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College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Student Code of Professional Conduct

Procedure Number: SPC-6

STATEMENT AND PURPOSE

The University of Toledo (UToledo) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences follows the University Student Code of Conduct (UToledo Policy 3364-30-04). This procedure outlines how the college will implement the University policy for the affected student population. 

The Student Code of Professional Conduct for the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences gives general notice of prohibited conduct and of the sanctions to be imposed if such conduct occurs. The Student Code of Professional Conduct should be read broadly and is not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms. The Student Code of Professional Conduct specifies the rights and responsibilities of the students, student organizations, the college, and the rights of other parties to the procedure.

Students and student organizations are required to engage in responsible social and professional conduct that reflects credit upon the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences community and to model good citizenship in any community. Actions by students or student organizations, which interfere with the orderly functions of the college, or actions, which endanger the health or safety of members of the college community, will not be tolerated.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

The Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences or designee shall administer and implement this procedure, including the promulgation of the standards of conduct, to be published and distributed as "The Student Code of Professional Conduct," with procedures and standards governing student conduct at the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Student Progress Committee is authorized to hear each matter and provide a final decision as to whether the code has been violated and a sanction if warranted. The Dean of the College will assure that the sanction is implemented.

APPLICATION

This prodecure, along with the UToledo Student Code of Conduct, applies to all students and student organizations of the college. In areas of overlap, this procedure supersedes the UToledo Student Code of Conduct. 

RULES OF STUDENT PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Academic Rules

  • Examinations
    • A student shall follow all instructions and procedures established by the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences or by its instructors concerning the administration of examinations. Additionally:
      • A student shall not begin an examination before the announced appointed time or continue working on an examination after the announced conclusion of the examination period.
      • At the conclusion of an examination, a student shall submit all questions, answers, or other materials as required by the instructor. 
    • If a student learns of information other than that released or authorized by the instructor which concerns an examination, the student shall notify the instructor, or, if the instructor is unavailable, the Department Chair in which the course resides. The student shall not take the scheduled examination unless specifically authorized by the instructor or the Department Chair.
    • Except insofar as may be specifically authorized by the College, instructor, or exam proctor, a student shall not at any time receive or obtain any information concerning the content of an examination, and shall not, during the course of an examination, receive or obtain any form of aid or refer to any materials or sources other than the examination.
    • Except insofar as may be specifically authorized by the College, instructor, or exam proctor, a student shall not at any time give or communicate any information concerning the content of an examination or give or communicate any aid to a person taking an examination, and shall not, during the examination, display any materials inside or outside of the examination room.
    • Once an examination begins, a student shall not communicate in any manner with any unauthorized person, except insofar as may be reasonably required by a personal emergency.
    • A student who is taking or has taken an examination shall not discuss any part of that examination with a person who the student has reason to believe is taking or will take an examination in that course, or with any other person under circumstances in which the student should reasonably know that the discussion is likely to endanger the security of the examination questions.
    • A student shall not take an examination for another or permit another to take an examination in his or her place.
    • A student shall not attempt to invade the security maintained for the preparation and storage of an examination.
  • Assignments - A student shall follow the instructions given by the instructor or other authorized persons concerning papers or other assignments for academic credit and shall not consult with persons or receive aid in any form contrary to specific instructions.
  • Plagiarism - A student shall not represent the work of another as his or her own or use a passage or idea from the written work of another without proper quotation marks, citation, or other explanatory insert.
  • Interference with Academic Materials - A student shall not take, convert, conceal, misfile, misrepresent, deface, damage, or destroy any property related to academic assignments, research, or examinations.

Non-Academic Rules

Individual Performance. A student shall:

  • Demonstrate independent and self-directed learning and develop habits for lifelong learning.
  • Recognize personal limitations and seek appropriate help.
  • Accept constructive feedback and make changes accordingly.
  • Fulfill all educational assignments and responsibilities on time (including health requirements and immunizations).
  • Be punctual for all educational experiences (i.e., exams, clinic, small group sessions, site visits).
  • Not use fatigue, stress, or personal problems to justify unprofessional behavior.
  • Adhere to dress code consistent with institutional or site specific standards.

Relationships with students, faculty, staff, patients and community. A student shall:

  • Be responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries in all learning situations.
  • Be respectful at all times of all parties involved.
  • Demonstrate respect for the professional competence, knowledge, qualifications, and services of faculty, preceptor, or colleague.
  • Demonstrate respect for diversity of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability and socioeconomic status.
  • Strive to resolve conflict in a manner that respects the dignity of every person involved.
  • Maintain awareness and adapt to individual differences in all parties involved, including those related to culture and pharmacy literacy.

Support of ethical principles of the pharmacy profession. A student shall:

  • Maintain honesty and empathy in all interactions.
  • Promote patient safety and care at all times.
  • Acquire a valid Ohio Pharmacy Intern License by December 31 of the P1 year and maintain the license
    throughout the program (Pharm.D. only).
  • Contribute to an atmosphere conducive to learning and be committed to advancing scientific knowledge.
  • Protect patient confidentiality.
  • Abide by the University policy on Research Misconduct (Policy number 3364-70-00).
  • Not engage in any illegal activity whatsoever.

Procedures and Appeals

Students in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are held to the highest standards of professionalism as outlined above.

Allegations

  • Any person who has evidence that a student in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has violated this code, may submit a written statement describing the allegation and supporting evidence to the Chair of the Student Progress Committee. The statement must be signed and include appropriate contact information.

Due Process

  • Due process will be provided to a student accused of violating this code. The Professional Conduct Committee chair will do the following:
    • Notify the student in writing of the charge(s), the date, time, and location of the Notice of the hearing must allow the student the opportunity to be present. The student may waive the right to such an appearance at his/her sole discretion.
    • Provide the student (by way of a statement or other summary) any relevant information or evidence that a complainant plans to bring or that will be considered by the committee relating to the allegations before the committee. The complainant may present affidavits of persons unavailable to come before the committee, exhibits, witnesses and any other similar information for the committee. All written materials must be provided to the student least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
    • Notify in writing the student of the specific protocols to be followed in the investigation/hearing and to provide a copy of this policy to the student. The student is entitled to have an individual acting as an adviser be present at the hearing.
    • Invite the complainant(s) to the hearing.
    • Preside at the hearing, for which minutes will be kept, and at the committee chair's request, which may be recorded or transcribed.
    • Assure that the hearing is not and should not be construed to be a legal Both the complainant(s) and the student will be permitted to make any statement relevant to the issue(s) being addressed.
    • Provide the student a full opportunity to present any relevant information to the committee relating to the allegations before the The student may present affidavits of persons unavailable to come before the committee, exhibits, witnesses and any other similar information for the committee to consider. If the student desires to distribute written materials to the committee members, he/she must present them at least three business days prior to the meeting.
    • Make it known that the student is expected to cooperate in the investigation/hearing. The complainant is expected to cooperate in the investigation/hearing and cannot be guaranteed anonymity.
    • Assure that any decision for student sanctions will be based on the deliberations of the committee. The findings and conclusions shall be provided in a written statement of findings and actions signed by the chair of the committee and delivered via email followed by certified mail to the student (with a copy to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences) within three (3) business days after the hearing unless circumstances warrant additional time for review, with sufficient notice provided to the student.

Appeal

  • The student may appeal the committee’s decision to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in writing, requesting a review related to the following that apply: (1) the failure of process; or (2) a review of the evidence concerning the charges and/or sanctions.
    • A written request for appeal must be received within ten (10) business days following the issuance of the written recommendation, or any further right to appeal is waived.
    • The Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences may review all of the evidence presented in the hearing; the applicable process matters raised by the student (if any), and the specific concerns about the evidence concerning the charges and/or sanctions. After completing such review, the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences may ask for a meeting with the student.
    • Upon completion of the review of the appeal, the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences may choose to uphold, reverse or modify the committee decision. The Dean shall inform the committee of the The Dean's decision will be final.
    • The Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will inform the student of their decision regarding the appeal within ten (10) business days from the date in which the appeal was first filed by the student, unless circumstances warrant additional time for review, with sufficient notice provided to the student.

Pendency of Action

  • Generally, implementation of sanctions will be suspended until all appeals made by the student have been However, the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences may, in their discretion, impose interim suspensions and/or restrictions on the Student if the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences believes that the alleged conduct in any way concerns patient and/or public (including faculty and other student) safety, or when dismissal from the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is a possible sanction.

Sanctions

  • General - A student who has been found guilty of violating this Code will be subject to such sanctions as may be determined by the Student Progress Committee and implemented by the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. General reports on the activities of the Student Progress Committee will be provided to faculty, staff, and students of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  • Types of Sanctions -  The Student Progress Committee may impose whatever sanctions they deem appropriate under the circumstances. Sanctions may include:
    • Permanent expulsion from the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences;
    • Suspension from the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences for a specified time, or until the Student Progress Committee revokes the suspension.
    • Loss of credit (i.e., the grade of "F") for any course to which the violation was directly related.
    • Restitution to the University, organization, or person of the property, or the monetary value of the property, taken, misappropriated, damaged, destroyed, or otherwise interfered with.
    • Probation for a specified time, which shall include removal from, and denial of eligibility for all offices or positions in Pharmacy student government and organizations and University student government.
    • Loss of College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences or University services or privileges, such as the use of the Student Lounge and computing facilities or University computer facilities, for a specified period of time, so far as consistent with the nature of the violation.
    • Recommendation to the President and, with his or her approval, to the Board of Trustees, that a granted degree be withdrawn, in the event that a final determination that this Code was violated is not made by the Student Progress Committee until after the degree has been awarded.
    • Any other sanction deemed appropriate by the Student Progress Committee.
    • Any combination of the sanctions listed above.

Interpretation and Revision

  • Any question of interpretation or application of the Student Code of Professional Conduct shall be referred to the chair of the Student Progress Committee or his/her designee for final determination.
  • The Student Code of Professional Conduct shall be reviewed for consistency and procedure every 2 years under the direction of the chair of the Student Progress Committee.
  • Recommendations for change will be submitted in writing to the chair of the Student Progress Committee for final review.

Scope: This procedure applies to all students and student organizations of the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Responsible Agent: Associate Dean of Student Affairs, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Last Updated: 11/21/22