University’s Academic Misconduct Process

University’s Academic Misconduct Process All members of William Peace University are expected to promote the University’s Honor Code. Anyone in the community may report an academic integrity violation in writing using the Honor Code Violation Report to the appropriate faculty member or the Director of Reporting and Academic Operations or the Executive Director of the School of Professional Studies (SPS). 1. All faculty members at William Peace University will clearly publish in their syllabus the University’s

Honor Code and will have clearly stated penalties for academic misconduct. 2. When a faculty member suspects academic misconduct, s/he will collect all relevant evidence to the case and may consult with the Department Chair or an appropriate colleague. The faculty member will also inquire to the Director of Reporting and Academic Operations as to whether this is the student’s first or subsequent violation. 3. If the faculty member determines it is likely that academic misconduct has taken place, s/he will complete an Honor Code Violation Report and schedule a meeting with the student. Every attempt should be made to meet in person. In this meeting, the faculty member will discuss the situation with the student, present findings, and discuss the grade penalty s/he has determined to be appropriate. At the conclusion of the meeting, if the student accepts responsibility, both the faculty member and the student will sign the Honor Code Violation Report. a. If a student signs accepting reasonability for the first violation the Honor Board Committee does not need to be convene. The Honor Board Committee will automatically convene if a student has a second violation and thereafter. b. If the student does not accept responsibility, s/he is not obligated to sign the form. A student is under no pressure to admit responsibility. If the student does not accept responsibility the Honor Board Committee will automatically convene. Electronic signatures are acceptable or email from the students’ WPU email account. c. If the student declines to accept responsibly and/or does not sign the Honor Code Violation Report, the Director of Reporting and Academic Operations (TUG) or Executive Director of the School of Professional Studies (SPS) convenes a meeting of the Honor Board to hold a hearing for the student’s case. d. A faculty member may choose to forward the case to the Honor Board if s/he feels the Honor Board would be more appropriate to adjudicate the situation. e. If a student fails to respond to the faculty member’s request for a meeting, the faculty member will forward the information to the Director of Reporting and Academic Operations (TUG) or Executive Director of the School of Professional Studies (SPS) to convene a hearing with the Honor Board to hear the case. f. Once the form is submitted to Academic Affairs, it cannot be retracted. 4. The faculty member will forward the Honor Code Violation Report and all relevant evidence to the

Director of Reporting and Academic Operations. The Office of Academic Affairs will maintain all Honor

Code Violation notices in the student’s record until s/he graduates. 5. If a hearing needs to be convened, the Honor Board Committee will hear the case within 10 business days of being notified by the faculty member. If this is the student’s second or subsequent Honor Code

Violation on record, the Honor Board will convene to discuss the appropriate sanction. The Board will render a decision based on whether it is more likely than not that the student has violated the Honor

Code. a. An accused students are permitted to have one member of the University community to accompany her/him to the hearing. Family members or attorneys are not permitted at Honor Board hearings. b. A student cannot withdraw from a course in which there is a pending Honor Code Violation. During this process, the student is expected to continue to actively participate in all her/his courses. If a student withdraws from a course in which a sanction for an Honor Code violation results in the student unable to pass the class, the student’s grade will be recorded as WF.