Honor System & Standards of Academic Conduct
Sanctions
In support of its educational mission, the university imposes sanctions for academic misconduct designed to educate a respondent about avoiding future academic misconduct, hold them individually accountable for their prior misconduct, remedy the effects of prior misconduct and deter other students from committing academic misconduct. Sanctions may include educational, restorative, rehabilitative, and punitive components.
In keeping with the university’s commitment to foster an environment of academic integrity, this policy authorizes the administrator, Decision Boards and Sanction Review Boards to tailor sanctions to the facts and circumstances of each case, including the nature of the misconduct and the context in which it occurred, consistent with training and guidance provided by Student Conduct and Academic Integrity. The recommendation of appropriate sanction(s) may depend on the following factors, which are not relevant to the underlying finding that the respondent is responsible for the alleged misconduct:
● The severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the academic misconduct
● The impact of the academic misconduct on the community
● Prior academic misconduct and compliance with previous sanctions
● Any other reasonable mitigating or aggravating factors
The minimum sanction for a violation of the Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct is Honor Probation lasting one year. An administrator, Decision Board or Sanction Review Board may lengthen the period of Honor Probation and/or assign additional sanctions, where appropriate, from the following menu.
Class-A Sanctions:
● Grade of ‘0’ on an assignment if academic misconduct influenced originally-assigned grade
● A grade reduction on the assignment if the academic misconduct influenced only a portion of the assignment grade
● A new opportunity to complete the assignment or a comparable alternative
Class-A Sanctions automatically include Honor Probation lasting for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years (or until graduation, whichever comes first). Class-A Sanctions do not result in a notation on the respondent’s transcript.
Any grade of ‘0’ assigned for a test, paper, or other assignment shall be factored into the course grade, and not be dropped or replaced even if the applicable course syllabus generally permits dropping or replacing such a grade.
Class-B Sanctions:
● A grade of ‘F’ in the course
● Suspension
● Expulsion
Class-B Sanctions result in a notation on the respondent’s transcript. For suspension and expulsion, the transcript notation is permanent. For a grade of ‘F’ in the course, the transcript notation shall appear as ‘FH’ for a period of three (3) years, after which the notation ‘FH’ converts to ‘F’ if the student takes no action. A grade of ‘F’ in the course that results from a sanction may not be voided in any way, including by withdrawal from a course or from VCU, use of the Historical Repeat Course Option, or through the Grade Appeal Procedure.
Respondents may apply to the Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs, or designee, to have any transcript notation period reduced due to compelling mitigating circumstances. With the exception of expulsion, Class-B Sanctions automatically include Honor Probation, which will remain in effect until the respondent has completed their current degree program. If a respondent’s degree program is interrupted, including by suspension, then Honor Probation will continue upon re-enrollment until completion of their degree program.
Additional Education Requirements:
An administrator, Decision Board or Sanction Review Board may also assign additional education requirements supplemental to Class-A and Class-B sanctions. Additional education requirements are intended to prevent recurrence of misconduct by helping respondents with personal and ethical decision-making in accordance with the Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct. Examples of additional education requirements include RAMS L.E.A.D and Writing with Integrity.
Sanctions for Violations while on Honor Probation:
Honor Probation is a mandatory sanction for any violation of the Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct. Student Conduct and Academic Integrity maintains a record of students on Honor Probation. If a student on Honor Probation is found responsible for a subsequent violation, the sanction shall generally be Suspension in the first instance, or Expulsion in the second instance.
Other Possible Consequences and Outcomes:
Sanctions affecting a respondent’s academic record (such as a grade change for an assignment or course) may have additional consequences for the respondent’s academic status, such as lowering of a cumulative grade point average, loss of a graduate assistantship, and dismissal from an academic program.
Violations of the Honor Code and Standards of Academic Conduct may also lead to outcomes beyond the sanctions assigned by Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and in accordance with other university policies and procedures. These outcomes may include:
● Termination or suspension of university employment or assistantships
● Academic consequences, including suspension or dismissal, under applicable technical or professional standards of an academic program
● Recommendation of revocation of a degree or certificate, such as when a violation invalidates a degree requirement [http://bulletin.vcu.edu/academic-regs/university/right-to-revoke/]