Code of Conduct Policy

Policy Owner: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Policy Contact: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs 

POLICY STATEMENT

Types of Infractions

The guiding principles of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry Code of Conduct are that all learners:

• Must engage faculty, staff, patients, other learners, and the community with respect and dignity in a culturally sensitive manner at all times.
• Must engage patient treatment with the patient’s overall health and welfare as the highest priority.
• Must maintain the highest academic integrity when dealing with all didactic and laboratory assignments, examinations, attendance sheets, electronic health record entries, preclinical and clinical grading records, use of equipment and supplies, and academic and patient records.
• Must conduct themselves in a mature, courteous, and professional manner in lecture classes, clinics, laboratories, outreach facilities, and in other areas of the School of Dentistry and its associated teaching environments.
• Must not display or participate in threatening, harassing, or assaultive behavior (perceived or real) that endangers, or threatens to endanger, the health, safety, or well-being of any person or group encountered while enrolled, regardless of whether it is physical, emotional, psychological harassment, or cyber bullying.

REASON FOR POLICY

The School of Dentistry believes all oral healthcare providers must possess the highest level of integrity and ethics. The trust placed in learners as healthcare providers by patients, the University, and communities is a privilege that must be continually fostered. School of Dentistry learners are expected to govern conduct toward patients, other learners, faculty, staff and others with integrity, mutual respect, and honor.  Learners are also expected to refrain from engaging in the following behaviors or activities:

Academic Integrity: Violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Scholastic Dishonesty – Cheating on written examinations, assignments or practical examinations or engaging in unauthorized collaboration on any academic work.
• Plagiarism – Presenting the scholarly work of another as one's own.
• Dishonesty – of any type
• Falsifying or Forging – Attempts to forge or falsify patient records and charts, classroom attendance, or student pre-clinical and clinical records.
• Misrepresenting – Presenting someone else’s project or clinical work as one's own.
• Possession of unauthorized materials -Taking, acquiring, posting or using course materials without faculty permission.

Professionalism in Healthcare: Violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Patient Management and Conduct
  • Working without supervision
  • Verbal or sexual harassment or physical abuse
  • Patient abandonment
  • Treating patients while under the influence of alcohol and/or illicit drugs
  • Overtreatment of patients
• Patient Encounter – Being late for a patient appointment or failing to be present for a patient appointment without an approved absence.
• Attendance – Failure to follow school attendance policies and procedures, including missing a clinic session without an approved absence.
• HIPAA – Failing to adhere to regulations specified in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Patient Appointment – Falsely scheduling a patient appointment.
• Clinical Protocols – Failure to follow designated clinical protocols and supervisor instructions.
• Communication – Using inappropriate language with patients, students, faculty, or staff, as well as, using an inappropriate tone/demeanor with patients, faculty, or staff.
• Social Media – Inappropriate use of any and all forms of social media, which includes using disparaging language, posting or transmitting photographs of patients or teeth, and casting disparaging images of students, faculty, or staff in electronic form.

Personal Conduct: Violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Disruptive Behavior- Disruption of the academic environment means engaging in behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor’s ability to teach and/or a student’s ability to learn.
• Abuse of Equipment – Wasting supplies or inappropriate use of materials or instruments, including the use of School of Dentistry equipment and supplies for non-school purposes.
• Threatening, Harassing, or Assaultive Behavior – Stalking, bullying, sexual assault, or any behavior that endangers, or threatens to endanger, the health, safety, or well-being of any person or group.
• Retaliation- Retaliation occurs when a learner takes adverse action against an individual for that individual’s good-faith participation in reporting or otherwise expressing opposition to, suspected or alleged prohibited behavior; or participating in any process designed to review or investigate suspected or alleged prohibited behavior or non-compliance with applicable policies, rules, and laws.

In addition to these violations, the Board of Regents Policy guides and governs conduct for members of the student community 

PROCEDURES

Procedure for Investigating Reported Code of Conduct Violations:

1. Alleged conduct violations are reported using the Code of Conduct Incident Report Form (see below under Forms section).
2. Complaints reported against learners will be investigated by the School of Dentistry Code of Conduct Officer.
   1. The Code of Conduct Officer will investigate complaints following the steps defined in the Code of Conduct Officer’s Investigation of Alleged Violations of the Code of Conduct.
   2. The Code of Conduct Officer will determine the type of allegation and next steps. The initial purpose of the investigation is to determine whether the complaint is credible. For credible allegations that do not require a hearing, the Code of Conduct Officer shall: (NOTE: If the complaint is against a trainee in an advanced education program, the matter will be investigated by an ad hoc committee as described in the Resident-Fellow Discipline & Dismissal Policy)
      1. Attempt to resolve the matter through mediation with the involved parties,
      2. Arrive at an independent decision and recommend a disciplinary action to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or that the matter be referred to the hearing board or
      3. Dismiss the Report, when such action is warranted by the facts of the matter.
3. The Office of Academic Affairs will maintain all records associated with the investigation and resolution of complaints.
4. The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for enforcement of sanctions determined through informal resolution or by a hearing board.

Outcomes and Possible Sanctions

Learners found responsible for prohibited behaviors are subject to appropriate outcomes and sanctions. Factors considered when determining appropriate outcomes include: the nature of the offense, the severity of the offense, the culpability of the learner, the impact on other learners or members of the University community, and the opportunity for learner development. 

Separation from the University through suspension or expulsion is a serious outcome that may be appropriate for: repeated violations of the Code of Conduct, serious scholastic dishonesty, and for misconduct that constitutes a threat to community safety or well-being (including, but not limited to harm to others, sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, or relationship violence), or significantly disrupts the rights of others or the operations of the University. 

The following outcomes may be imposed upon learners found to have violated the Code of Conduct (this is a list of likely outcomes, but it is not comprehensive, and other results are possible). 

• Academic Outcome- This refers to an outcome affecting the course or academic work of the learner found to be in violation.
• Warning- An issuance of an oral or written warning or reprimand.
• Probation- This is a special status with conditions imposed for a defined period of time and includes the probability of more serious outcomes if the learner is found to violate any institutional regulation during the probationary period.
• Required Compliance- Required compliance means satisfying University or School of Dentistry requirements, work assignments, etc.
• Restriction of Privileges- This refers to the denial or restriction of specified privileges, including, but not limited to, building access, participation in classes or clinical privileges.
• Suspension- This refers to the separation of the learner from the University for a defined period of time, after which the learner is eligible to return to the University. Suspension may include conditions for readmission. Any violations of the Code of Conduct while on suspension may be cause for additional charges and findings that may result in extended suspension or expulsion.
• Expulsion- Expulsion means the permanent separation of the learner from the University.
• Withholding of Diploma or Degree- This refers to the withholding of a diploma or degree otherwise earned for a defined period of time or until the completion of assigned outcomes for a violation that implicates the academic validity of a diploma or degree.
• Revocation of Admission or Degree- This refers to revoking a learner’s admission to the University or revoking a degree already awarded by the University for a violation that implicates the academic validity of an admission or earned degree.

Appeal

A student who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Hearing Board may file an appeal according to the process outlined in the University Student Conduct Code Procedure: Twin Cities (linked below in Related Information Section).

FORMS/INSTRUCTIONS 

Code of Conduct Incident Report

APPENDICES

There are no appendices associated with this guideline.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There is no FAQ associated with this policy.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS

DEFINITIONS

Learners

Any individual enrolled in any educational program directed by or associated with the School of Dentistry. These include dental, dental hygiene and dental therapy as well as postgraduate certificate and advanced degree-granting program learners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no responsibilities associated with this format. 

RELATED INFORMATION

Code of Conduct Officer’s Investigation and Hearing Procedures

School of Dentistry Hearing Board Order of Proceedings

University of Minnesota Student Conduct Code Procedure: Twin Cities

HISTORY