Faculty Handbook
APPENDIX C
PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSITION OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY CASES
This procedure is designed to provide a system for resolution of cases involving academic dishonesty. This procedure is to be instituted in situations involving an incident where a penalty grade for academic dishonesty is to be awarded.
I. The instructor responsible for the course at the time of the incident will complete an Academic Dishonesty Incident Form and if possible confront the student in person with the charge. The instructor will determine the appropriate grade penalty (a reduced grade on the assignment or for the course). Additionally, the instructor may further recommend that the Justice Council consider the case for additional sanctions against the student.
II. If the student admits guilt, accepts the grade penalty proposed by the faculty member, and signs the incident report, then the following process is followed:
A. The incident report is forwarded to the Chair of the department in which the incident occurred.
B. The Department Chair will immediately forward a copy of the incident report to the Dean of his/her college.
C. The Dean will forward copies of the report to the Provost and to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
D. The Vice President for Student Affairs will serve as the central recording center for records of all Academic Dishonesty Incident Forms. Additionally, the Vice President for Student Affairs will recommend that the Justice Council consider the case (1) upon instructor recommendation or (2) if the student charged has a record of past violations of the Student Conduct Code even though the instructor did not recommend the case for further consideration.
E. If the case is not turned over to the Justice Council, the Vice President for Student Affairs will so notify in writing the student, the instructor, the Department Chair, the Dean of the college, the Provost and the student's academic advisor that the case is closed.
F. If the Vice President for Student Affairs forwards the case to the Justice Council for further consideration under established procedures for disciplinary hearings, the Justice Council may elect to:
1. at a minimum, confirm the penalty grade proposed by the instructor;
2. place the student on academic probation for a specified or an indefinite period of time;
3. suspend the student for a definite or an indefinite period of time;
4. expel the student;
5. impose additional sanctions as warranted, including, but not limited to, delaying the awarding of a degree;
6. make appropriate notations on the student's permanent record.
When the Justice Council makes its decision, it will forward a report to the Vice President for Student Affairs. Upon approval of the Justice Council report by the appropriate University officials, the Vice President for Student Affairs will implement disciplinary action and notify the student, the instructor, the Department Chair, the Dean, the Provost, the student's advisor, the Dean of the College in which the student is enrolled, and other affected parties (records office, etc.). If the student who has admitted guilt wishes to appeal the additional sanctions recommended by the Justice Council, he/she may avail him/herself of the appeal procedure as delineated in the Fledgling.
III. If the student does not admit guilt or agree with the grade penalty proposed by the faculty member and refuses to sign the incident report, then the following process is followed:
A. The Academic Dishonesty Incident Form is forwarded to the Chair of the department in which the incident occurred.
B. The Department Chair will then forward a copy of the incident form to the Dean of his/her college on the same day it was received. Concurrently, the Department Chair will review the situation and will meet with the instructor and the student. The Department Chair will act as a conciliator in an attempt to mediate the situation.
1. If the Department Chair mediates an agreement between the instructor and the student that there is insufficient justification for the charges, the Chair will so inform the Dean, the Provost, and the Vice President for Student Affairs.
2. If the Department Chair mediates an agreement between the instructor and the student and the student then admits guilt, accepts the proposed grade penalty, and signs the incident form, the chairperson will then institute the process commencing with step 2(B).
3. If the student and the instructor are still in disagreement as to the validity of the charges or the appropriateness of the grade penalty, the Chair will so inform the Dean of the College.
C. The Dean will forward copies of the incident form to the Provost and to the Vice President for Student Affairs within 24 hours of initial notification. If the Department Chair is unable to mediate the incident, the Dean will review the incident, interview the parties, and make an attempt to mediate the disagreement.
1. If the Dean mediates the agreement between the instructor and the student that there is insufficient justification for the charges, the Dean will so inform the Provost and the Vice President for Student Affairs.
2. If the Dean mediates an agreement between the instructor and the student and the student then admits guilt, accepts the proposed grade penalty, and signs the incident form, the Dean will then institute the process commencing with step 2(C).
3. If the instructor and student are still in disagreement as to the validity of the charges or the appropriateness of the grade penalty, the Dean will so inform the Vice President for Student Affairs.
D. The Vice President for Student Affairs will then remand the unresolved case to the Justice Council for determination. The procedures for disciplinary hearings and subsequent appeals (if any) are delineated in the Fledgling.
The Justice Council will make a determination of the validity of the charge.
1. If the Justice Council fails to find sufficient justification for the charges, it will so inform the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Vice President for Student Affairs will then inform the student, the instructor, the Department Chair, the Dean, and the Provost.
2. If the Justice Council agrees with the instructor and finds that the charges are justified and that the student is guilty, the Justice Council must then confirm the penalty recommended by the faculty member and decide whether or not to impose any additional sanctions delineated in part 2 (F) above. The recommendations of the Justice Council will be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Affairs and after approval by the appropriate University officials, the Vice President for Student Affairs will notify the student, the student's advisor, the instructor, the Department Chair, the Deans of the colleges in which the incident occurred, and the college in which the student is enrolled, the Provost, and other affected parties (records, housing, etc.) and will carry out the recommendations.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY INCIDENT FORM
Name of student:
SS#____________
Last
First
Initial
Name of instructor:
Last
First
Office Address:_________________________________
Office Phone:
Course name and number:
Place and time where incident occurred:
Brief statement of incident (use attachments if necessary)
Instructor's actions:
Does the instructor recommend that this incident be referred to the Justice Council for further consideration? Yes ( ) No( )
Instructor's signature:
Student's signature:
Send copies: Department Chair
Dean of the College/Division where violation occurred
Vice President for Student Affairs
Provost
STUDENT BE INFORMED that further penalties may be recommended. The Vice President for Student Affairs will recommended that the Justice Council consider this case (1) upon instructor recommendation or (2) if the student charged has a record of past violations of the Student Conduct Code even though the instructor did not recommend the case for further consideration