Academic Judiciary Process

Academic Judiciary Office

The process begins

• The reporter will receive email confirmation of the accusation report and information about “what happens next”
• Academic judiciary will request for update of the student’s record; with a temporary notation of an “I” grade and “pending academic judiciary”- This signals that an academic judiciary action is pending. The remarks remain until the academic judiciary matter is resolved.
• The student will receive an email notifying them of the accusation report, a request to make an appointment and judiciary overview; the student has 2 weeks to respond to the initial request.
• The student will contact academic judiciary to schedule meeting to discuss accusation report, the University’s academic judiciary policies & procedures, and “the next steps” to resolve the judiciary matter.
• The student will receive a copy of the accusation and any supporting documentations prior to the scheduled meeting.
• During the meeting, the student will be provided with information about the accusation, policies & procedures, can ask questions, and provided with “the next steps” to resolve the judiciary matter.
• After the meeting, the student will receive an email overview of the meeting and is asked to reply to the accusation. The student has one week to respond to the accusation.

Not appealing the accusation

• The student emails academic judiciary that they do not wish to appeal the accusation and accept the instructor’s recommended penalty.
• The reporter of the accusation will receive an email informing them that the student does not wish to appeal the accusation.
• The student will receive an email how to register for the “Q” Course.    

Appealing the accusation

• The student emails academic judiciary that they wish to appeal the accusation and request a hearing.
• The reporter of the accusation will receive an email informing them of the appeal and “what happens next.”
• The student will receive an email explaining the appeals process, how to submit an appeal statement and the hearing process.
• The academic judiciary assistant will begin the hearing process by emailing all parties involved with a hearing date.

The Hearing Process

• The student and reporter are informed of the hearing date
• The academic judiciary assistant will secure hearing board for hearing ( 2 faculty, 1 staff and 2 student members)
• The student and reporter will receive hearing file in advance of the hearing- included in hearing file are the accusation report & supporting documentation and the student’s appeal & supporting documentation.

The hearing will proceed as follows:

• The reporter will present the specific accusation and will present the evidence.
• The student will make their appeal to the accusation and present the evidence.
• The reporter and student will have access to share screen to present supporting documentation, if needed.
• Following this, questions may be asked by the student, the reporter, and members of the hearing board.
• After all questions have been asked and answered, the hearing will be concluded.
• All parties will find out the decision by email within 3-5 business days following the hearing.
• The standard of evidence used by the hearing board is “clear & convincing".
• Students may be found responsible based on direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of the two.

The Hearing Decision – Not Responsible

• The instructor and student are emailed the outcome of “not responsible”.
• The academic judiciary office will request for the removal of the “I” grade and/or “pending academic judiciary remark”. The academic record will be updated with the final course grade earned without penalty at the end of the semester.

END OF PROCESS

The Hearing Decision – Responsible

• The instructor and student are emailed the outcome of “ responsible” , the penalty that is imposed by the academic judiciary committee, and “what happens next”
• The academic judiciary office will request for update of student’s academic record – for first accusation only: with a temporary “Q” grade and “academic dishonesty” remarks.
• The student is informed of the required sanction course/Q Course that must be completed in order to remove the “Q” grade and the “academic dishonesty remarks” . These remarks are removed after completing the Q Course (for first accusation only)
• The student will receive an email how to register for the Q Course

The Q Course

• The Q course is the University's mandatory required course for students found responsible for violating academic integrity and includes topics to develop a student's academic skills and promote academic success without violating academic integrity.
• The ten-week course is held twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring semester. It meets on zoom on Wednesdays during Campus Lifetime (1:00pm - 2:00pm).
• A student must attend all sessions during the semester and complete the assignments to have the Q removed from his/her transcript.
• Students must successfully complete the University's Q Course no later than the academic semester immediately following the finding of an academic integrity violation. 
• If the Q grade is not resolved by the end of the following term  it can convert to a permanent Q/F.
• After completing the Q Course, the student’s record is updated. For first accusation only- removing the “Q” grade and the “academic dishonesty remark” and replacing the “Q” grade with the final grade- with penalty.

END OF PROCESS