When you get into dental school, you imagine the future – the payoff of all this stress and hard work. So, you never imagine that your time in dental school could come to an end early. At Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, students are expected to uphold several professional and academic expectations. With so much competition and exceedingly high expectations, it's no wonder some students buckle under the pressure. If you or someone you love is facing a dismissal proceeding or having a hard time getting into a remediation program, an attorney-advisor can help ensure their due process rights are met. Call the Lento Law Firm offices today.
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Code of Conduct
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine holds its students to specific codes of conduct. These codes of conduct cover everything from professional and ethical behavior to academic conduct. Some examples include:
- Maintaining patient confidentiality
- Acting as a responsible citizen of the Tufts community
- Refraining from activities that would harm Tuft's reputation
- Not changing facts on clinical documents or falsifying information
- Respecting members of the community and acting courteously
Additionally, students are required to abstain from academic misconduct. At Tufts University, academic misconduct is defined as the misrepresentation of your own academic achievement by using inappropriate or unauthorized materials during an exam, assignment, or paper. Academic misconduct also involves:
- Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials while taking an exam, writing a paper, or performing some other academic assignment
- Plagiarism: presenting someone else's ideas or work as if it were your own on an exam or assignment, or not citing a reference correctly in a paper
- Helping other students commit academic misconduct
If you have been accused of academic misconduct and have found yourself before a disciplinary committee or a dismissal hearing, an attorney-advisor should be the first person you call.
Remediation at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
In dental school, students are supposed to follow a certain timeline from acceptance to graduation. Usually, there is time built in for emergencies or time off, but students are still expected to graduate by a certain year after starting. At the end of every academic year, the university reviews student files and determines if they are progressing accordingly. If they are not, they may be referred to a remediation program.
Remediation programs allow students to retake certain exams or assignments in order to give them more time to understand the fundamentals of the information before moving on to the next module. If the student is unable to successfully remediate the course, they may be referred for dismissal.
You have to remember that the university's reputation is its number one focus. If they feel like you will not perform well in this program, they will remove you from it. No one wants to be the institution that produces a dental professional without the required understanding of the nuances of the profession. As such, working with an attorney advisor is the best way to ensure your case does not fall through the cracks. If you believe you are being treated unfairly because of a remediation program, an attorney advisor can help.
Dismissal Proceedings at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
At Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, students have several opportunities to make up for their conduct violations. For instance, before there is a dismissal, they will be given other punishments for their disciplinary violations – like academic probation or loss of privileges on campus. Additionally, students will be able to remediate courses and tests when they are underperforming, as explained above. And further, even when it comes to dismissal, students have a second chance.
The first type of dismissal is called – dismissal with the possibility of reapplication. If a student is referred for dismissal with the possibility of reapplication, they will be dismissed from the program but can reapply later. The second type of dismissal is more final than that – there is no second chance to apply. Students who have received a final dismissal from the program will not be permitted to reapply or re-enroll later.
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Appeals Committee or the Student Promotions Committee will oversee the dismissal committee. If either of them determines that dismissal is appropriate, the student will have the opportunity to appeal the decision. The appeal must be made in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs within ten days of receiving notification of the decision. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs will forward the appeal to the Appeals Committee. That committee will make a determination within 30 days, and that decision is final – it cannot be appealed further.
How an Experienced Attorney-Advisor Can Help
If you have been notified of a dismissal proceeding or have been denied a remediation plan, an attorney-advisor will ensure your side of the story is heard by the appropriate audience. Additionally, attorney-advisors will work tirelessly to mitigate any negative consequences you might experience. For instance, dismissals are memorialized on your transcripts. If you hope to attend another dental school to continue your education, you will have to explain this notation in every admissions application you complete.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm have spent years helping dental students in similar situations. They will gather evidence and witnesses to create a strong defense on your behalf, assuring you the best possible outcome for your case. Call our offices today at 888-535-3686 to schedule a consultation or visit us online.
