When Cheating is Suspected

What happens?

The process described below takes effect Fall 2019. If you have a case that occurred prior to Fall 2019, the first two points below are not relevant.

The information on this webpage does not supercede what is in policy or procedures. If there is any inconsistencies here with what is in policy or procedures, act according to the latter.

The Instructor May File an Intent to Report

If the instructor suspects an academic integrity violation occurred but needs time to investigate or compile the documentation, they may submit an Intent to Report. Per the Academic Integrity Policy, the Intent to Report prohibits the student from making any changes to the class, including changing from a letter grade to P/NP or withdrawing from the class.

The Instructor May Ask for a Meeting with the Student

When an instructor suspects that an academic integrity violation may have occurred, they have an option of asking the student to meet with them before submitting an official Allegation Report.

NOTE: An instructor is NOT required to meet with the student and the student is not obligated to respond to the meeting request from the instructor.

Instructors may ask for a meeting for many reasons - not all Instructor-Student meetings should be considered "Instructor-Student Resolution Meetings" as outlined in policy. Sometimes instructors may meet just to inform the student of a report, or sometimes they may meet to ask questions.

If the meeting is desired to function as an "Instructor-Student Resolution Meeting", then the instructor will discuss with the student their concerns and invite the student to comment. The instructor will then email the student a completed Instructor-Student Resolution Form (available from the AI Office upon request of the instructor) and the student can choose to respond to accept responsibility for the academic integrity violation, to contest the violation, or not respond at all. The instructor will record the student's decision or non-response and forward to the AI Office with their Allegation Report.

If the student doesn't meet with the instructor or doesn't respond to an Instructor-Student Resolution Form, then the student will be asked to meet with a Resolution Appropriate Administrative Authority (Resolution AAA) to discuss the case.

NOTE: Even if the student accepts responsibility with the instructor, the university will still issue the appropriate administrative sanctions per the Sanctioning Guidelines.

NOTE: The Academic Integrity Policy provides the student 2 business days to change their mind and retract an acceptance of responsibility indicated on the Instructor-Student Resolution Form. 

The Instructor Submits an Allegation Report to the AI Office

Whether or not an Instructor-Student Resolution Meeting was held, the instructor submits an official Allegation Report to the Academic Integrity (AI) Office. Per the Academic Integrity Policy, an official Allegation Report also prohibits the student from making any changes to the class, including changing from a letter grade to P/NP or withdrawing from the class.

Upon receipt of the Allegation Report, the AI Office initiates and reviews the case.

The AI Office Initiates the Appropriate Process

In the review of the case, the AI Office will determine if the case can be expedited to sanctioning (because the student accepted responsibility in the Instructor-Student Resolution Meeting) or must proceed to a Resolution Meeting with a Resolution Appropriate Administrative Authority (Resolution AAA).

The Resolution AAA Holds a Resolution Meeting with the Student

If a student's case proceeds to a Resolution Meeting with a Resolution Appropriate Administrative Authority (Resolution AAA), there are 3 possible outcomes:

  1. the student accepts responsibility and the case proceeds to the Sanctioning Phase
  2. the student does not accept responsibility but the evidence is sufficient, so the case proceeds to the Academic Integrity Review process. In this situation, it will be the AI Review Panel who will make a decision of the case, either holding the student responsible for an academic integrity violation or not. 
  3. the student does not accept responsibility and presents some relevant evidence that the Resolution AAA shares with the Instructor who subsequently withdraws the allegation. 
The majority of cases are resolved in this Resolution Meeting; only about 15% of cases proceed to an Academic Integrity Review.  In the rare event when a case proceeds to an AI Review, the Academic Integrity Office will provide more information and assistance to both the instructor and the student. 

 

Sanctions Are Assigned

Once a student accepts responsibility or is held responsible, the Resolution AAA, or if appropriate the Sanctioning Body, imposes administrative sanctions (AI Training & disciplinary actions). 

Both student and instructor are notified of the outcome and the administrative sanctions. 

Once the instructor is notified of the administrative sanctions, they can submit the academic sanction (i.e., the grade).

NOTE: Per policy, the Resolution AAA and/or Sanctioning Body has authority to determine the administrative sanctions and the instructor has authority over the academic sanction.

The Instructor Submits the Academic Sanction

  • If the allegation is resolved during the quarter, the student's grade can be submitted through the normal end-of-quarter process
  • If the allegation remains unresolved by the end of the quarter, a grade of X will be submitted by the instructor (the student's transcript will only show a blank where the grade should be).
  • Once the allegation is resolved, the Academic Integrity Office will notify the instructor to change the X to the appropriate grade. 
    • If a student is not held responsible, then they can receive the grade they earned or retroactively withdraw from the course
    • If a student is held responsible or accepts responsibility, then the instructor can impose a grade as an academic sanction for the integrity violation. Faculty have provided advice on assessing academic integrity violations.

The Student Can Appeal

The student can appeal:

  1. the Academic Integrity Review Board (AIRB) finding
  2. administrative sanctions of suspension or dismissal
  3. the academic sanction