Standard Referral

Honor System & Standards of Academic Conduct


All students and employees (including faculty) are expected to actively monitor academic conduct and notify Student Conduct and Academic Integrity of potential misconduct. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of academic misconduct is not permitted because it detracts from a community of trust and the quality of the educational experience. Furthermore, it is imperative to report observations of potential academic misconduct to ensure consistent response across courses and departments, fair resolution, appropriate consideration for repeated academic misconduct, and protection from unfounded allegations of misconduct.

Upon receipt, the director of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, or designee, will review the referral to determine whether there are grounds to proceed with an investigation and administrative resolution. If affirmative, Student Conduct and Academic Integrity will send a notification e-mail to the respondent to make the respondent aware of the specific prohibited academic misconduct charged, describes the alleged acts constituting misconduct, specifies their rights and obligations and explains the next steps in the process. Student Conduct and Acadmeic Integrity will thereafter provide all official correspondence to the respondent, even when involving FAR.

In the event the reporting party is a faculty member, Student Conduct and Academic Integrity will also confer with the reporting party to determine whether the allegation qualifies for FAR or a SAR.

The respondent must contact the appointed administrator or faculty member within five (5) business days of receiving the Notification Email to schedule a meeting with the administrator or faculty member.

a. If the respondent fails to respond to the notice, does not schedule a meeting or does not attend the scheduled meeting, the resolution of the allegation will proceed without the benefit of their participation. Failure to respond to the notice may be deemed acceptance of any finding of responsibility as well as the corresponding sanction(s), with no right to invoke a Decision Board or a Sanction Review Board, as detailed by this policy.

b. The Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct resolution process will proceed regardless of a respondent’s decision to discontinue attending a course or withdrawal from the course. A student should meet with an academic adviser to discuss the potential academic or enrollment consequences of a decision to discontinue attendance or withdrawing from a course in which the alleged violation has occurred.

** If a reporting party determines that their referral was improper at any time before the respondent is found responsible under this policy, they may inform Student Conduct and Academic Integrity of their belief and request withdrawal of the referral. Student Conduct and Academic Integrity will determine if the university will pursue the matter based on all available evidence and information provided by the reporting party, including their determination that the referral was improper.