A: After discovering evidence of academic misconduct in your work, your instructor must inform their departmental undergraduate advisor who will complete a GWR (Grade Withheld Pending Review form). Placing a GWR on your record prohibits you from dropping the course until the matter is resolved.
Important: you may face disciplinary action for any academic integrity violation, regardless whether you committed it intentionally or unintentionally. An integrity violation will be noted on your academic record.
Faculty should issue the student an incomplete in the course rather than assign a final grade pending the outcome of the hearing. This step prevents unnecessary confusion. Students cannot withdraw from the course once an allegation has been submitted.
If you admit to the alleged offence at the meeting, the Dean's Designate may recommend a sanction. The penalties imposed vary, but they are always in accordance with the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (see Appendix "C"). Timelines: If charged with an academic offence, expect that at a minimum, it may take 2 months to resolve.
No, with two exceptions. If you have signed a Warning Letter Form offered by your instructor, you can drop or withdraw from the course once the Instructor Resolution Warning Letter has been approved by the Board on Academic Honesty.
You now have two choices: you can sign the letter and admit that you violated the code, or, if you feel that you did not violate the academic integrity code, you can write a letter (email) to the dean asking for an appeal.
Can I be suspended or dismissed for academic integrity violations? Your instructor may recommend dismissal in the case of a serious infraction but that decision can only be made by the Student Committee on Student Discipline. Repeated violations of the academic integrity policy may lead to suspension or dismissal.
These actions could include fines, loss of future projects to the university or lawsuits. Such actions have serious consequences, as they not only ruin the reputation of the university, but also result in loss of opportunities for other students in the future.
One of the worst accusations for any serious scholar is that of academic misconduct. Whether you're really at fault or falsely accused, the end result can be the same. A damaged reputation can take years to recover. This stressful time should be taken seriously, but it's not a helpless situation.
Academic dishonesty may undercut career preparation and lead to disciplinary measures, including expulsion in severe cases.
5 Tips for Students Accused of Online Academic MisconductDo not respond to the charges without consulting a lawyer. ... Hire a student defense lawyer. ... Take a look at your school's Code of Conduct. ... Document the alleged incident of academic dishonesty. ... Keep your case to yourself.
In the case of a first offense of academic dishonesty, the instructor will assign a grade of zero (0) for the assignment. Students may not use the Student Grievance procedure to challenge an individual assignment grade.
Although these sanctions do not appear on your transcript, they will be noted in your educational record. Anyone for whom you give the Office of Academic Integrity & Student Conduct permission to disclose information regarding your academic records may be notified that you have a conduct or academic integrity record.
I strongly recommend hiring an experienced lawyer for students to assist in fighting the cheating accusation. By working with students to gather evidence and draft statements to fight academic dishonesty charges, it gives each student the best chance of success.
Yes, the school may pursue criminal charges based on the accusation of academic dishonesty.
You will have an opportunity to explain - Be honest! After the meeting, if the instructor finds that an offence was not committed, the matter can be dropped. However, if there is clear evidence of an offence, the instructor will have no alternative but to forward ...
If you admit to the alleged offence at the meeting, the Dean's Designate may recommend a sanction. The penalties imposed vary, but they are always in accordance with the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (see Appendix "C").
All new accusations of academic misconduct made on or after August 23rd, 2021 will be resolved using the new Academic Integrity Code. The principles and procedures set forth in the new Code apply to all student academic work, whether in-person or virtual, and work conducted in labs, internships/externships, or clinical assignments.
UAB updated the existing Code of Academic Integrity to facilitate the consistency of procedures across academic units, improve the documentation and reporting of findings of academic misconduct between academic units, and provide additional guidance to all members of the University community (including students, staff, teaching assistants, and faculty) about how to handle accusations of academic misconduct..
The Academic Integrity Code applies to all undergraduate, graduate, professional, and all other academic activities within the University. More specific codes, policies, and procedures will apply in some schools (e.g., professional schools).
Students play an important role in the promotion of academic integrity at UAB. Instructors depend on students to let them know if they suspect cheating on a course assignment. Students also serve on Hearing Panels, which are responsible for resolving the most serious cases of academic misconduct.
The new Code makes several significant changes, including the appointment of one or more Academic Integrity Coordinators within each academic unit, the allowance of “resolution agreements” between Instructors and Students, a delineation between Conferences and Hearings, and a guide to evaluating the severity of academic misconduct and corresponding sanctions for students found responsible for academic misconduct.
Academic Integrity Coordinators (AICs) responsible for administering the Code within their respective school or college, including maintaining and submitting records of proceedings and resolutions to a centralized reporting system.
Resolution Agreements allow for instructors and students to resolve cases of academic misconduct prior to a Conference or Hearing with the Academic Integrity Coordinator.
Professors submitting plagiarism cases should provide portions of the material from which the student is alleged to have plagiarized. Where appropriate, provide additional narratives completed by co-instructors or Teaching Assistants. These individuals may be called as factual witnesses should a hearing take place.
Under the Student Discipline Procedures, students can request up to two days to think about whether they want to sign the form. At the end of the two days, the form should be submitted along with all supporting materials to the Office of Student Conduct – regardless of whether the student has signed the form.
In most cases, the charge is only changed when there is a more appropriate charge that more effectively matches the behavior described in your narrative. The narrative submitted should be as complete as possible, addressing all of the objective and relevant reasons why you suspect that academic misconduct has occurred.
It is not necessary to have another faculty or staff member with you as a witness. The most important element to keep in mind during the meeting is that it is a behavior that is at issue, not whether or not the student is a good or bad person. Questions that focus on behaviors are less likely to make people defensive.
It is a good idea to probe further in the latter case by asking for more detail. It is important to ask for explanations or detail without giving the student the answer you are seeking. Students who are reluctant to give you much information should be pressed with open-ended questions.
a) The sanction and the process of leading up to the sanction are an explicit opportunity for a student to make a personal ethical transformation. The sanction empowers the student to confront their action, learn from it, and choose to complete the rest of their academic work honestly.
The students on the review board are representatives of the student body, who are the ones most directly harmed by acts of academic dishonesty. Students bear the greatest responsibility for the development and maintenance of a culture of academic integrity.
Almost all students accused of academic dishonesty accept responsibility, though usually one or two each semester do not. Those students may or may not be found responsible for academic dishonesty by the academic review board, depending on the details of the case. The process and sanctions are designed so that in almost all cases, students are able to move forward productively and honestly with their academics at Colby. In almost all semesters, one or more students is suspended or expelled for a pattern of academic dishonesty.
Students found responsible for academic dishonesty a second time are almost always suspended. A third finding of academic dishonesty will almost always result in expulsion. Lying to the academic review board investigating a case of dishonesty will generally result in additional penalties, possibly including suspension.
There are several types of academic integrity violations. Some types of violations include:
This is unique to your university. Students can find the process outlined in the school handbook or on the university website. The process includes many steps and to give yourself the best chance at success, you should involve a lawyer for college students as early as possible.
There are several steps that can easily overwhelm a student. I help student’s draft emails for records, discuss potential witnesses, fight to include or exclude evidence, and even write opening and closing statements along with the student’s core arguments.
An academic integrity hearing is nothing like a legal proceeding that you see on tv. There is a panel of decision makers that include school staff and students. The only rules that apply are the ones outlined by the university.
Colleges often bring charges against students with little or no evidence. The case against a student can be built on speculation and weak evidence. This does not stop the college from moving forward. However, even if you are caught red handed, a lawyer for college students can help minimize the impact of charges and push for a lower punishment.
Yes. I advise students all over the country facing academic integrity hearings. By working together to craft the best defense possible, you will be given the greatest chance at success. I also attend hearings as a legal adviser with students to support them during this very stressful event.
Richard Asselta is an award-winning lawyer for college students who offers student defense services to students throughout the United States. He is experienced in defending all types of student disciplinary issues including all academic integrity charges. Call The Education Lawyers today for a free consultation and protect your future.