Procedures for Pursuing a Violation
This section is intended to be a primer, or simplified version of the procedures to use when you suspect academic misconduct has occurred. Also included here are tips that may help you to respond to common issues and questions. The full Procedures Manual and an article on "How to Confront" are available for additional information.
When academic misconduct is suspected, the first step is to gather all the information available in the incident, including papers, written comments from a TA or person who might have witnessed the act, or original sources if plagiarism is suspected.
It is important that you obtain a copy of the Report of an Academic Integrity Violation Form (RAIV). For the most recent version, you can download the form [pdf] or call our office at 515-2963.
Conduct a private meeting with the student and discuss your concerns regarding their academic conduct. If, at the conclusion of this meeting you believe that the student has committed academic misconduct, present them with the option of signing the RAIV form. It is essential that the student read, and understands, everything that is within the box where they sign the form. The most common complaint heard from students is that they did not understand what they were signing. It is common, and appropriate, to give the student a period of time to consider this option before signing. Pressuring a student to sign at the meeting does not provide them with time to seek answers to their questions. Two days is usually sufficient for them to make contact with this office to review their rights and their options.
If the student signs the form, decide upon a sanction, complete the form, attach copies of the relevant materials and send it to the Office of Student Conduct. If you are unsure of an appropriate sanction for a particular case, call our office for information about sanctions in similar cases.
If the student chooses not to sign the form, and you still believe that academic misconduct was attempted or occurred, complete the form as far as possible, attach the paperwork for the case, and forward all the materials to the Office of Student Conduct. We will then review the materials and call you if there are any questions or concerns. The staff in the Office of Student Conduct will then schedule a hearing before the Academic Integrity Review Board.
The Academic Integrity Review Board is a panel of 5 members, which includes 2 faculty and 3 students. The hearing is facilitated by the Student Chief Justice, who votes only in cases of a tie among the other 4 Board Members. Hearings occur on Monday or Thursday of the week and usually take two to two and one half-hours. Student Assistants are assigned to both parties that come before the Board. Their role is to help ensure that the parties come to the hearing prepared to speak honestly and openly about the behaviors that have led to the charge of academic misconduct. The Assistants do not speak for, or represent the person to which they are assigned.
The Board makes decisions about whether or not the student has violated the Code of Student Conduct, and if so, what sanction to impose. The Board has the authority to suspend or expel students who are found in violation of the Code. If a student is found guilty, faculty has an opportunity to make a recommendation to the Board regarding sanctioning.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the student will sign and receive a form detailing the results of the hearing. A follow-up letter will be sent to the student with a fuller description of the Board's decision.