The steps a student should follow if charged with a violation are defined in the undergraduate policy and procedures or the graduate policy and procedures. However, students may wish to also consult with the Student Conduct and Advocacy office for clarification or questions regarding this process. If a student chooses to appeal a decision or sanction, the following guidelines are recommended:
Your case will be reviewed very carefully by the Office of Academic Integrity. If there is reason to grant a hearing, one will be scheduled. If not, the appeal will be denied, and the faculty member’s sanction will stand.
Hearings offer both the student and the faculty member the opportunity to present their side of the case, including any evidence they may have. Hearings do not follow traditional rules of law, but instead follow the preponderance of the evidence. This concept implies that the evidence weighs more heavily on one side or the other; it is the committee’s responsibility to see where the preponderance of the evidence lies.
Faculty and students volunteer and/or are nominated to serve on adjudication hearing committees. Each committee must have a minimum of two faculty members and two student members (graduate or undergraduate, depending on the student involved in the case).
Students and faculty are allowed to bring an advisor with them to the hearing, but the advisor may not be an attorney. The advisor is not allowed to speak directly to the committee. Their role will be to advise the student on questions to ask, evidence that may be relevant, etc.