Community Standards

Academic Misconduct FAQ

What is considered academic misconduct for undergraduate students?

Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Providing or receiving assistance on academic work (papers, projects, examinations) in a way that was not authorized by the instructor
• Any attempt to improperly influence (bribery, threats) any member of the faculty, staff, or administration of the University in any matter relating to academics or research
• Plagiarism
• Doing academic work for another student
• Presenting the same or substantially the same papers or projects in two or more courses without the explicit permission of the instructors
• Situations where one student knowingly assists another student in committing an act of academic misconduct, and any student doing so will be held equally accountable for the violation

How is academic misconduct reported?

In most cases, an instructor will report a student for academic misconduct when he/she believes there is enough information to demonstrate a clear case. When an instructor believes there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate a clear case of academic misconduct, he/she shall generally notify the accused student in writing and orally within 30 days of the discovery of the alleged misconduct. Evidence of academic misconduct can include continuing suspicious behavior during an exam when warned by the instructor to stop and academic works being submitted by two students that are remarkably similar.

The instructor is responsible for saving all information on academic misconduct in its original form and does not need to return any of the material to the student. Copies of the student’s work and information about other evidence can be provided to the student upon request.

In certain cases, the dean of a school or college may become aware of academic misconduct and may bring a complaint forward to the school or college’s hearing body.

What is the instructor’s role in preventing academic misconduct?

Instructors should take all reasonable steps to prevent academic misconduct. If an instructor observes suspicious behavior during an examination, he/she should warn the students involved and request them to stop the suspicious behavior.

I've been accused of academic misconduct. What happens now?

You will be informed in writing that you are being accused of academic misconduct and the penalty being imposed by the instructor. If you choose to contest the instructor’s belief of academic misconduct, you may submit a written request for a hearing to the instructor and send copies of the request to the dean of the college and the department head within five (5) business days from the instructor’s first written notice.

What are typical sanctions?

For serious offenses, typical sanctions are generally considered to be failure in the course. For less serious offenses, it is generally failure in that portion for which you are accused of academic misconduct.

What happens at a hearing for academic misconduct?

A hearing on academic misconduct is generally held by a hearing body authorized by the school or college where the alleged misconduct occurred. At the hearing both the instructor and the student will be allowed to present their case, answer questions, present witnesses, and present written statements. After closing statements from both parties and final questions, the hearing officer will deliberate in private. After deliberating, the hearing officer will present the decision of “Responsible” or “Not Responsible”.

If the decision is "“Not Responsible”, the hearing is concluded. If the decision is “Responsible”, then the instructor’s original sanctions will be imposed. A decision letter will be sent to the student from the hearing officer to document the outcome.

The hearing body determined that I am “Responsible”, but I don’t agree with the finding. What can I do now?

A student may appeal the hearing body’s decision to the Provost or desginee within five (5) business days from notification. Specific appeal information will be in the hearing officer’s decision letter.

Is an Appeal a new hearing?

No, an appeal is not a new hearing. It is a review of the information presented in the appeal letter for the purpose of determining whether there is cause to believe that the outcome of the hearing might be flawed.

Appeals will only address errors in the initial hearing process, or new information that was not known to the accused student at the time of the hearing. In both of these cases, the procedural errors or new information must be significant enough to have affected the hearing body’s original decision.

My appeal was upheld. What does that mean?

If the appeal was upheld, the Provost or desginee shall refer the case back to the original hearing body who shall reconsider the case accordingly.

My appeal was denied. What does that mean?

If the appeal was denied, then the original decision of the hearing board will stand, and the instructor’s sanctions will be imposed.

I appealed a decision to the Provost or desginee, but the original decision was upheld. Can I appeal to someone else?

No. The decision of the Provost or desginee in an appeal is final. There is no further right of appeal.

What happens if the hearing body hasn’t made a decision before the end of the semester?

If a semester ends before an academic misconduct matter is resolved, the student shall receive a temporary “I” (Incomplete) grade in the course until the instructor submits the appropriate grade.

I was found “Responsible” by the hearing body and given my sanctions. Now I must meet with the Provost or his/her designee because I may face additional sanctions. How can this happen?

In response to especially egregious circumstances surrounding a particular instance of academic misconduct, the Director of Community Standards may initiate a review of the student’s academic transcript and judicial record that could result in a more severe sanction. Following this review, the Director of Community Standards may forward the record to the Provost, or designee, who will determine whether additional sanctions are warranted.

This review is neither a new hearing nor an appeal. Rather, it is a consideration of the severity of the student’s recent academic misconduct in conjunction with the student’s record. The Provost, or designee, may choose to interview the student as part of the review. If this happens, a support person may accompany the student. Upon completing the review, the Provost, or designee, may impose one or more sanctions in addition to the sanction determined by the instructor.