Located in New Jersey, the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is a medical education institution that students flock to from all over the world. At this school, students are able to pursue clinical expertise and rigorous didactic studies. The goal of the school? To train numerous cohorts of future physicians who are compassionate, knowledgeable, skilled — and ready to lead decades of future clinical research.
If you attend Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, you're well aware of the school's cutting-edge facilities. In addition, you're fortunate enough to have access to faculty who are passionate about their field. And you may think that, while you need to put in the time to work hard, there's little actually standing between you and graduating with your healthcare degree.
Unfortunately, that isn't the case.
Recently, medical schools have been dismissing more and more of their students. The exact reasons fueling this trend are unclear — perhaps schools are worried about marring their reputations if they're associated with students exhibiting punishable behavior — but one thing is evident: No student is beyond dismissal. Your school may allege that you're associated with misconduct based on untrue reports. Your school may insist that you're falling behind academically based on erroneous data.
When your school decides to dismiss you, it's time to take strategic action to protect your future. Retain Attorney-Advisor Lento and the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm to take the best possible steps toward a successful outcome.
Why Would the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Dismiss Me?
If you're a straight-A student that tends to follow the rules, you may wonder why your school would ever consider dismissing you.
If you look at your school's code of conduct or student handbook — which, for the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is available on your school's website — you'll find that your school spells out in detail why a student may merit expulsion or dismissal.
While it's a good idea to consult the handbook itself for specifics, some highlights of your school's list of prohibited actions include:
- Plagiarism
- Behavioral concerns (e.g., hazing and bullying)
- Professionalism concerns
- Sexual misconduct
- Unauthorized collaboration
- Cheating
However, that's far from all.
A worrying trend within medical school dismissals concerns students being dismissed for “failing to progress.” In other words, their schools expel students because they're not making their way through the program fast or well enough.
This may not sound fair. (It's not.) But schools are taking this action.
This means one thing: You need to be prepared if you receive a notification from your school that says you could be facing dismissal.
What Does the Path to Dismissal at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Look Like?
You may be able to tell that a dismissal is coming (for example, if you suspect that your school may think you've done something potentially-punishable.) On the other hand, it could be more of a surprise — for example, if a teacher alleges you're failing to progress based on bad data.
Either way, you need to be aware of what's happening. Here's what to look for if Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is trying to dismiss you:
- A formal notification from your school detailing what you have (allegedly) done
- An investigation completed by your school
- A request that you respond to the allegations against you in writing
- An “invitation” to a mandatory hearing
- A decision from your school about your responsibility for your alleged infractions, which usually takes place at said hearing
- A recommendation for appropriate sanctions
At the end of this process, your school may recommend dismissal.
If this happens, try not to worry. You have options; you just need to know what they are — and how best to pursue them.
What Do I Do if the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Has Recommended Dismissal?
If your school has recommended dismissal, you may be able to pursue one or more of the following strategies:
- Filing an appeal with your school. You'll only have a brief window of time in which to appeal, and you'll only get one chance at your appeal, but this can be a good opportunity to ask your school directly for a lesser sanction.
- Negotiating lawyer-to-lawyer with your school's office of general counsel
- Filing a lawsuit to work toward your optimal outcome
To make all three of these strategies as strong as possible — or, indeed, possible in the first place — you need to make sure you're working with an experienced student defense team.
That team is the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm.
The Lento Law Firm Team is Ready to Help Medical Students Succeed
If there's one thing you need to internalize, it's this:
Dismissals are a big deal. Dealing with the repercussions of this type of discipline will take years. And, if you get dismissed, you might have a very hard time becoming a doctor (ever).
We don't want to scare you. We do want to give you the tools necessary to move forward with confidence. The Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and its representatives are not going to help you figure out smart ways to avoid getting dismissed.
That's where we come in. For years, premier Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm have helped medical students craft persuasive defenses and work towards lesser sanctions. Whether you need help preparing for a hearing or filing a strong appeal, the Lento Law Firm is ready to assist.
Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 to set up your consultation. Alternatively, you can fill out this brief online form, and one of our representatives will get back to you in a timely manner.
