Academic Misconduct Process FAQ

The below information is in addition to that contained in the Student Code of Conduct (S.C.O.C) and located on the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards’ website under the Academic Misconduct tab. Please reference the above links in addition to the information contained here for a full understanding of the process. If you have specific questions not answered here, please speak to your faculty member (if you're a student) or to the College Conduct Administrator (CCA) of your college.

No. This refers to the time when the meeting must be put on the calendar. The meeting itself can occur beyond the 5 days. However, non-academic conflicts with the meeting time and adviser availability will not be considered in the scheduling of this meeting, so it should occur as soon as reasonably possible. 

The Notification Form states the review meeting “must be scheduled within five days of instructor’s receipt of Notification form back from student.” Does this mean the student and faculty must meet in this period?

• No. This refers to the time when the meeting must be put on the calendar. The meeting itself can occur beyond the 5 days. However, non-academic conflicts with the meeting time and adviser availability will not be considered in the scheduling of this meeting, so it should occur as soon as reasonably possible. 

What counts as “in session” for the Academic Misconduct process?

• “In session” refers to periods of time when classes meet during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays, weekends, reading days, term breaks, and any time the university is closed.

If there is an allegation of Academic Misconduct in a class occurring during the Summer Session, how do Academic Misconduct deadlines work?

• If a student is alleged to have violated Academic Misconduct policies during a class happening during a Summer Session the normal process and deadlines will apply.

Does Finals Week count as “in session” for Academic Misconduct allegations?

• No. Any time there is a scheduled exam period, whether the fall, spring, or summer, those dates do not count as “in session.”

What happens if the Academic Misconduct process cannot be completed prior to final grades needing to be submitted?

• If the Academic Misconduct process is initiated but unable to be completed prior to a term break where final grades must be submitted, a student will receive an Incomplete, “I,” grade until the completion of the process.
• At the conclusion of the process, the grade will be changed to reflect the appropriate grade earned by the student.

If there is an allegation of Academic Misconduct during finals weeks, what does the process look like at that point?

• The faculty member will still need to notify the student within the 10 days of discovering the alleged misconduct, however, the dates for all other requirements of the process would begin on the first day of classes in the next session.
• The process requires that an Incomplete, “I,” grade be entered until the completion of the process. As such, faculty should work with students to resolve the allegation during the break period if possible. Students should keep in mind that the university is closed during portions of winter break, where there is no expectation for the process to continue. Additionally, many faculty members may have other obligations during the summer period, may be on sabbatical, or may work on a 9-month contract, all of which may impact their availability to complete the process during the summer.

If a student receives an Incomplete, “I,” grade while the Academic Misconduct process is ongoing, but the “I” grade is in a class which is a pre-requisite for a class the student is enrolled in for the next term, will that “I” grade impact the student’s ability to continue in the future class?

• In instances like this, students should work with their College Conduct Administrator (CCA). Each college may approach this differently, but each college should work with students on a case-by-case basis to ensure minimal disruption to their academic progress.

If a student requests a College Hearing Panel (CHP) to resolve an allegation of Academic Misconduct, can that CHP take place over the summer?

• For many colleges it may not be reasonably possible to convene a CHP during the summer term break. For instance, some colleges may not be able to put together a CHP during the summer as they may not have faculty, staff, or students who are trained and able to serve on the CHP. However, if a college is able to convene a CHP they will work on a case-by-case basis with students and the faculty based on availability, precedent, and extenuating circumstances.
• Each college may approach this differently. Please work with the CCA to see if this is an option.
  

What happens if the Academic Misconduct process cannot be completed during the same semester of the alleged misconduct?

• The deadlines required for the Academic Misconduct process will apply when classes are in session, excluding holidays, weekends, reading days, term breaks, and any time the university is closed. This means, if the regular deadline dates would include a term break, those deadlines would then skip the term break and continue once back in classes are in session.
• A student will receive an Incomplete, “I,” grade in the course of the alleged misconduct until the conclusion of the process.
• Faculty should still work with students to complete the process during term breaks if the student chooses and the faculty member is able. 

What happens if an alleged student withdraws from the course prior to the completion of the Academic Misconduct process? 

• The process will continue as normal, even if the alleged student withdraws. 

If an alleged student is found responsible for a violation of the Academic Misconduct policies, would that finding be included in a student's record? 

• Violations of Academic Misconduct policies are housed in the Student Conduct and Community Standards office once they are finalized. These records are maintained for a minimum of seven years, per federal law. However, there is no notation on the student's transcript at any point, regardless of outcome.