All University employees and faculty must provide due process before imposing a disciplinary action against a student. In all circumstances, the student is presumed innocent, and the University has the burden of proof.
Due process is provided for academic offense cases by providing the student the opportunity to meet with the instructor and department chair (or Registrar) to inquire how the student completed the work in question. The meeting should not be adversarial.
An instructor who suspects that a student has committed an academic offense in a course shall consult with the chair as soon as practical after the instructor develops the suspicion. Prior to consultation with the chair, the instructor may take action to prove or detect an academic offense or preserve evidence of same. In taking such action, the instructor should minimize disruption and embarrassment to the student(s).
The instructor and chair shall review the evidence of an academic offense, and the instructor shall decide whether the evidence warrants an investigation of an academic offense.
If any person other than the instructor suspects that a student has committed an academic offense in a course in which the student is enrolled, that person should turn the evidence over to the instructor.
If any person suspects that a student has committed an academic offense, either with respect to a course in which the student is not enrolled, or in academic work outside of a course (for example, an honors project or dissertation, a graduate examination, a thesis or dissertation or a formally submitted thesis or dissertation proposal), that person should inform and provide the evidence to Christine Harper and Brandi Frisby, Associate Provosts. A Formal Hearing will be provided for the student.
For further procedures, please see Offense Procedures.
If any person suspects that a student has falsified, attempted to falsify, or otherwise misused academic records, that person should inform the Registrar.
For further procedures, please see Offense Procedures.