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Being a premed student at a top school like Smith College is a demanding path. It takes years of dedication to become a physician, and an allegation of student misconduct at Smith can have a harmful effect on your chances of getting into medical school. Cheating in a class, or even underage drinking, can seriously affect your goal of medical school. You have too much to lose to try and deal with a misconduct allegation on your own. If you find yourself in the stressful situation of a misconduct violation at Smith, you will need help from professionals who are trained to protect all your legal rights. The experienced professionals at LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team are ready to evaluate your misconduct violation and guide you through every step of the process for a rigorous student defense. We are experienced in handling student defense cases at colleges nationwide. Get help today by calling 888-535-3686, or take a few minutes right now and fill out our online form.
Types of Misconduct and Misconduct Procedures at Smith College
The guidelines for student conduct at Smith College are set out in the Student Handbook section called Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct has numerous subsections, but the primary areas of misconduct can be grouped together into three areas- academic misconduct, disciplinary misconduct, and Title IX sexual misconduct.
Academic Misconduct
Any violations relating to academics in the classroom, such as plagiarism or cheating, are handled by Smith’s Academic Honor Code. The body that deals with infractions of the Academic Honor Code is called the Academic Honor Board. The Honor Board has eight voting members, including a student representative from all undergraduate year classes; three faculty members from each academic division; the Dean of the Senior class (advisor to the Board); and the Dean of the College.
A student is required to appear before the Honor Board if they have been reported by a faculty member, or a fellow student. The student may be accompanied by the Class Dean as a non-participating advisor to the student. A meeting is called after the Chair of the Board has spoken with the accused student. The accuser and the student do not meet together with the Board but separately, and an opportunity for discussion and questions is allowed. The student charged should bring a written statement explaining the infraction. After all parties have been heard, the Board will make its decision, typically during the meeting. A notice of the decision must be given to all affected parties within seven days of the decision.
There are no defined sanctions for an academic violation. Normally, a sanction will affect the grade of the assignment or final course grade. In the event of a very serious or repeated offense, the Honor Board may recommend to the President of Smith College that the student be suspended or expelled. Honor Board meetings are strictly confidential, and even parents are not informed of a decision by the Board.
A note on the student’s transcript is only used as a sanction in egregious violations. A record of the violation is kept in the Dean of the College’s office, The record will be reported to a graduate or professional school if that school makes an inquiry about the Honor Board.
An appeal from the Honor Board is only made for gross errors in procedure, violation of student rights, new evidence, or extreme bias on the part of the Board. Appeals must be made in writing to the dean of the college within 14 days of the Board’s decision letter. The dean of the college shall appoint an appeal board who will review the appeal and determine if the Honor Board’s decision should be modified. It will make new recommendations and alert the dean of the college who will contact the student.
Disciplinary Misconduct
Disciplinary misconduct involves misconduct away from the classroom. Ethical student conduct is governed by the Code of Conduct and Social Responsibility. When students violate ethical standards by engaging in prohibited behaviors, then misconduct violations will occur. Some of these offenses are drug use or underage drinking of alcohol. The alcohol policy on campus is included here as an example.
The disciplinary body for alcohol related misconduct and all other non-academic violations is the College Conduct Board or the administration. Penalties for disruptive behavior based on inebriation can include suspension or dismissal. Students may also be required to meet with residence life staff for discussion and possible referral to campus medical services, counseling services, a wellness educator, or the College Conduct Board.
A first minor violation may be handled by a college administrator who discusses the violation with the student and documents that conversation in a written letter to the student. The college may ask for a successful completion of an off-campus alcohol education program. A subsequent violation or a serious first violation will be brought to the College Conduct Board. A sanction could be a semester or academic probation and completion of an alcohol education program. Any subsequent violations that occurred during probation can result in student suspension or expulsion from the college. A student should also be aware that the dean of students or the Board may notify the student’s legal guardian/ parent of the violation.
There are three types of hearings before the board:
- Conduct Board Hearing with five student members and a board advisor who hears cases and determines sanctions for policy violations;
- Administrative Settlement with an administrator that passes sanctions if a student admits responsibility. A student can always select a Conduct Board Hearing if preferred. Suspension and expulsion are always handled by the Board;
- Administrative Hearing when the dean of students sees a clearly demonstrated need for one which follows the requirements of a Conduct Board Hearing.
At any hearing, the complaint against the student is read, and the student may respond with any evidence on their behalf. A student has the right to have a non-participating advisor and the right to present three character witnesses. All hearings are based on the more likely than not standard that a violation occurred, and all parties may ask questions and be aware of all evidence.
Post hearing appeals must be made in writing to the appeal board within ten days of the board’s decision letter. An appeal board is composed of three members – one student member, one administration official, and the dean of students or a designee. The appeal board can review the evidence including the digital record of the hearing. Appeals can only be made for gross errors in procedure, violation of a student’s rights, new evidence, and demonstrated bias by the conduct board. Appeal outcomes are final.
Sexual Misconduct
Sexual misconduct cases are treated using a special proceeding under the law known as Title IX. The procedures for a Title IX hearing are set forth in detail in the Sexual Misconduct Policy of Smith College and will involve a Title IX Coordinator. It is important to note that a student may have an attorney at the hearing. Smith College has established a timeframe of ten days for an initial assessment; sixty days for investigation; thirty days for a determination; and fourteen days for an appeal.
Get Help From LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team Today
It is vital that you get help from an attorney as soon as you have been informed of a possible misconduct charge. Your admission to medical school is on the line. Let LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team guide you through all the complexities and rigorously defend your rights. Contact LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888-535-3686, or contact us online.