Harvey Mudd College is a private liberal arts college established in 1955 in Claremont, California. It is one of the more well-known liberal arts colleges in the nation, with an emphasis on science and technology. As a pre-med student at HMC, you'll have the opportunity to study alongside peers and professors who share the same passion for helping others. If you are serious about a flourishing medical career, getting through a pre-med program is a significant part of your journey. This step requires that you avoid any actions that may lead to penalization, including academic, behavioral, and sexual misconduct.
As a pre-med student, you have plenty going on in your life. Embarking on such an exciting – albeit challenging – path requires self-discipline, commitment, and sincerity. Since you will have much to focus on, it can get stressful at times, and you might make mistakes that can significantly damage your chances of becoming a doctor. However, you may never have made mistakes prior, or you may not have realized the implications of your actions. Regardless of the scenario, speaking to a professional is vital if you are in danger of facing sanctions that can upend your future. Don't wait until it's too late to make a change. Call the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team at 888-535-3686 for more information, or send a message now through the online form to explore your options.
Conduct and Behavioral Standards at Harvey Mudd College
The Student Handbook at HMC applies to all students attending the college, including pre-med students. The Student Conduct / Honor Code segment deals with all issues related to standards of conduct, reporting violations to the appropriate party, and the adjudication system.
The code states that “every dues-paying student” at HMC is considered a member of the Associated Students of Harvey Mudd College (ASHMC) and that they must maintain good conduct in academic and extracurricular activities based on the honor code. While this segment deals with educational and behavioral misconduct, there is a separate segment and process for sexual misconduct and Title IX cases, as mandated by law.
Academic Misconduct
Engaging in academic misconduct leads to sanctions at HMC, which range in severity depending on the violation and the number of times it was committed. Pre-med students must not engage in actions that may lead to issues, including cheating, plagiarism, using Artificial Intelligence to write essays, and other similar actions. You must also refrain from helping others commit academic misconduct, as you and the other student or group will be penalized.
Behavioral Misconduct
Your behavior as a pre-med student is not related to how you perform academically. However, it is still something that your department considers when assessing whether you qualify to go to medical school. As a future doctor, you will be in a position of public trust, and your ethics and behavior are vital to your profession. Behavioral standards at HMC center on the following principles:
- Engaging in the thoughtful respect of others and their property
- Conduct yourself with honesty and integrity in all matters, not just academic ones
- Maintaining responsibility for your behavior, both on and off campus
- Using campus buildings, facilities, and HMC equipment responsibly
- Complying with HMC regulations and policies
Engaging in behavior that goes against these principles may lead to sanctions. Students who commit such violations are reported to the Judiciary Board or Disciplinary Board Chair.
Sexual Misconduct and Title IX
HMC is part of Claremont Colleges (TCC), which has unique rules for dealing with sexual misconduct cases. According to the Title IX policy published on the HMC site, all forms of sexual harassment or discrimination on the basis of sex are prohibited. The policy states that if there is a concern or complaint regarding prohibited sexual conduct, the Complainant's Title IX coordinator makes initial contact to determine how the case will be addressed. Multiple types of resolutions exist under the policy depending on the case, including:
- Support Based Resolutions
- Agreement Based Resolutions
- Investigation and Hearing Resolutions
For the investigation and hearing resolution, the process includes investigating the allegations, creating a final investigation report, conducting a hearing once the investigation process ends, and determining prohibited sexual conduct violations.
Adjudication Process
For all matters unrelated to Title IX, the adjudication process is the same at HMC. The student conduct system handles all cases that relate to academic and behavioral misconduct. The system includes the Judiciary Chair, the Disciplinary Chair, and the Honor Board. Any person who believes a student engaged in a violation must report the issue to the Disciplinary Chair, who investigates to determine whether the problem requires escalation to a hearing. In some cases, a joint hearing is held with the JB Chair and DB Chair.
After the hearing, the panel votes to determine whether the student has committed a violation. The panel then recommends sanctions based on the case details and the student's history.
Students may appeal hearing panel decisions by making a Statement of Appeal to the Appeals Board. The Board determines whether there are grounds for a reconsideration of sanctions. It can also affirm or amend any decision made by the hearing body.
Contacting the Lento Law Firm
If you committed a behavioral, sexual, or academic misconduct violation as a pre-med student, you are understandably feeling upset and worried about your future. One of the biggest mistakes you can make during this process is trying to resolve the issue alone. When you work with the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team, you have a passionate team that helps you overcome these challenging times.
The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team has years of experience working with pre-med students like you who face sanctions that end their careers before they start.
Don't take on the burden alone – the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team is here to help. Call 888-535-3686 for a thorough discussion about your case, or use the online contact form to learn more about the next steps to approaching your case.
