Handling Issues of Academic Misconduct
Responding to and Reporting Academic Misconduct
Greg Singleton, Association VP for Student Affairs/Dean of Students
Hello. My name is Greg Singleton and I serve Austin Peay State University as our Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, and the Deputy Title Nine Coordinator. Today I want to talk with you about the university's academic misconduct policy, policy 3:005, and the specific responsibilities you have as a faculty member whenever you suspect or determine that a student has violated the academic misconduct policy. Additionally, I encourage you to review closely the presentation that's been provided in order to follow the outlined steps and filing a formal complaint of academic misconduct that is shared with students. Academic integrity is the cornerstone of their educational experience, and it's extremely important to remember the following. Every member of a university community has to ensure academic integrity. Faculty have the responsibility to report suspected violations. It provides students with procedural due process, and it also protects you as a faculty member from potential litigation for failure to provide due process to students.
Policy 3:005 outlines four specific areas of academic misconduct. These include plagiarism - the adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one's own without proper attribution - cheating, using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or aids in any academic exercise or test or examination. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours, fabrication, unauthorized falsification, or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise, fabrication or collusion, assisting or attempting to assist another to violate a provision of the institutions Student Code regarding academic misconduct.
There are also some additional factors for faculty consideration. APSU Policy 3:005, permits faculty to lower a grade, including assigning a grade of F on a paper assignment or for the course as a sanction for academic misconduct. It's also important to note that no one can force a faculty member to change a grade he or she has assigned. However, if a student appeals the finding, the following occurs. If a student appeal is denied, the sanction levied by the faculty member shall stand and the students shall be sent correspondence indicating the outcome of their appeal. Faculty will always be copied on all correspondence to the student. If a student appeal is upheld, the case is sent back to the faculty member for reconsideration. The faculty member must reassess the student's grade based on the hearing's findings or on their original works of mission. Procedurally, it's recommended that faculty adhere to the following guidelines. Faculty should always meet in person, if possible, with the student and discuss the academic misconduct allegation. And for online courses, notification of an allegation can be sent to the student electronically. Faculty members must provide written notification to the student if they wish to lower an assignment grade or coursework grade and provide documentation or evidence to substantiate the charge. Information pertaining to filing a charge against a student for any academic misconduct violation, as well as the specific academic misconduct form can be found on the Dean of Students websit. Faculty members must provide the student with a copy of the signed notification, as well as provide them with any evidence used against them for the alleged violations. A copy of both the signed notification and the evidence used will also need to be submitted to my office through the Office of Student Affairs. It's recommended in all cases that the accused student be informed of their right to an appeal hearing should they believe they have not violated policy 3:005. If a student desires an appeal hearing, they must provide evidence to counter the allegation. If a student does not request an appeal hearing or respond to the allegation within three class days, all hearing rights are waived by the student. Hearings will be conducted based on the procedures outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. A preponderance of evidence standard is utilized in all of our hearings. The accused student can choose to accept the faculty members finding and sanction, thus waiving their right to an appeal hearing. If a student accepts the faculty members finding, correspondence should be sent to the student with a copy to my office through the Office of Student Affairs.
All student academic misconduct violations are maintained in a judicial database in the Office of Student Affairs. Faculty may assign a variety of penalties for academic misconduct violations, which can range from an F on the assignment and F in the course, a lowering of the course grade or a lowering of his grade for the assignment. Repeat violations can also be assessed formal disciplinary sanctions through Student Affairs, which can include a warning, a reprimand, probation, expulsion, or other penalties as appropriate. It's important to note that a course may not be dropped by the student pending the final disposition of the allegation. Student may attend and participate in classroom activities while the investigation is undergoing. They cannot be prohibited from continuing their academic work. If final grades are due during the course of the investigation, faculty members can assign an "I" as an incomplete for the course. Faculty can then change the grade once the investigation is completed. Faculty will also be notified of the disposition of the case as soon as possible after completion.
In a review of the academic misconduct presentation, you'll be able to see the total number of academic misconduct violations that have occurred during the last academic year. Additionally, you'll be able to see the frequency of violations by gender classification and College of enrollment. In addition, I've included both a 10-year semester to semester comparison of the total number of cases and an 11-year comparison of cases for your review. In closing, please never hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns pertaining to our academic must conduct policy where to find information related to falling a formal charge of a policy violation, or if you simply need guidance on the best way to address a suspected violation, I'm always happy to assist you at anytime.
- Plagiarism: the adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images or works of another person as one’s own without proper attribution.
- Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or aids in any academic exercise or test/examination. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.
- Fabrication: Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
- Facilitation or Collusion: Assisting or attempting to assist another to violate a provision of the institution’s student code regarding academic misconduct.
Additional Factors to Consider:
- APSU policy 3:005 permits faculty to lower a grade including assigning a grade of “F” on a paper, assignment, or for the course as a sanction for academic misconduct
- It’s important to note that no one can force a faculty member to change
a grade he or she has assigned; however, if a student appeals the finding the following occurs: - If the student appeal is denied, the sanction levied by the faculty member shall stand and the student will be send correspondence indicating the outcome of their appeal. Faculty will always be copied on all correspondence to the student.
- If the student appeal is upheld, the case is sent back to the faculty member for reconsideration
- After the appeal process, the faculty member must
reassess the student’s grade based on the hearing’s findings
- Faculty should meet in person, if possible, and discuss the academic misconduct allegation with student. For online courses, notification of an allegation may be sent to the student electronically.
- Faculty members MUST provide written notification to the student if they wish to lower assignment grade or course work grade and provide documentation/evidence to substantiate the charge.
- Information pertaining to filing a charge against a student for academic misconduct can be found on the dean of students website at https://apsu.edu/student-affairs/dean-of-students/academic-honesty-and-integrity.php
- Faculty member must provide the student with a copy of the signed notification as well as any evidence used against them for the alleged violation(s)
- A copy of both the signed notification and the evidence used will also need to be submitted to the department chair and the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students
- If an appeal hearing is requested by the student, all related documents (including any evidence) should be provided by the faculty to the Associate VP/Dean of Students
- The accused student should be informed of the right to an appeal hearing.
- The accused student can accept the instructor’s finding and sanction thus waving their right to an appeal hearing. If the student accepts the instructor’s finding, correspondence will be sent to the student, with a copy to the instructor, from the AVP/Dean of Students and maintained in the Student Affairs Judicial Database
- If student desires an appeal hearing, they must provide evidence to counter the allegation.
- If a student does not request an appeal hearing or respond to the allegation within three class days , all hearing rights are waived.
- Hearings will be conducted based on the procedures outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. A preponderance of evidence standard is utilized.
- If the hearing is in the student’s favor, no penalty may be imposed and the case is remanded back to the faculty for reassessment and review to assign an appropriate grade.
- Once a hearing request has been made, the Office of Student Affairs will notify the
student to arrange a preliminary conference where he or she will be advised of the
options and Institutional Hearing Rights.
- Failure of the student to sign and elect a hearing option is a waiver of all hearing rights
- Students found guilty are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class.
- Penalties will vary and will include, but not limited to, “F” on the assignment, “F” in the course, formal disciplinary sanctions including a warning, reprimand, probation, suspension, or expulsion, or other penalties as appropriate.
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If a student is found guilty, the faculty member’s grade shall stand. Additional sanctions may be levied by the Associate VP/Dean of Students.
- If student is not guilty and is exonerated from the charge, the faculty member should
reassess the student’s grade based on the quality of the work.
- If the grade is to be improved and the faculty member does not do so, an administrative grade change will be made.
- If the quality of the work does not show a grade change, the original grade may stand.
Appeals Process
- Detailed in the Student Code of Conduct
- Requires, at minimum:
- Notice to the student in writing of the conduct violation
- Notice to the student of the time, date, and place of the hearing allowing a reasonable time for preparation
- The right of a student to present his or her case
- The right of a student to be accompanied by an advisor of their choice
- The right of a student to call witnesses and to confront witnesses against the student
- The right to be advised of the method and time limitations for appeal