Students play a crucial role in maintaining academic integrity. Academic exercises are a chance for students to demonstrate what they know and what they have learned to their instructors, while giving credit to other sources as appropriate. To explore more about academic integrity, including best practices, head to the Academic Integrity page.
This guide is for students to gain a deeper understanding of the Academic Honesty policy and procedures.
When an instructor suspects a student of academic dishonesty, they should notify you within 10 business days with an offer to meet to discuss the situation. Generally, there are three options to resolve suspected academic dishonesty:
- The student and instructor meet to discuss the situation and determine there was a misunderstanding. The instructor drops their suspicious and grades the student accordingly.
- The student and instructor agree to an informal resolution, where they describe the incident of academic dishonesty and agree to an appropriate penalty.
- The student and instructor do not agree to an informal resolution, either because they do not agree to on the description and sanction or the student denies the allegation. The instructor files a formal charge. The student has the option to appeal the charge and attend a hearing to resolve the matter.
You cannot drop or withdraw from a class to avoid a charge of academic dishonesty. An instructor cannot prevent you from attending a course or completing academic work due to suspicion of academic dishonesty. If you have questions about your rights and responsibilities or need support in navigating this process, please contact @email.
Stay calm. Being accused of academic dishonesty may be frightening or frustrating! It’s natural to be upset. However, staying calm will help you to reasonably consider your options and decide how you’d like to proceed. It may help to remember that you have resources available to support you, and that you have the right to a fair, unbiased hearing if the initial meeting with your instructor doesn’t lead to a resolution.
Gather evidence. You may have an easier time discussing the situation with your instructor if you bring evidence that your work was original. Try checking your computer for editing history of typed documents, bring in drafts or diagrams you used to plan your work, or plan to discuss how and when you completed the academic exercise.
Review your options. Read through the rest of this page, reference the Academic Honesty Policy, and consider what you would like to do. Resolving suspicions of academic dishonesty always involves communicating with your instructor, but there are several paths that can be taken from there.
- Your instructor may agree that no academic dishonesty occurred without the need for a Formal or Informal Resolution to occur.
- You and your instructor may agree to an Informal Resolution to resolve the incident
- You can appeal a Formal Charge and attend a hearing, where you have a chance to present your case to a panel of Academic Honesty Board members.
Respond to your instructor. You should be professional and polite, use basic email etiquette, and make sure to respond to their outreach in a timely manner. You may feel intimidated or nervous to talk to your instructor about the situation, but it’s important to be responsive, even if it’s to ask for additional time to reach out to a resource for help or for additional time to make a decision about the process
Informal resolutions are agreements between the instructor and the student on both the description of the incident of academic dishonesty and an appropriate penalty. They are confidentially kept with the Academic Honesty Office, and do not appear on a student’s record*. In cases where a student agrees to an informal resolution, the repeated courses policy does apply. A student cannot appeal an informal resolution once it is signed.
Signing an informal resolution means that you agree to both the description of the incident and the sanction described. You should not sign an informal resolution if you do not agree with the described instance of academic dishonesty or the proposed sanction.
Instructors submit a formal charge of academic dishonesty if a) they cannot reach an agreement with the student on an informal resolution, b) they do not believe an informal resolution is appropriate given the suspected instance of academic dishonesty, or c) they do not receive a response from a student they suspect of academic dishonesty. Students can appeal formal charges and have their case reviewed by members of the Academic Honesty Board at a hearing. If a student is found responsible for a formal charge, either by a hearing panel or because they do not appeal, it becomes part of their conduct record. Students who are found responsible for a formal charge may retake the course (as long as they earned a C- or less), but the grade they received in the course will remain calculated in their GPA.
| Informal Resolutions | Formal Charges |
|---|---|
| Student and instructor agree to the description of the instance of academic dishonesty and a penalty | Instructor charges a student with academic dishonesty by submitting a description of the incident and a suggested penalty |
| Cannot be appealed once signed | Can be appealed within 10 business days of receiving the charge |
| Does not appear on your student conduct record* | Upheld formal charges (either charges that are not appealed or instances where a student is found responsible at a hearing) appear on your student conduct record |
| Repeated Courses Policy still applies (can retake if you earn a C- or lower, the latest grade factors into your GPA) | Repeated Courses Policy no longer applies (can retake if you earn a C- or lower and need a higher grade, but both grades will factor into your GPA) |
*Students with three or more violations of the academic honesty policy (informal resolutions and/or upheld formal charges) will face additional sanctions, which will be recorded on the student’s conduct record.
If you’d like to consult with someone about informal resolutions or formal charges, please reach out to us at @email.
You have the right to appeal a formal charge and may do so by completing the Formal Charge Appeal form within 10 business days of receiving notice of the charge from the Academic Honesty Office. Your email notification from the Academic Honesty Office will include the specific deadline date.
In the appeal form, you should describe the basis of your appeal and describe any evidence you plan to discuss at the hearing. Consider the information provided by your instructor in the formal charge form, including any evidence they submitted. Your appeal should include any context you would like to provide during the hearing, including evidence and materials that may demonstrate that you did not violate the academic honesty policy.
If you appeal the charge, a hearing will be scheduled based on your course schedule. The evidence and arguments presented at the hearing will be restricted to the evidence and line of argument provided in your written appeal.
If you do not file an appeal, no hearing will be held and the intended sanction will be implemented. Failure to appeal will also establish a disciplinary record for academic dishonesty.
For more information about hearings, please view the Policy and Procedures page and the Academic Honesty Policy.
Academic Integrity is the foundation of academic work at our institution. Violating the Academic Honesty policy has serious consequences. Academic dishonesty is harmful to your own education, as it encourages bad habits and limits your opportunities to learn.
Student may face consequences related to their course progress or grade, such as: resubmitting work or full or partial credit; completing additional assignments or educational sanctions related to academic honesty; grade penalties on assignments, exams, or courses; failure of a course.
Through the formal charge or University Sanction Hearing process (for students who acquire 3 or more previous violations of the Academic Honesty process), students may face University Sanctions such as probation, deferred suspension, or suspension as a result of Academic Dishonesty.
Any upheld formal charges or sanctions from a University Sanction hearing are reflected on a student’s conduct history.
- The Academic Honesty Office advises all concerned parties about their rights and responsibilities under the Academic Honesty Policy. We remain neutral, as we advise both students and instructors on policy and procedure. We also maintain all records related to Academic Honesty on campus. Contact @email with any questions or to schedule a meeting.
- The Ombuds Office is a unique place on campus, where all community members can talk confidentially and “off the record” about any concern, issue, or conflict. The Ombuds office can help students in a variety of ways. Call 413-545-0867 or send an email to @email to schedule a confidential appointment.
- The SGA Student Conduct Advisors are a team of students who advocate on the behalf of other students involved in the conduct process. They are trained to understand the Code of Conduct, and other campus policies and procedures. Conduct Advisors can attend hearings, help you prepare for the hearing, and advise you throughout the process. They are also a support system that can refer you to additional campus resources. To schedule a meeting, use the intake from available on their website. You can also reach them via email at @email.