The College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University (MSU) is dedicated to training physicians that will work to improve the health of their communities by exposing them to real-world medicine and diverse populations that match the challenges they will face during their practice. To ensure they are providing the world with exemplary physicians, MUS College of Human Medicine requires their students to follow specific academic and professional standards. When students are unable to abide by these standards or blatantly violate them, the university will hold them accountable.
Unfortunately, when students are notified of such matters, they either are unaware that they have the right to an attorney-advisor, or they believe they can defend themselves. The truth is students who attempt to defend themselves are less successful than when they work with an attorney-advisor. Medical school defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team have spent years helping medical students all over the country defend themselves from disciplinary or academic progression hearings. Call Lento Law Firm today.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
MSU College of Human Medicine is a public medical school that only accepts around two percent of its applicants each year. Combine this with their higher-than-average MCAT and GPA requirements, and it's no wonder they continue their rigid requirements during medical school as well. If a student is accused of violating the academic or professional conduct rules or is having a hard time maintaining their minimum grade standards, they could be dismissed from the program altogether.
For the most part, students at MSU College of Human Medicine are dismissed for the following reasons:
- Failing to be promoted from Block I to Block II or Block III.
- Failing the USMLE Step 1 exam more than four times.
- Failing to pass the USMLE Step 2 exams.
- Failing to complete all requirements for graduation within eight years of starting.
- Receiving an N grade in any clerkship or two or more CP grades in any clerkship.
- Cheating.
- Behavior that threatens patient welfare.
- Violating local, state, or federal law.
- Violating patient confidentiality.
- Posting patients or their information on social media.
- Failing a course or multiple courses in one semester.
- Plagiarism.
- Sexual misconduct, discrimination, or bullying.
While this list is not exhaustive, there are instances where medical students are falsely suspected of violating university rules without any proof to support the claim. In cases like this, the university should be held responsible. Attorney-advisor Lento and Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team will not only help build a comprehensive and effective defense on your behalf but will ensure you are not being taken advantage of by lazing university investigations and hearings. Additionally, they will also contact the Office of General Counsel to negotiate for supplemental aid and potential readmission.
Adjudication Process at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
At MSU College of Human Medicine, the policies and procedures the school follows for disciplinary issues and academic progression problems are given to each student at the beginning of the year. If a student is suspected of struggling through their classes or clerkships, or if they are accused of conduct violations, the school will turn to this guide to help them adjudicate the matter.
When students have progression issues, the Student Performance Committee (SPC) will review the matter and schedule an academic hearing. During the hearing, only the Committee members will be allowed to speak. They will deliberate on whether or not to reinstate you and apply a remediation plan to help you catch up with your cohort or to dismiss you from the program.
However, if you have been accused of a conduct violation, your adjudication process will look different. Once the school receives a complaint of your conduct violation, they will review the issue, launching an initial investigation to see if there is enough evidence to support the claim. If there is, they will schedule a formal hearing.
During the formal hearing, both you and the complainant will have the chance to present evidence and witness testimony to support your arguments. You will also have the chance to cross-examine each other's witnesses. When both parties have been fully heard, the Disciplinary Hearing Body will review the information presented and determine if the accused student is, in fact, responsible for the conduct violation and, if so, what sanctions to impose.
At MSU College of Human Medicine, the punishments for conduct violations include warnings, warning probation, disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal. The punishment is meant to match the severity of the conduct violation.
Appeals Process
Both academic progression dismissals and conduct violation decisions can be appealed. For students that are dismissed because of academic progression issues, an appeals process must be initiated within seven working days of receiving the notification. If you fail to get the request for reinstatement in on time, your dismissal will be upheld.
The specific instructions for conduct violation appeals are usually outlined in the disciplinary decision letter. Typically though, they must be submitted within five to ten days of receiving the decision letter and include the specific reason you are requesting one. Most grounds for appeals fall into one of the categories below:
- There was a considerable mistake of fact;
- An important misinterpretation of the university's official policies; or
- A major procedural error occurred.
How an Experienced Student Defense Attorney-Advisor Can Help
Being dismissed from medical school can put an end to your career in medicine before it even begins. You should be able to look back on your medical school experience with pride, not anxiety and stress. If you have been accused of a conduct violation or are having a hard time progressing in the program, medical defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team can help. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
