Integrity is both central to the mission of the College of Agricultural Sciences and a fundamental responsibility of all scholars, faculty members, students, and researchers.
The College expects all students and faculty members to recognize that academic integrity processes are an important and meaningful part of education and to follow related policies and procedures.
Additional policies and procedures that complement the University policies and procedures include:
- Academic integrity policies and procedures described in the Academic Administrative Policies and Procedure Manual and in University Faculty Senate policy
- University sanctioning guidelines
- Relevant graduate student policies
- University Research Misconduct
Confidentiality
Academic integrity information becomes part of a student's conduct record and should be both confidential and protected. Faculty members seeking consultation from department administrators and colleagues should take care to protect the identities of those who are allegedly involved.
When Academic Misconduct is Suspected
First Step - Conversation
When a faculty member has a reasonable suspicion (defined below*) that a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy has occurred, the faculty member will make a reasonable attempt to schedule a conversation with the student to discuss the alleged behavior. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to discuss the evidence of academic misconduct with students before submitting the academic integrity form.
Second Step - Complete the form
Following the discussion, if the faculty member has reasonable suspicion that the violation occurred, the on-line academic integrity form will be completed. The online system will share with the student both the form and any supporting documents provided. The form should indicate both the alleged behavior as well as the academic outcome the faculty member determines appropriate.
Faculty members should also submit evidence with the form in support of the allegations and a course syllabus (when appropriate). If the faculty member wants to submit sensitive information (e.g., exams/answers) that they do not wish the student to see or have, they should provide the student with a description of that information (e.g., 90% of the student's answers, including all wrong answers, matched that of a nearby student).
Third Step - Student has 5 business days to respond
Typically, students have 5 business days to consider the evidence and to complete their portion of the academic integrity form. If a student does not complete their portion of the form and submit by the deadline, the process will continue with the acknowledgement that the student chose not to respond to contest. Failure by the student to complete the form will be construed as the student not contesting the charge or the sanction.
If the student contests the allegation, the proposed outcome, or both, the faculty member will be notified via email and will have 5 business days to respond. To request an extension, you can email your college's academic integrity admin at kjs8@psu.edu. If the faculty member responds by the deadline, that response and any additional supporting documents will become available to the student for review. If the student chooses to respond before the deadline (5 business days) or the deadline passes, all information will go to the Associate Dean's office for processing.
Fourth Step - Form is submitted to the Associate Dean's Office
- If the student accepts the allegations(s) and sanction(s), the faculty member is permitted to impose the proposed academic sanction(s) when notified by the AI Admin and the case is considered closed (no Academic Standard Committee review necessary).
- unless the faculty member has proposed the grade of "XF" (a course grade of "F" and a transcript notation) or proposed the student's removal from their degree program - these proposed outcomes need to be affirmed by the Academic Standards Committee
- if the student chooses to appeal the committee's affirmation, the Associate Dean would need to affirm. This redundancy provides a mechanism to ensure that the student understands the consequences of their acceptance.
- unless the faculty member has proposed the grade of "XF" (a course grade of "F" and a transcript notation) or proposed the student's removal from their degree program - these proposed outcomes need to be affirmed by the Academic Standards Committee
- If the student contests the allegation(s) of misconduct, the proposed sanction(s), or both, the case will be reviewed by the College's Academic Standards Committee.
The Associate Dean's office will proceed with the following (once the form has been submitted):
- Request all relevant case materials from the student and the faculty member within 10 days of receiving the contested case (the on-line system will do this automatically). Students are encouraged to submit a statement explaining why the suspicious behavior was not evidence of academic misconduct. If desired, students may also submit supporting information (e.g., medical documentation).
- Inform the student and the faculty member of his/her option to request a full hearing and verbally testify before the committee. A request for a full hearing must be made when the case materials are submitted back to the Associate Dean. The student, faculty member, Committee Chair or any member of the committee may request a full hearing for any allegation. A full hearing will take place if a more serious academic sanction has been requested by the faculty member.
- Convene the College's Academic Standards Committee to review all case materials
- Paper Review: If a hearing has not been requested, a paper review will take place. Upon completion of the paper review, the student, the faculty member, and the Associate Dean will be informed of the Committee's decision in writing by the Chair. The Committee decision must be made within 20 business days after receiving the case from the Associate Dean.
- Full Hearing: If a full hearing is requested or determined necessary due to the severity of the sanction, a hearing will be scheduled no sooner than 5 business days after the Associate Dean receipt of all relevant case materials, allowing the student and the instructor time to review the case material.
- Report: At the completion of the process (paper review or hearing), the Committee Chair will report to the Associate Dean, the student, and the faculty member the results of the Committee's decision. The Associate Dean will then submit the results, along with all the supportive documentation provided during the review or hearing, to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response (OSACR). Written record of all cases will be maintained by OSACR for central record keeping.
*Reasonable Suspicion: "If a faculty member believes that a violation may have occurred, s/he should try to have a conversation with the student about the concerns. If, following that communication, the faculty member has reasonable suspicion that a violation has occurred, s/he should continue with the Academic Integrity process and complete the Academic Integrity form. For a faculty member to have reasonable suspicion there should be specific facts and information that support the allegation. A hunch that a violation has occurred is not sufficient. Also, a student's choice not to speak with the faculty member about the allegation should not be a factor in determining reasonable suspicion." (Office of Student Conduct, July 2012)
Updated 10/3/2024
