ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONDING TO A VIOLATION

 

The following are step by step instructions for handling a violation of course-related academic misconduct.  If the faculty member or chair of the department would like to consult with Stephen Nelson, Assistant to the Vice President for Community Standards prior to taking action or at any time during the process, they can call the Office of Community Standards, 780-5242 or e-mail Stephen, snelson@usm.maine.edu.

 

 

1.      Faculty member gathers all of the necessary documentation that outlines that an act of

academic misconduct may have occurred.  Some of the information that would be needed for the various types of misconduct is listed below.

 

  1. For Cheating on an Exam:

-         Signed statements from witnesses stating what they know about the cheating.  Did they see the person in class cheating?  Did they overhear the student talking about having cheated?

 

-         Suspected notes used to cheat from or other evidence of cheating.

 

  1. For Plagiarism in an Assignment:

-         A copy of the student’s assignment with plagiarized sections noted or if most/all of the assignment is plagiarized those section not plagiarized noted.

 

-         A copy of paper, article, passage of the book that was used for the plagiarism with the sections used by the student highlighted or noted.

Note:  If it will take some time to locate the original source that was used for the plagiarism, then faculty member may proceed with meeting with the student.  The original source will only be needed, if the student appeals the faculty member’s decision.

 

  1. For Fabrication in an Assignment:

-         A copy of the student’s assignment with the fabricated sections noted.

 

-         Written statement from the faculty member citing what information he/she has that supports the charge of fabrication.

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Integrity Instructions, Page 2

 

 

2.      Once the faculty member has documented the violation he or she should meet with the student in private to discuss the misconduct and afford the student opportunity to explain what happened, if the student chooses to do so.

 

  1. If the faculty member accepts the explanation that no academic misconduct

occurred, then the matter is dropped.

 

  1. If the faculty member chooses to continue the complaint with or without an

explanation from the student, then following steps 3 - 11.

 

 

3.       Faculty member calls Office of Community Standards to find out if the student involved in the alleged academic misconduct has already been sanctioned for a previous violation of academic misconduct.

 

  1. If this is a first offense, then the faculty member continues on with steps 4 – 11.

 

  1. If this is not a first offense of academic misconduct, then the faculty member sends all documentation to the Office of Community Standards.  The Academic Integrity Board will then handle the case.  The faculty member will then be contacted about attending the board hearing.

 

 

4.      Prior to taking action against the student the faculty member may choose to consult

with Stephen Nelson, Assistant to the Vice President for Community Standards, (X5242) or the Chair of the department in which the course was taught on options available to the faculty member. 

 

Some options include:

 

  1. Giving an F for the assignment.

 

  1. Giving an F for the course.

 

  1. Requiring the student to rewrite a paper or retake an exam.

Note:  If the student does the work over the faculty member should consider giving the student at least one letter grade lower than what the assignment is

worth, to acknowledge that a violation of academic misconduct occurred.

 

 

5.      The faculty member must have approval of the chair of the department on any

sanction to be imposed and the college or school dean must have been consulted.

 

 

 

 

Academic Integrity Instructions, Page 3

 

 

6.      After the chair of the department has approved the decision, the faculty member will write a letter to the student informing the student of the faculty member’s decision.  The letter must include the following information (SEE ENCLOSED TEMPLATE):

 

  1. A paragraph briefly explaining what violation occurred (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) and what facts the faculty member has to support the charge.

 

  1. A paragraph explaining what sanction is being imposed, see the options above.

 

  1. The following text should be inserted as a last paragraph in the letter informing the student of his/her right to appeal. 

 

“You have the right to file a written appeal with the Academic Integrity Board regarding the decision imposed.  Your letter of appeal must provide a detailed rationale for why you are appealing.  Your letter of appeal must be received in the Office of Community Standards within seven calendar days of the date you receive this letter.  For further information and to have any questions answered about the appeals process, please contact Stephen Nelson in the Office of Community Standards, 125 Upton Hall, 780-5242.”

 

 

7.      The letter should include cc to the chair of the department and Stephen Nelson, Assistant to the Vice President for Community Standards.

 

 

8.      The letter should then be either

 

  1.  mailed to the student through the US mail certified with a return receipt requested.  The address on the back of the return receipt card should

read:  Office of Community Standards, USM, 125 Upton Hall, Gorham, ME 04038.  Or

 

  1. hand delivered to the student.  If hand delivered, then the person delivering is

asked to write or type out a short note indicating the that they personally delivered

the letter to the student.  The note should be signed and dated.

 

If the faculty member would prefer to have the Office of Community Standards mail the letter, the staff would be glad to do so.

 

 

9.      The last task is to forward the following to the Office of Community Standards:

 

  1. Copy of letter the faculty member sent the student.
  2. All documents the support the finding of academic misconduct.

c.   If hand delivered, the signed note from the person delivering the letter.

 

Academic Integrity Instructions, Page 4

 

10.  If the student, files an appeal of the faculty member’s decision, the Office of

Community Standards will contact the faculty member by:

 

  1. Calling the faculty member to schedule the date for the faculty member to attend the Academic Integrity Board hearing.

     

  1. Then sending a letter to the faculty member confirming the date of the hearing and enclosing a copy of the student’s written appeal.

 

 

11.  Stephen Nelson is available to advise the student, faculty member, and the Academic

       Integrity Board throughout the appeals process.