ACADEMIC DISHONESTY PROCEDURES

Faculty members should clearly identify course specific standards which interpret University, college, and departmental policies related to academic integrity. These explanations should appear in the course syllabus and in all other explanations of course requirements. Faculty should require the inclusion of the honor pledge on all academic work submitted for grading.

Faculty members who discover evidence of academic dishonesty may arrange to meet with the student(s) suspected of the alleged infraction or forward the case to the Vice President for Student Services. At any time faculty members may choose to consult with the Vice President for Student Services or the University Hearing Officer.

If the student(s) acknowledge(s) the act of academic dishonesty, and the faculty member is satisfied that the incident can be effectively resolved with a grade sanction:

• The faculty member will assign either an F in the course, or an F for the assignment or exam during which the cheating occurred; and
• a written summary of the incident will be forwarded by the faculty member to the University Hearing Officer; and
• the hearing officer will contact the student to arrange a conference to review the Standards of Conduct related to academic dishonesty; and
• if the student is currently not on disciplinary probation, the student will be placed on disciplinary probation for one calendar year; or
• if the student is currently on disciplinary probation, or if the student has previously acknowledged an act of academic dishonesty and received a grade sanction as a result, disciplinary proceedings will be instituted in accordance with Section VIII-C to determine the appropriate disciplinary sanction. Such sanction may include suspension or dismissal from the University.

All official disciplinary sanctions, including grade sanctions, which are assigned to a student as a result of an act of academic dishonesty, will be recorded on the student's official University transcript. In the case of disciplinary sanction of Probation for Academic Dishonesty.

If the student denies the allegation of academic dishonesty, or if the faculty member believes the severity of the incident may warrant a sanction more severe than disciplinary probation:

• The faculty member will forward a written summary of the incident to the University Hearing Officer. The summary must contain copies of all evidence including the names of any known witnesses to the alleged act of academic dishonesty; and
• the University Hearing Officer will institute Disciplinary Proceedings in accordance with Section VIII.C; and
• no grade penalty should be assigned by the instructor until the case is finally resolved, including the processes of hearing the student's appeal, if any. If the charges cannot be resolved prior to the end of semester, a grade of "I" should be assigned by the instructor; and
• the faculty member will be notified of the final outcome in order that the appropriate grade may be assigned.

Students may file a grade appeal if a grade penalty for alleged academic dishonesty violation occurs without proper adherence to the above procedures.

A student will be given the opportunity to have the "Academic Dishonesty" Notation removed from his/her transcript if:

• One year has elapsed since the sanction was imposed; and
• the student has successfully completed the University's "Academic Integrity Matters" Seminar; and
• the student had not been found in violation of other Honor Code infractions during the student's tenure at the University; and
• there is evidence that the academic dishonesty was not a premeditated act.

Students may not utilize the grade forgiveness policy to retake the class in which the academic dishonesty occurred.

The Vice President for Student Services will notify the petitioner of his/her decision within three weeks of the receipt of the petition.