ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

(Adopted by Academic Council, February 20, 1984)

Policy Statement

GCSU acknowledges the need to preserve an orderly process with regard to teaching, research and public service as well as the need to preserve and monitor students' academic rights and responsibilities. Since the primary goal of education is to increase one's own knowledge base, academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at GCSU. Possible consequences of academic dishonesty, depending on the seriousness of the offense, may range from a revision of assignment, an oral reprimand, a written reprimand, an "F" or a zero for graded work, removal from the course with a grade of "F" to possible suspension or exclusion from the University. Academic dishonesty includes the following examples as well as other closely similar conduct aimed at making false representation with respect to a student's academic performance:

Cheating on an examination;
Collaborating with others in work to be presented, contrary the stated rules of the course;
Plagiarism, including the submission of others' ideas or papers (whether purchased, borrowed or otherwise obtained) as one's own. When direct quotations are used in themes, essays, term papers, tests, book reviews, and other similar work, they must be indicated, and when the ideas of another are incorporated in any paper they must be acknowledged according to a style of documentation appropriate to the discipline;
Stealing examination or course materials;
Falsifying records, laboratory results, or other data;
Submitted, if contrary to the rules of a course, work previously presented in another course;
Knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above including assistance in an arrangement whereby any work, classroom performance, examination or other activity is submitted or performed by a person other than the student under whose name the work is submitted or performed.

Students accused of academic dishonesty may appeal through the student academic dishonesty procedures in effect at GCSU.

Procedures for Academic Misconduct

A. Informal conference

If an informal conference designed to explore academic dishonesty with the instructor and the student does not end in satisfactory resolution, the following formal procedures for an academic misconduct appeal will apply. Options for the instructor at the conclusion of an informal conference may include the following: a revision of assignment, an oral reprimand, a written reprimand, and/or an "F" or 0 (zero) for the graded work or an "F" for the course.

B. Formal conference with student enrolled in course.

If the instructor and/or the student is dissatisfied with the results of the informal conference, the student must state in writing to the instructor his/her dissatisfaction within ten (10) class days following the informal conference. The instructor shall schedule a formal conference within ten (10) class days of the informal conference or receipt of the student's written complaint. The Provost may extend the ten (10) class day time period in unusual circumstances. The purpose of the formal conference shall be to review the evidence against the student, to review the evidence and argument presented by the student in his/her defense, and to review the appropriateness of the penalty which may be imposed by the instructor. The instructor and the student may each be accompanied at the formal conference by a student, faculty or staff person of their choice.

C. Notice

At least five (5) class days in advance of the formal conference, the instructor shall inform the student in writing of the alleged offense and of the facts or conduct on which that allegation is based. The student shall be informed of the date, time and place of the formal conference. This notice shall be served on the student in person or by certified return receipt requested mail and shall be accompanied by a copy of the Academic Dishonesty Policy and Procedure.

D. Academic penalties imposed by the instructor.

The instructor may give the student a revision of assignment, an oral reprimand, a written reprimand, an "F" or 0 (zero) for the graded work or an "F" for the course. If the instructor also believes that the student should be considered for more serious non academic disciplinary sanctions, the instructor may request the Vice President and Dean of Students to proceed in accordance with the university's non academic disciplinary procedures. An academic penalty may or may not be imposed where the student's own academic performance was not affected such as in the following instances: (1) the student assisted another student to engage in academic dishonesty, or (2) the student stole a copy of an examination and the theft was discovered before the exam so that the student did not take the exam. In such cases, if the student is enrolled in the course, the instructor may impose the penalties permitted by this section, or if the student is not enrolled in the course, refer the matter to the Vice President and Dean of Students.

E. Instructor's decision

If after the formal conference the instructor believes that the student has not violated the GCSU Academic Dishonesty Policy, he/she shall so inform the student in writing within twenty four (24) hours. If the instructor believes that the student has violated the Academic Dishonesty policy he/she shall inform the student of his/her decision in writing with a copy to his/her supervisor; such decisions shall be served in person or by mail and shall include: (1) a full explanation of the facts on which the instructor's conclusions were based; (2) specification of the penalty or penalties imposed (3) further action in the case, if any, which the instructor has recommended; and (4) notice that the decision may be appealed to the instructor's supervisor.

F. Offenses committed by a student not enrolled in the course.

When the instructor for a course believes that acts which violated the Academic Dishonesty Policy have been committed by a student not enrolled in the course he/she shall refer the matter to the Vice President and Dean of Students who shall proceed in accordance with the college's disciplinary policy.

G. Appeal from the instructor's decision.

The instructor's decision may be appealed to the instructor's appropriate supervisor either as to the issue of whether the student did engaged in conduct as alleged or as to the penalty or penalties. Appeals shall be in writing and must be filed with the office or person designated within ten (10) class days of service of the instructor's decision. While such appeal is pending, the penalty or penalties shall be stayed and no grade assigned for the course. If the student does not file an appeal within ten (10) class days of service of the instructor's decision, the instructor's decision shall become final.

H. Appeal from the supervisor's decision.

The supervisor's decision may be appealed by either party to the appropriate Dean of the college who shall refer it to the appropriate academic misconduct hearing committee of the college. The appeal must take place within ten (10) class days of the decision of the supervisor. The committee shall act consistent with the by-laws of the college in which the alleged violation occurred. The committee must include student representation.

Jurisdiction. The committee shall hear appeals of the supervisor's decision.
Procedures. The appropriate academic misconduct hearing committee proceedings shall be regulated by the same procedures established by the GCSU Disciplinary Policy Statement except that this committee may establish less rigorous procedures for cases in which the penalty or penalties do not include suspension or expulsion. The student:
1. may be represented by a student, faculty or staff person of his/her choice,
2. shall be afforded written notice of the offense with which he/she is charged and of the facts or conduct on which that charge is based,
3. shall be afforded advance written notice of an opportunity for a hearing at which the evidence against the student shall be reviewed and, at which the student shall have an opportunity to present evidence and argument, including a written statement to refute the charge, and
4. shall be given a written decision which shall include findings of fact and conclusions.
Penalty. The penalty recommended to the Dean of the College by the appropriate committee may exceed the penalty imposed by the instructor. Further, the committee may or may not, according to the by-laws of the appropriate college, modify the academic penalty imposed by the instructor. If the committee finds that no violation of the Academic Dishonesty Policy occurred, and the Dean concurs, the instructor shall eliminate any academic penalty which was based on the alleged academic misconduct.

I. Appeal from the Dean of the College.

The Dean's decision may be appealed by either party to the Provost within ten (10) class days of the decision of the Dean.

J. Appeal from the Provost.

The Provost' decision may be appealed by either party to the President of GCSU within ten (10) class days of the decision of the Provost. The President's decision on Academic Dishonesty shall be the final decision on the GCSU campus.

Georgia College & State University Academic Dishonesty Hearing Committee Procedures

1. Purpose and Authority:

The purpose of these procedures is to provide an administrative framework for the efficient and fair operation of the Academic Dishonesty hearing committee as described in the Procedures for Academic Misconduct Appeals, Section II, pages 87-88 of the Georgia College & State University Undergraduate Catalog 1994-96. To protect the confidentially of all parties, these hearings will be closed to non-participants unless an open hearing is requested and agreed to by the contending parties.

2. Role of Chairperson:

The chair is a non-voting member of the hearing committee and is charged with the orderly and efficient administration of the hearing. The chair may organize the meeting in any reasonable manner. The chair may ask questions of any participants and will have the authority to rule on any matters not expressly contained in this set of procedures.

3. Role of Committee Members:

The committee members and the chair are designated as the finders of fact in the disputes. The committee shall prepare a written report indicating its findings with respect to each charge in the statement of charges. The committee will include recommended sanctions in its report if it finds misconduct. The party seeking sanctions must establish disputed facts by a preponderance of the evidence. The committee members may ask questions of all participants during the hearing. After the hearing, the committee will then meet in private to conduct its discussions and prepare its report. The written report will be submitted to the dean of the college, who shall render a decision in writing to the parties the and to the Provost.

4. Penalty:

If the hearing committee finds that the student did engage in academic misconduct, the hearing committee may recommend to the dean of the college that the penalty imposed by the instructor be upheld, modified or increased. If the hearing committee finds that no violations of the Student Academic Dishonesty policy occurred, they will recommend to the dean of the college that the instructor eliminate any academic penalty which was based on the alleged academic misconduct.

5. Procedures for Hearing:

The party bearing the burden of proof will make their presentation first to the hearing committee and shall be given 30 minutes to present his/her evidence. The evidence can be presented in the form of an oral narrative, a written statement, or a combination thereof. Documents and photocopies may also be presented. Witnesses who have information regarding relevant issues may also be brought in by the parties to offer testimony. At the end of the initial 30-minute period, the opposing party will be given an equal time period to make his/her argument and present evidence to the committee. Each party will then be given up to 30 minutes to ask questions of each other or of any witnesses. At the end of the questions, each party will be given 15 minutes to summarize their positions. The chairperson can alter this procedure in any reasonable manner at the request of the contending parties or after a majority vote of the hearing committee.

6. Role of Representative:

The student may be represented at the hearing by a student, faculty member or staff member of his/her choice. The rep- resentative may take part directly in the hearing and may ask questions of the participants.

7. Role of Attorney:

The parties may have their attorney-at-law present for the hearing to advise them. However, the attorney has no standing to address the committee or ask questions of the participants.

8. Recording of Hearing:

The hearing will be recorded and a copy of this recording will be made available to either party upon request.

9. Consent to hearing if full panel not available:

If the entire hearing committee is not available, the hearing may still be held with the consent of both parties and the approval of the chair.

10. Notice:

The student will be given notice of the time and date of the hearing with a statement of charges against him or her.

11. Failure to Appear:

The student's failure to appear for the hearing will constitute acceptance of the decision being appealed and will constitute

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