Procedures for Addressing Suspected Academic Dishonesty
Alleged violations of the SUNY Potsdam Academic Honor Code, including allegations of
cheating and plagiarism, must be submitted to the Office of Student Conduct and Community
Standards for documentation and/or adjudication in order to:
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Protect students' due process rights
Allow records to be kept in a central place
Discourage and, when necessary, sanction repeat offenders
Ensure enhanced communication/correspondence
Allow detailed follow-up
Responsibilities of the Student
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Cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty are offenses against all students that
cloud distinction between the student who does his/her work well and the student who
takes advantage of others for academic gain, and it lessens the value of degrees granted
by the college. Students have an obligation to themselves and to their fellow students to
uphold the integrity of their institution by not participating either directly or indirectly in
acts of cheating. A student who aids another in cheating shares the guilt of the offense.
A student who has been accused of cheating or other forms of academic dishonesty and
wishes to dispute the charges or the sanction specified by the faculty member must do so
through the procedures detailed below.
A student who is found responsible for Academic Dishonesty cannot appeal the assigned
grade.
Responsibilities of the Faculty member
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In order to fairly evaluate the achievements of students, faculty members must ensure that
work submitted by students honestly represents their own efforts. Faculty members must
therefore take steps to prevent cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty by
making clear to students what academic dishonesty is and, if it does occur, to discourage
repetition. Faculty who assign or encourage group work must be especially clear about
which assignments are to be completed by a group and which must be completed
individually.
Faculty members who believe that academic dishonesty has occurred should proceed in
accordance with the following principles:
o A student must be afforded due process.
o A student is presumed not responsible until responsibility is firmly established
through the procedures detailed below;
o A student must be treated fairly, humanely and professionally; s/he should not be
publicly accused or embarrassed
The procedures detailed below seek to provide due process in determining responsibility and
assigning sanction(s), and to discourage repetition of any offense.
Procedures
Please refer to the “Faculty Report of Suspected Academic Dishonesty” form, the options and
the procedures listed below when academic dishonesty of any nature is suspected.
Upon identifying an incident of suspected academic dishonesty, a faculty member has 2
options:
Option 1: Refer the case directly to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
with all supporting documentation.
(Please refer to the “Faculty Report of Suspected Academic Dishonesty” form for complete
Option 1 submission instructions.)
Option 2: Adjudicate the case in his/her office following these “Procedures for Addressing
Suspected Academic Dishonesty”
Procedures for Option 2:
I.
Notification and Acknowledgment:
The faculty member must attempt to make direct contact with the student as soon as
possible but within no more than five business days from the detection of the incident
whether or not classes are in session (excluding weekends and holidays) to (a) notify the
student of the allegation that academic dishonesty may have occurred; (b) set up an
appointment for a discussion; and (c) direct the student to a copy of the college's
Academic Honor Code and these Procedures for Addressing Suspected Academic
Dishonesty. A reasonable effort should be made to secure direct contact with the student.
Suggested language for email correspondence:
Dear (student name), This email serves as notification that you have reportedly been
involved in a violation of the Academic Honor Code and Code of Student Right’s,
Responsibilities and Code related to Academic Dishonesty. The suspected violation
occurred in (COURSE NAME AND NUMBER). It appears that you have (PLEASE
DESCRIBE THE REPORTED VIOLATION HERE. EX: CHEATED ON AN EXAM,
FAILED TO CITE SOURCES, etc.) I would like to meet with you to discuss the
suspected violation as soon as possible. I have listed below my office hours for the next
few days. Please email me indicating the date and time you and I will meet to discuss
the report. If you are unable to meet with me during any of the listed times, please send
a list of times you are available during the next few days and I will work with my
schedule. Should I not hear from you within 5 business days, the case will be
immediately referred to the office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Please refer to the “Procedures for Addressing Academic Dishonesty” link on the Office
of Student Conduct and Community Standards web page in order to help guide you
through the process.
NOTE: Documentation of all attempts to contact the student must be retained by the faculty
member and will become a matter of record.
1. The faculty member should refrain from assigning grades until a discussion with the
student occurs. If such a discussion cannot occur prior to grade submission deadlines, an
incomplete grade (Inc.) should be given, and the student should be informed of such.
2. The faculty member should behave professionally toward the student refraining from
intimidation or inflammatory, accusatory dialog relative to the allegations. If either party
is unable to meet within five business days (excluding weekends and holidays) after
receipt of notification, both parties must mutually agree (without undue pressure by either
party) to an alternative schedule. Such an agreement and schedule must be documented
and become a matter of record.
II.
Discussion:
The discussion between faculty member and student should occur face-to-face. Should
either party be uncomfortable at the prospect of such an initial meeting, a mutuallyagreed-upon third party should be invited to attend. It is recommended that both
parties maintain notes regarding the details of this discussion.
1. The discussion must address, but is not limited to:
a. a description of the suspected violation(s) to ensure that the student is fully
informed of all concerns;
b. evidence of the suspected academic dishonesty (e.g., the existence of witnesses to
the incident and/or proof such as copies of papers and referenced plagiarized
sources, exams, crib sheets, etc.);
c. an explanation that the faculty member will complete a “Faculty Report of
Suspected Academic Dishonesty” form. The form includes: student's name; dates
of contact; an explanation of the suspected offense(s); and an account of the
results of the discussion between faculty member and student to include sanctions
mutually agreed upon. The original form shall be sent to the Office of Student
Conduct and Community Standards who shall distribute copies to the faculty
member and the student.
III.
Discussion Outcomes and Further Procedures:
Outcome 1: The student accepts responsibility for reported academic dishonesty
Student: The student will agree to the sanction as outlined in the course syllabus specified
by the faculty member in conjunction with educational sanction(s) assigned by the office
of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Faculty member: The faculty member will specify a sanction not to exceed a failing grade
for the course in conjunction with educational sanction(s) assigned by the office of
Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Note: If the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards finds that a “Report of
Suspected Academic Dishonesty” for a previous allegation is on file for the student, the
agreement completed by the faculty member and student becomes null and the student will then
proceed to a hearing through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
Outcome 2: The student denies responsibility to the report of academic dishonesty
Student: The student's denial constitutes a request for a formal hearing through the office
of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Faculty member: The faculty member refrains from assigning a grade until a hearing
occurs. If such a hearing cannot occur prior to grade submission deadlines, an incomplete
grade (Inc.) should be given, and the student should be informed of such.
IV. Completion of Faculty Report of Suspected Academic Dishonesty:
Whatever the outcome of the discussion, the faculty member must complete, within three
business days whether or not classes are in session (excluding weekends and holidays), a
Faculty Report of Suspected Academic Dishonesty and send it to the office of Student
Conduct and Community Standards.
Note: If the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards finds that a Report of
Suspected Academic Dishonesty for a previous allegation is on file for the student, the
agreement completed by the faculty member and student becomes null and the student will then
proceed to a hearing through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
The formal hearing process will follow the guidelines outlined in the Student Handbook under
the Code of Student’s Right’s, Responsibilities and Conduct under section IX. At least one of
the hearing officers will be a member of the college’s Faculty Senate committee for Academic
Policies Standards and Advising.
Adapted from SUNY Plattsburgh Policy for Suspected Academic Dishonesty with permission of
Interim Provost Patricia Higgins Feb. 2011
Draft 10.27.11