofessional conduct in that document can put you out of the running for your preferred residency.
- Impact on clinical placements: If your behavior leads to disciplinary action, it may be shared with affiliated clinical sites. That means you could be passed over by those clinics, negatively affecting your hands-on training.
- Employment options: Long after graduation, you may miss out on employment opportunities due to allegations of unprofessional conduct. Even if no notation was made in your MSPE, employers may talk to administrators, instructors, and classmates who know about the accusations.
- Professional reputation: In addition to limiting your employment options, allegations of unprofessional conduct can trail you as you network with others in the dental community.
- Licensing and credentialing impacts: State licensing boards and credentialing bodies require disclosure of disciplinary actions, which can affect approval or cause delays.
The bottom line is, accusations of unprofessionalism can follow you, whether you’re disciplined or not. People talk, and the dental industry is relatively small. That makes it crucial to defend your reputation from the first hint that it’s being questioned, and that’s where our experienced education attorneys come in.
Appealing Disciplinary Decisions at Midwestern
If Midwestern decides your conduct merits disciplinary action, you’ll be notified. You’ll be given three days to notify the school, in writing, that you want to appeal.
Midwestern will only allow an appeal to proceed if you can demonstrate one or more of the following:
- The committee was biased
- Information has come to light that wasn’t available at the time of the decision
- The committee made a procedural error
It’s important to note that failure to appear at the initial hearing is not enough to request an appeal. You’re expected to appear and state your case, and failure to appear means you accept that a decision can be made in your absence. While you’re awaiting appeal, you’ll need to attend all classes and perform any assigned clinical duties as usual.
How the LLF National Law Firm Can Help
Midwestern’s professionalism standards are fairly vague, and enforcement can be subjective. Even a minimal charge of unprofessional conduct can delay graduation and follow you throughout your career.
The LLF National Law Firm Team understands the complexities of professionalism charges and can help.
- Analyzing the allegations: We’ll look over your case to determine whether the described conduct actually falls within Midwestern’s definition of misconduct.
- Guiding you through internal procedures: We’ll walk you through what to expect at each stage, from the initial notice to the final decision.
- Protecting your rights: Our team will explain your rights to ensure they’re protected.
- Preparing written responses: When Midwestern requests a response in writing, we’ll help you draft persuasive responses that effectively present your side.
- Exploring appeal options: When the decision doesn’t go in your favor, we can help you determine whether you have the option to appeal. We’ll also help draft an appeal request that explains how your case merits a second look.
- Reducing impact: When necessary, we can help students navigate the path forward, ensuring past professional misconduct accusations don’t get in the way of future opportunities.
If you’re accused of a professionalism violation at Midwestern’s Arizona campus, give us a call at 888-535-3686 or complete this form, and we’ll be in touch.