The University Senate Rules outline specific requirements for handling academic offense issues. In the event an instructor suspects a student may have plagiarized or cheated, the instructor will invite the student to meet with the course instructor and the department chair (or a designated faculty member) to ask the student what happened. This is the student's opportunity to explain what happened.
Within seven working days after the meeting, the instructor will write a letter informing the student whether the student's action constitutes an academic offense, and if so, the penalty imposed and the student's right to appeal.
Please note that a student determined to have committed an academic offense may not withdraw from the course. If the student withdraws, the Registrar will reinstate the student in the course.
The student has ten working days to contact Academic Ombud Services to appeal the instructor's determination that the student committed an academic offense. Once the appeal has begun, the burden of proof is on the instructor. Please see How to Appeal an Academic Offense for more information on the process.
If, after ten working days, the student does not appeal, Academic Ombud Services will inform the Registrar and the Registrar will keep a record of the offense. The Registrar will reveal the existence of the offense only if the student authorizes the release of the record or a court-ordered subpoena seeks the student's entire academic record (not just a transcript). Requesting a transcript will not reveal the existence of the offense record.