Committee Procedures for Academic Offenses

  1. The chairperson, upon receiving a written appeal or referral from the dean of students or designee, will convene the committee within fifteen (15) class days to determine the responsibility or non-responsibility of the student or the appropriate disciplinary action (sanction).
  2. The student and the faculty member will be notified in writing at least ten (10) class days before the date set for the hearing of the nature of the complaint and of the date, time, and place the case is to be heard. They shall also be notified that, should either party choose not to appear, the hearing will proceed as scheduled. For the purpose of this section, the day after the date of mailing of the letter of notification shall be the first day of the ten (10) day delay period. The committee must hear the case within fifteen (15) class days of the time the appeal or referral was filed. The determination of the date, time, and place of the hearing will include consideration of the student’s and faculty member’s schedules and of their convenience, but in the interest of fairness, reasonable speed shall be the watchword.
  3. The student and the faculty member will be notified that each can bring witnesses in his or her behalf, that each will have a reasonable opportunity for confronting witnesses appearing against him or her, that each has the right to be present during all phases of the hearing, and that each may bring to the hearing two (2) nonparticipating representatives.
  4. At least five (5) class days before the committee is convened, the student and the faculty member must submit to the administrative officer all the information that each feels is pertinent to the appeal or referral. This information must be in writing and supported in detail, and it should specify what additional evidence, witnesses, and/or legal counsel the student or faculty member will bring to the scheduled meeting. Copies of this information will be distributed to all involved parties.
  5. The only person present at meetings of this committee shall be members, parties to the action being considered by the committee, their non-participating representatives, and witnesses actually testifying before the committee.
  6. Written statements by witnesses in lieu of personal appearance should not be allowed except in rare instances.
  7. During the process of making a determination of responsibility or non-responsibility in determining the appropriate disciplinary action (sanction), the committee shall consider only that information which:
    1. Has been presented during the hearing.
    2. Is relevant to the charge.
  8. If the committee finds the student responsible for the charge, the faculty member will determine the appropriate grade penalty, and the committee will determine the appropriate disciplinary sanction. In such case, the chairperson may request the dean of students or designee to open the student’s file to see if there is a disciplinary record. If the committee finds the student innocent, the faculty member will treat the student accordingly. In any case, no disciplinary sanction or grade penalty shall be imposed until the appeal deadline has expired. The administrative officer will maintain all records during the appeal delay period and, on the expiration date, will forward all records to the dean of students or designee for filing and appropriate administrative action, and notify the faculty member to impose the penalty.
  9. The administrative officer shall notify in writing and deliver within five (5) class days of the hearing to the student, faculty member, and dean of students or designee the decision and determination of the case, the disciplinary sanction imposed, and the right of the student, faculty member, or dean of students or designee to petition for appeal. The Appeals Procedures and Instructions Form shall accompany the letter. A grade penalty cannot be appealed.
  10. If the disciplinary sanction imposed was suspension or expulsion, the administrative officer shall notify the vice chancellor of student affairs, the vice chancellor/provost, and the chancellor in writing of the committee’s decision and the determination of the case, reasons for the decision, sanction imposed, and verify that all involved parties have been notified of their right to petition for appeal in accordance with the University’s Appeals Procedures and Instructions.

Conduct of Hearings Regarding Academic Offenses

The chairperson shall preside at the hearing; call the hearing to order; call the roll of the committee members in attendance; ascertain the presence or absence of the student(s) charged with the violation; ascertain the presence of the dean of students or designee or accuser, the representatives of the student, and legal counsel if applicable; read the notice of charges by the student(s); report any continuance requested or granted and any special or extraordinary procedures to be employed during the hearing; and inform the committee members and those involved in the hearing that the hearing is being taped.

  1. Opening statements:
    1. The dean of students, designee, or accuser shall make opening remarks outlining the general nature of the case and testify to any facts the investigation has revealed.
    2. The accused student(s) may make a statement to the committee about the charge(s) at this time or at the conclusion of the university’s presentation. Witnesses shall be excluded from the hearing prior to the time their testimony is given. Persons who have been present during any part of the hearing may be allowed to testify only in those rare instances when the party can persuade the entire hearing panel that the need for such testimony could not reasonably have been anticipated.
  2. University evidence:
    1. University witnesses or persons testifying against the accused are to be called and identified or their written report(s) of evidence introduced as appropriate.
    2. The committee may question witnesses at any time.
    3. The accused may examine evidence presented to the committee against him or her.
    4. The accused may question witnesses present or persons testifying against him or her.
    5. The accused may consult his or her representative or legal counsel during the hearing.
  3. Accused evidence:
    1. Witnesses or person(s) testifying on behalf of the accused are to be called and identified and written reports of evidence introduced as appropriate.
    2. The committee may question the witnesses or person(s) testifying on behalf of the accused at any time.
    3. The accused may examine evidence presented to the committee.
  4. Rebuttal of evidence: The committee may permit the university, accuser, or the accused to offer any matter in rebuttal of the other’s presentation. Either party may refuse to answer questions and the panel may draw adverse inferences from such refusal.
  5. Rights of committee: The committee shall have the right:
    1. In cases involving more than one (1) student which arise out of the same transaction or occurrence to hear such cases together, but in that event shall make separate findings and determinations for each student.
    2. To permit a stipulation of facts by the dean of students, designee, or accuser and the accused involved.
    3. To permit the incorporation in the record by a reference of any document, affidavit, or other thing produced and desired in the record by the university or the accused.
    4. To question witnesses or other evidence introduced by the university, accuser, or accused at any time.
    5. To hear from the dean of students or designee about dispositions made in similar cases and, when violation is found, to request the dean of or designee to open the student’s records concerning the student’s prior disciplinary record, and any dispositions offered to the student(s) appearing before the committee.
    6. To call additional witnesses or require additional investigation.
    7. To dismiss any action at any time or permit informal disposition as otherwise provided.
    8. To permit or require at any time amendment of the Notice of Hearing to include new or additional matters which may come to the attention of the committee before final determination of the case provided that the committee shall grant to the dean of students or designee, accuser, and accused such time as the committee may determine reasonable under the circumstances to answer or explain the additional matters.
    9. To dismiss any person from the hearing who interferes with or obstructs the hearing or fails to abide by the ruling of the chairperson or the committee.
    10. To hear or not hear such witnesses or persons testifying and evidence as it may deem relevant and fair, including but not limited to, any information made a part of the original report.
  6. Determination by committee: The committee shall then make its finding(s) and determination(s) in executive session(s) out of the presence of the dean of students or designee, accuser, and accused (student), and on the sanction, if any, to be imposed. No sanction shall be imposed on the accused (student) unless a majority of the committee present is reasonably convinced by the evidence that the student has committed the violation and should, therefore, be disciplined. A committee member shall not vote if he or she was not present throughout the full hearing.
  7. Official report of findings and determination: The committee shall promptly consider the case, make its finding(s) and determination(s), and transmit them in writing to the dean of students or designee, accuser, and accused, and in the case of suspension or expulsion, the vice chancellor of student affairs, the vice chancellor/provost, and the chancellor within three (3) class days of the hearing.
  8. Other procedural questions: Procedural questions not covered by these general rules which arise during the hearing shall be determined by the chairperson, whose ruling shall be final unless the chairperson presents the question to the committee at the request of a member of the committee, in which event the ruling of the committee by majority vote shall be final.
  9. General rule of decorum:
    1. All requests to address the committee shall be addressed to the chairperson, and the person shall identify himself or herself before speaking.
    2. The chairperson will rule on all requests and points of order, which ruling shall be final and all participants should abide thereby, unless the chairperson presents the question to the committee at the request of a member of the committee, in which event the ruling of the committee by majority vote shall be final.
    3. Rules of common courtesy and decency shall be observed at all times.
    4. A representative or legal counsel may request clarification of a procedural matter at any time by addressing the chairperson after recognition.

Sanctions Imposed by the Academic Integrity and Grievance Committee

Sanctions which may be imposed by the Academic Integrity and Grievance Committee for violations and infractions of specified academic integrity dishonesty violations include, but are not limited to:

  1. Administrative class withdrawal
  2. Counseling
  3. Disciplinary probation
  4. Disciplinary warning
  5. Expulsion
  6. Reprimand
  7. Restitution
  8. Suspension

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