The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University (KPCOM) is a highly esteemed osteopathic medical school that trains its students to be compassionate, dedicated, top-of-class members of the community who are dedicated to serving the medically underserved. The students leave the program ready to protect the patients with the world-class training they receive there. To help its students stay on track, the school has a Code of Conduct that all students must follow in order to remain in good standing at the school.
If you're a student at the KPCOM, it may at times feel overwhelming to live up to the standards of the school. Medical schools expect a lot from their students, holding them to a much higher standard than what's expected of students at other schools. If you find yourself facing some sort of disciplinary action from KPCOM, your entire medical career could be put in jeopardy. Sanctions imposed on medical students carry a weight that goes far beyond the classroom.
By working with an experienced medical defense advisor, you have a better chance at presenting a defense that saves your academic career and your future. Joseph D. Lento and the experienced team at the Lento Law Firm have the experience that you need.
Honor Code at KPCOM
The medical field holds students to higher standards than other industries, and medical schools expect their students to uphold those same levels of conduct. To that end, the KPCOM has a code of conduct that students must follow. Some of those behavioral standards include the following:
- Students must work to contribute to the freedoms and rights of all students in the community, pledging not to engage in the willful disruption of learning of other students.
- Students must promise not to engage in behavior that will prevent the running of the university.
- Students must not do anything that infringes on the rights of other members of the community.
- Students must carry themselves in a manner compatible with the university's position as a place of learning for all.
- The university maintains the right to maintain order and remove any students that violate these and any other rules and
- Students understand that they will be subject to disciplinary sanctions if they violate any of the Code of Student Conduct and Academic Responsibility.
If it's found that a student has violated any of these or other school rules, they could end up facing serious sanctions that could include dismissal from the school.
KPCOM Remediation and Dismissal
If it's determined that a student has broken any of the school's code of conduct rules, it will most likely come as a result of a written complaint filed with the Chair of the Student Progress Committee (SPC).
The SPC has the authority to evaluate all alleged violations of misconduct, whether they're academic, professional, ethical, or moral. If the SPC determines that a student has committed a violation of a regulation, a policy, a behavior, or an academic code of the University, the SPC chair will initiate a preliminary investigation. They'll then call for a hearing with the committee and let the affected student know that they are to attend as well. The student will receive written notice of the time and place of the meeting. Students are not allowed to have legal representation or any other form of representation during the hearing.
The student can supply witnesses, proof, or any other evidence no later than two business days before the meeting takes place. The student will also be given the opportunity to present his or her statements to the committee. The chair will then end the meeting by dismissing the student in any witnesses and closing the meeting for discussion. At the end of that discussion, the committee will make a recommendation to the Dean.
Some of the disciplinary actions that they may recommend include probation, reprimand, suspension, dismissal, or administrative leave of absence. The Dean will then look at the committee's recommendation, and the student will be notified of the Dean's decision by certified mail or personal delivery. The recommendations of the SPC and any reports, letters, and investigative records will be maintained in the files of the Dean's office for no less than five years. The investigation details and information contained in those reports is not part of the student's permanent records or the student's transcript.
Appeals Process
Students at the school have the right to appeal. The student has to present their grievance to their faculty advisor or the director of student and administrative services. If no resolution is met, the student can prepare a written statement to the Chair of the SPC, who will then convene a meeting of the SPC. The meeting will be internal, and no legal representation or non-university personnel will be allowed.
The student will be allowed to fully present their grievances at this meeting, and they'll be able to answer any questions. The committee will make a recommendation to the Dean after their meeting. The Dean will then let the student know the committee's decision. If the student is still not happy, they may request an additional request by the Appeals Board. The Appeals Board will then make a decision, and their decision will be final with no further recourse for the student.
Work With an Experienced Legal Advisor
If you're facing disciplinary proceedings from the KPCOM, you need to take it seriously. You should never go into any hearings without the benefit of having an experienced legal advisor on your side. They may not be in the room with you, but they can provide you with the defense strategy you need to save your academic career and your future.
Joseph D. Lento and the lawyers at the Lento Law Firm have years of experience defending students from these types of scenarios. They know how to prepare their clients for hearings and meetings with the school so that they don't end up losing everything they've worked for. They will do everything to make sure that you are presented with the best defense possible.
Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or send a message via the online portal for more information.
