When you were looking for dental schools to attend, there was a reason you chose the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine — or the SIU SDM. Located in Alton, Illinois, the SDM has been a renowned academic institution offering world-class dental medicine education since 1972.
The school and those who run it are dedicated to their mission of providing a top-tier learning environment for tomorrow's most skilled dentists. That means the SDM prioritizes cutting-edge technology for its labs, rigorous maintenance standards for its state-of-the-art facilities — and an unflinching commitment to academic excellence from every member of its community.
That's where the student experience at the SDM can get complicated.
The SIU SDM has a reputation it needs to uphold. If you don't achieve its academic standards or set a toe out of line, the administrators and professors of the SIU SDM can be ruthless in recommending disciplinary sanctions. Sometimes, students deserve these sanctions. Other times, they don't.
Since an unfair sanction can ruin your entire future (and make it difficult or impossible to achieve your dream of actually becoming a dentist), if you're facing dismissal from the SIU SDM, it's time to jump into action.
Attorney-Advisor Lento and the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you negotiate with your school to reduce sanctions, avoid dismissal, and protect your academic future.
What Actions Merit Dismissal at the School of Dental Medicine?
The campus code of conduct for the School of Dental Medicine references several types of behavior the school finds problematic. If you are allegedly associated with any of the following actions, the SIU SDM administration could decide it needs to know more:
- Plagiarism
- Professionalism concerns
- A (supposed) failure to progress academically
- Behavioral concerns (e.g., hazing and bullying)
- Sexual misconduct
- Cheating
- Unauthorized collaboration
“Needing to know more” is an excellent reason to launch an investigation into you and your academic and behavioral reputation.
This can be catastrophic — and it can happen more quickly than you think.
This means your actions need to be speedy, too.
Schools often make decisions about a student's responsibility for alleged actions as early as the beginning phases of disciplinary investigations. Handling the start of your school's investigation well is, therefore, key.
Once you learn your school has opened an investigation into your behavior, even if you know you're innocent or you believe there's nothing they can find, call 888.535.3686 immediately to retain Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his team. Then, as your school's disciplinary procedures progress, they'll be able to help you in the most effective way possible.
What Happens After an Investigation at the SIU SDM?
After your school has collected all of the information it needs to make a decision about your responsibility for your allegations, it will schedule a disciplinary hearing.
These hearings can be very intimidating. At your hearing, you'll have the opportunity to stand before a panel of representatives from your school and make your case. Your hearing will also include a review of the evidence your school has collected against you, as well as a review of witness testimonies.
At the end of your disciplinary hearing, the panel will make a decision about your responsibility for the allegations against you. They will also issue a recommendation for the type of sanction you should undergo because of your responsibility.
The single most common sanction for dental students is a suspension (being dismissed from school for a short period of time.) However, depending on the severity of the allegations against you, your school could recommend a longer-term or permanent dismissal.
A suspension or dismissal of any length is problematic. These kinds of sanctions end up on your permanent student record and transcript (at the very least, in the form of gaps in the dates on your transcript). Future admissions committees and even potential employers will know to look for these dated gaps.
If your school recommends a dismissal, you have a few options. Depending on the specifics of your situation, these may include:
- Filing an appeal with your school. At SIU SDM, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (or their designee) will re-review your case, if you file a persuasive argument and rationale for their doing so within a few business days after your appeal. That's a hefty amount of work for just a few days. Attorney-Advisor Lento and his team can help you accomplish this task as strategically and efficiently as possible.
- Negotiating directly with your school's office of general counsel. Attorney-Advisor Lento can speak with your school's attorneys on your behalf. Often, this approach is very effective when your school's more traditional routes to resolution, such as appeals, are not.
- Filing a lawsuit. This option should be a last resort as it may terminate your relationship with your school — but, if it's the best course to take, Attorney-Advisor Lento and his team can help you take your next legal steps as needed.
Need Help with a Pending Dismissal as a Dental Student?
If the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine is threatening to dismiss you, it's time to get serious about what you can do to avoid that outcome.
Dismissals are devastating in the moment, but they can also wreak more havoc on your future than you might think. Once you have a dismissal on your student record, it can be incredibly difficult to pursue further education and get your dental degree.
And, after that, you might really struggle to find that all-important first job in your field because of your disciplinary history.
At the Lento Law Firm, we don't think that should happen to you. Retain the services of premier student defense Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his team to guide your investigation, defense, and appeal process. Attorney-Advisor Lento and his team have helped students across the nation achieve their sought-after outcomes, even after serious disciplinary sanctions.
Call the Lento Law Firm today to start your journey towards reduced sanctions and a protected reputation. The number is 888.535.3686, or alternatively, you can contact the Lento Law Firm online.
