The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) is a private nursing school established in 1948 in Coral Gables – Miami, Florida. It is part of the University of Miami, a private research university that was the first to offer a collegiate nursing program in the state. SONHS offers multiple nursing degree options for students, including undergraduate, graduate, post-master's, and Doctoral programs. With its renowned programs and strong reputation, SONHS is an excellent choice for nursing students wishing to pursue a nursing career in one of Florida's most exciting cities. But to remain part of the SONHS community and graduate on time, you must abide by the code of conduct and keep up academically. If you cannot maintain the expected behavioral, professional, and academic qualities, you face expulsion from the program.
Being a nursing student at SONHS gives you access to multiple career opportunities in Miami and beyond after graduation. But the process is also stressful, and you may make mistakes along the way. Your professors understand that this is part of the learning process, but some mistakes come with severe implications. Regardless of the issue, you deserve to navigate the adjudication process with confidence and receive impartial treatment. With the Student Defense Team from the Lento Law Firm by your side, you don't have to face a hearing panel alone. Contact the Student Defense Team today or call 888-535-3686 if you face allegations of unprofessional behavior or academic issues at SONHS.
Academic and Professional Expectations
According to the undergraduate student handbook, students at SONHS must demonstrate professional behavior and keep up academically to graduate. In terms of academic progress, nursing students must achieve a minimum of 75%, or a “C” grade, to advance to the next phase of their program. Additionally, students must maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. Students who have chronic academic issues and cannot keep up with their programs face dismissal from nursing school. Additionally, students should act professionally and ethically on and off campus, as these principles are at the core of their future professions. Part of training to become a professional nurse includes building and encouraging ethical standards that students carry on to their professional lives.
Honor Code and Integrity Policy
SONHS takes honor code violations seriously, prohibiting several behaviors that give some students an academic advantage over others. Students who violate the university-wide honor code and engage in actions that violate the academic integrity policy face severe repercussions, like expulsion. Per the handbook, the following actions constitute violations:
- Any act of cheating, plagiarism, or academic dishonesty
- Failure to comply with university or SONHS regulations or refusing to follow faculty instructions
- Bullying or harassment of others
- Negligence that leads to damage or the defacement of UM SONHS property
- Destructing, falsifying, or omitting information on university or clinical records
- Unauthorized possession or distribution of illegal substances or intoxicants or being intoxicated
- Accessing or using university, agency, or clinical records or equipment without permission
- Disclosing, viewing, or accessing protected patient information
- Failure to report arrests or criminal charges to the Program Director or Associate Dean
- Failure to comply with a request for a drug or alcohol screening
Although you may not intend to make a mistake, repercussions for the above actions have severe implications for your future. Besides reputation damage, you may receive a negative notation on your permanent record that raises eyebrows professionally or if you want to attend another program. With a dismissal, it's also harder to gain acceptance in another nursing school since admissions officers prefer students with no issues on their transcripts.
Adjudication Process
The Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook applies to all students attending the University of Miami. It details the adjudication process for academic integrity violations and the hearing process. Any university member may report a suspected violation to the Dean of Students. If they suspect a violation, they send the student a notice for a meeting where they review the charges, recommend sanctions, or schedule a hearing. For severe violations, the matter escalates to the Honor Council, where a hearing occurs, and all parties present their evidence and statements. Once the hearing panel hears all information, it deliberates to determine responsibility and recommend sanctions. These include:
- A failing “XF” grade in class
- University Services
- A disciplinary warning
- Strict disciplinary probation
- Final disciplinary probation
- Suspension
- Expulsion
You may appeal a sanction under specific grounds, such as a failure to follow procedure or that the sanctions do not commiserate with the offense. Students must send the request to the Appeals Board, which reviews the matter. Then, it can affirm the sanction, reduce or increase it, or refer the case back to the Honor Council. When the panel decides, it is final, with no chance to re-appeal.
Hiring the Student Defense Team
Nursing school comes with perks and is a final stepping stone on your path to becoming a professional. But when stress, pressure, or a genuine mistake leads to accusations that delay or stop you from graduating, you stand to lose time, money, reputation, and effort. With so much that can impact your progress and future, you need the Student Defense Team from the Lento Law Firm. The Student Defense Team has years of experience working with nursing students nationwide, increasing their confidence and chances of a positive outcome.
Whether it is the interview, hearing, or appeal process, the Student Defense Team guides you through every step and helps you create a strong defense strategy. The team is your shoulder to rely on when sanctions threaten your future and professional path.
Don't let a lapse in judgment or mistake lead to the end of your dreams of becoming a nurse. Don't tackle the issue alone. Call the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or contact them here for more information.
