Faculty members are allowed to have their own additional course-specific policies for how academic dishonesty is handled, but are limited in the sanctions that may be imposed without a formal hearing. Instructors may choose to handle cases within their own course, and/or to proceed with formal action.
Individual faculty members are responsible for determining if the alleged violation should be:
a. Handled by the instructor internally (within their course). Although the instructor may issue a failing grade for the assignment, project, exam, etc., the instructor may not issue a failing grade for the course. However, failure of the course may result due to the weight of the assignment, project, exam, etc.; or
b. Referred to APRC with the recommendation that the violation be treated as a minor infraction; or
c. Referred to APRC with the recommendation that the violation be treated as a major infraction.
The faculty member(s) should meet with the student to discuss the alleged act of academic dishonesty. During this meeting, the faculty member may request sources from the student or ask questions to determine the student’s familiarity with the material in question. When possible, the instructor should arrange to meet with the student within one calendar week of becoming aware of the alleged violation.
The faculty member(s) should gather the evidence that confirms academic dishonesty (e.g., make copies of the assignment; get citations for, or copies of, the sources that were plagiarized).
If a faculty member chooses to proceed with formal action, the student attends a meeting called by the Academic Policy and Review Committee (APRC) with the faculty member(s) and advisors to discuss the incident. In this meeting, the following should be addressed:
a) Describe the evidence that confirms that academic dishonesty occurred.
b) Listen to the student’s response.
c) Review what academic dishonesty is, how it violates the Honor Code, how it is unacceptable in a scholarly community and how to cite sources properly.
d) Review the College’s Academic Honesty Policy and procedures with the student.
e) Inform student of what the consequences may be (see Resolutions of Academic Dishonesty Cases below).
After this meeting, the faculty member(s), the student’s advisors (if in attendance), and APRC will determine the consequences.
Before the consequences are determined, APRC will request that the registrar review the student’s record to confirm if this is a first or second incident, etc., and then APRC completes the Academic Dishonesty Report form. If records indicate that this is not the student’s first offense, the policy for the second (etc.) offense (see consequences of academic dishonesty below) will be put into effect. Knowledge of a student’s prior record should be used in determining penalties, but must not enter into the decision about the presence or nature of academic dishonesty. All parties will retain copies of the report and its accompanying documentation after the hearing and a copy will be forwarded to the registrar to become a part of the student’s academic record.