You have worked hard to earn the grades and test scores necessary for you to be able to join the student body at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Monroe, Louisiana, and as a result, you are well on your way to becoming a physician. Of course, medical school is just the beginning, and there is a lot of time, effort, and study that stands between where you are now and earning your medical license. You don’t want anything to happen during your time at VCOM Louisiana that could derail your career. That is why it’s important to make sure you understand VCOM’s student standards and policies.  

If anyone accuses you of any type of misconduct while at VCOM Louisiana, you need to take it very seriously. No matter what the misconduct is – lack of professionalism, academic issues, honor code violations – if the consequences could include dismissal from VCOM Louisiana, you need to take it seriously. Even more minor types of misconduct can be reflected on your medical school transcript and can have a serious impact on your ability to secure the residency or employment you are hoping for in the future. You need a strong defense – and the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is ready to help. Call us at 888.535.3686, or fill out our contact form to learn more.

Common Reasons for Dismissal

There are many policies and procedures that impact VCOM Louisiana medical students. These are listed in the school’s College Catalog and Student Handbook, and cover all of the VCOM campuses. The handbook covers a number of different expectations that VCOM has for its medical students, as well as general and specific types of misconduct that can result in a student facing sanctions. Examples of some of the misconduct that can leave a mark on your record or result in you being dismissed from VCOM Louisiana include the following:

VCOM Honor Code of Conduct Violations, such as:

  • Behaving in an unprofessional or unethical manner
  • Engaging in cheating or plagiarism
  • Disruptive behavior in class, at school functions, or in clinical settings
  • Engaging in a wide variety of different types of discrimination against students, faculty, staff, medical care personnel, patients, or patient family members
  • Using school computer systems improperly
  • Sharing or producing pornography
  • Acts that the school believes constitute a breach of integrity

VCOM General Professional and Ethical Policy Violations, such as:

  • Violations of VCOM’s social media policies
  • Engaging in cyberbullying
  • Disrespecting the viewpoints raised by other students
  • Participating in an impermissible sexual relationship, including with a member of the VCOM faculty or staff, with a patient, or with a patient’s family member
  • Breaches of VCOM’s professionalism standards
  • Working or being in class while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • An arrest or a conviction that is not reported to VCOM Louisiana
  • Harassing, discriminating against, or acting in a violent manner towards anybody connected with VCOM, including patients or their family members
  • Improperly or negligently maintaining patient records as required by VCOM or the law

Depending on the circumstances, students at VCOM Louisiana can face several different levels of sanctions for improper behavior. VCOM divides offenses into three separate categories:

  • Class I Offense. This is a relatively minor offense that could result in the student being required to take remedial education or provide community service.
  • Class II Offense. These types of offenses include certain types of unprofessional conduct and cheating. Sanctions for these are set by the VCOM Louisiana Campus Dean.
  • Class III Offense. These are the most serious types of offenses, with sanctions that can result in the student’s suspension or dismissal. There are several possible ways that Class III offenses can be resolved; these are discussed in more detail below. 

It is also important to understand that, while VCOM’s handbook is quite detailed and runs for more than 200 pages, the examples of misconduct it lists are not meant to be a complete list of every type of misconduct that can result in a student facing sanctions. VCOM reserves the right to make its own decisions on whether a student’s behavior warrants disciplinary action – even if the student’s conduct is not one of the types listed in the handbook.

The different types of sanctions that a student can face for misconduct include warnings, reprimands, and – the most serious – suspensions and dismissals. Because VCOM reserves the right to impose such a wide range of penalties for student misconduct, it is important to defend yourself even if you believe the misconduct you’re accused of is relatively minor. Any mark on your record can have an effect on your future, and a suspension or dismissal can be devastating. Fortunately, there is the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team here to help with your defense.   

The Adjudication Process

Most misconduct allegations at VCOM Louisiana will be investigated and resolved by the VCOM Honor Code Council. Some exceptions exist – for example, Title IX allegations will normally be handled by VCOM’s Title IX Coordinator following VCOM’s Title IX policies.  

Honor Code Council misconduct cases usually will begin with an Honor Code Investigation. These investigations are the responsibility of a three-person panel that reviews the allegations made against the student, interviews the accused student, the accuser, and any other witnesses, and gathers evidence that may bear on the resolution of the misconduct allegations. Based on the results of the investigation, the Honor Code Council will decide what steps to take next. This could be to dismiss the matter, where there is not enough evidence to move forward. In other cases, the Honor Code Council may decide to simply warn the student against future behavior that could violate school policies. Or, in more serious cases, the matter may be set for an Honor Code Hearing.

The most serious offenses, the Class III offenses, may be resolved differently. At the option of the VCOM Louisiana Campus Dean, you may be able to select how the allegations will be decided. The handbook lists three potential options: 

  • The VCOM Louisiana Campus Dean may decide the matter, including the sanctions, if any, to be imposed
  • A Three Person Panel may hear and decide the case, and make a recommendation to the VCOM Louisiana Campus Dean of what sanctions, if any, to impose
  • The VCOM Professional and Ethical Standards Board may hear and resolve the case

Whether the accused student can make these choices is ultimately up to the VCOM Louisiana Campus Dean, so they may not be available in every case. But no matter how the allegations are to be resolved, there are two points to remember: the accused student has rights that VCOM needs to respect, and the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team can help make sure those rights are respected. In addition, based on the facts of your particular case, you receive the best defense possible.

If the student is sanctioned by VCOM, those sanctions may be appealed, though on limited grounds, including:

  • Violations of the student’s rights during the disciplinary process
  • New and relevant information that was not available earlier
  • “Arbitrary or capricious” conduct by the Honor Code Council
  • Other “extenuating circumstances.”

The LLF National Law Firm Can Help Defend You

If you have been accused of misconduct by anyone at VCOM Louisiana, you need a strong defense to protect your school record and your future. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is ready to help. With experienced attorneys who regularly represent students accused of misconduct in colleges, universities, and professional schools all across the US – including medical schools – we know what it takes to mount an effective defense.

Call us today at 888.535.3686, or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation. Tell us about the allegations made against you, and let us tell you how we can help defend your student record and your future.  

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Louisiana

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