Below you will find a brief summary outline on how to report a student for academic misconduct. This is a brief summary based on the guidelines established by the Academic Senate's Committee on Educational Policy (For the policy with the detailed guidelines, please click here).
How to Report Academic Misconduct
I. Course Requirements and Expectations
Faculty members, teaching assistants, and other instructional personnel are encouraged to include statements addressing academic integrity as part of the syllabus for every course and to educate students about expectations and standards in the context of the course in order that students may not, through ignorance, subject themselves to the charge of academic misconduct. Instructors are further encouraged to inform students of campus resources available for dealing with academic difficulty.
II. Faculty Review
If a faculty member, teaching assistant, or other instructional personnel suspects that an act of academic misconduct has occurred in a course, s/he must communicate with the student regarding the alleged act of misconduct and the information upon which the allegation is based within 30 business days of the alleged act. Under special circumstances, the instructor may make a request for an extension of time through the Vice Provost for Equity and Conflict Resolution. Whenever possible, the communication should take place through an in-person consultation and should be conducted in a manner that respects each student's privacy and maintains an environment that supports teaching and learning. When a meeting is not possible or practical, an instructor may communicate with the student in writing. Written communication will be sent by U.S. mail to the address most recently filed with the Registrar's Office, or to the student’s University e-mail address. When multiple students are involved, faculty are encouraged to communicate with each student separately.
An instructor may request the assistance of the Ombudsperson or a member of the Student Conduct & Academic Integrity Programs staff to be present at the conference to assist in a fair and focused discussion about what may have occurred.
The student must be given the opportunity to respond to the allegation of misconduct. When communication is made in writing, students will be given 10 business days to respond.
After conferring with the student and/or considering the student’s written response, the instructor will determine whether it is more likely than not that the student committed an act of academic misconduct. In making this determination the instructor will pay attention not to whether the student meant to engage in misconduct, but whether the misconduct occurred.
The instructor may then follow up with one of the following actions:
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In cases where the instructor determines that there is no misconduct, s/he may dismiss the allegation and take no further action. |
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In cases where the student does not dispute the facts upon which the charges are based, the instructor may impose an appropriate academic sanction, taking into account the clarity of course expectations, the level of the students’ experience or knowledge of principles of academic integrity, the nature of the assignment, and the degree of intentionality and pre-meditation of the misconduct.
Actions taken must be documented through the Academic Misconduct Referral form, or a referral memo to Student Conduct & Academic Integrity Programs, the central location where all records of incidents of academic dishonesty are kept on file. It is essential that the form or referral memo include the student’s name and student identification number, the name of the class in which the act took place, the date or time period in which the act occurred, a description of the academic misconduct, a summary of actions taken, all original documentation supporting the charge, and the academic sanctions assigned. |
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In cases where the student disputes the facts upon which the charges are based, the instructor will refer the case to Student Conduct & Academic Integrity Programs. The Academic Misconduct Referral form or memo must include the student’s name and student identification number, the name of the class in which the act took place, the date or time period in which the act occurred, a description of the academic misconduct, a summary of actions you have taken, all original documentation supporting the charge, and the academic sanctions recommended. Faculty are encouraged to forward a copy of the course syllabus and other written communication that addresses academic integrity standards and expectations for the course. Faculty are further encouraged to evaluate the assignment or examination on its merits and to make note of the grade to be assigned in the event that the student is not found responsible for violation of the University’s policies or where insufficient evidence exists to hold the student responsible.
Instructors who are in part-time or temporary appointments or who will be on sabbatical or other leave or who will be leaving the University are required to provide a copy of all documentation to the Department Chair, who will serve as a proxy for the instructor if s/he is unavailable to participate fully in resolving the allegations of misconduct. If grades are awarded while the case is in progress, the faculty member will assign a temporary grade placeholder of Grade Delay “GD” pending the outcome of the process. |
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Violations that the instructor believes to be particularly egregious (and that meet the definition of Level Four violations in Section V. “Sanctioning Guidelines”) shall be referred directly to the College Academic Integrity Committee in the instructor’s College for review. |
Course Drops and Withdrawals
A student officially notified of alleged academic misconduct may not withdraw from the course until the determination of responsibility is made and any sanctions are imposed. A sanction for a violation of academic integrity that affects the course grade will be applied. The student may not avoid the imposition of a sanction by withdrawing from a course. If the student is found not responsible for academic misconduct, the student will be permitted to withdraw from the course with a grade of "W".