Academic Honesty

Faculty will gather all material evidence (e.g., papers, crib notes, copied materials and the source[s] from which it came, et al.). If the charges have arisen from an inconsistency in quality, prior work samples along with the work in question should be presented to the student. Names of those who have pertinent knowledge of the situation will also be presented.

Once the information is gathered, a meeting between the individual faculty member and the accused should be held within 5 class days (or within 5 business days of a final exam) to discuss the matter. All parties shall maintain confidentiality. The faculty member may seek advice/counsel from their department chair. The student may seek advice/counsel from an individual of their choice.

Following the meeting, the faculty member shall have these options available if disciplinary action is warranted:

• Have the student redo the assignment or do a different assignment.
• Reduce the student’s grade a specified amount.
• Give the student an F for the assignment.
• Give the student an AF or F for the course.
• Issue the student a letter of sanction (copies to registrar and student’s department chair).
• Other options as appropriate.
• Available options that require department chair and VPAA approval include:
  • Suspend the student from the program or college for one semester.
  • Suspend the student from the program or college for more than one semester.
  • Dismiss the student from the program or college.

The faculty member’s decision will be sent in writing to the student within 2 class days of the meeting. If another student was complicit in the cheating/plagiarism, the faculty member will pursue disciplinary action against that student. Appeals are handled using the grade appeal/grade change process and/or the student judicial process.