Although the traditional sanction in academia for documented dishonesty is expulsion from the University, an instructor may propose a lesser sanction according to the instructor’s assessment of the evidence, the severity of the infraction, and any extenuating circumstances. Because each case is unique, it is the instructor’s professional responsibility to devise a fair sanction. A range of possible sanctions is as follows:
- Recommending expulsion from the University. If the instructor or the School Dean recommends expulsion, the case must be sent to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, who alone is authorized to make this decision. In the event that a student is expelled for academic dishonesty, the regular refund policy described in the Reinhardt University Academic Catalog shall not apply.
- Assigning a grade of F in the course. If a student repeats the course, both the sanctioned F and the repeat grade will be computed in the grade-point average, so that the normal repeat policy does not apply
- Assigning a grade of F or a score of 0 on the paper, project, or exam without the opportunity for resubmission. This grade will become part of the student’s course average; that is, if a professor regularly drops the lowest grade for the course average, it cannot be the sanctioned grade.
- Assigning a grade of F or a score of 0 on the paper, project, or exam, but allowing resubmission with the same or a different topic, resulting in a possible maximum combined grade of C.
Procedure for Suspected Academic Dishonesty
In the event of suspected academic dishonesty, according to the definitions stated above and whatever additional definitions a faculty member has published in a class syllabus, the following procedures will apply.
LEVEL I: Faculty member meets with student:
The instructor will meet with the student within ten (10) working days after the accusation to discuss the suspicion and the evidence. If, after this conference, the instructor determines that a violation has not occurred, the matter will be resolved by the instructor dropping the allegation.
However, if the instructor decides that a violation of academic integrity has occurred and that the instructor has sufficient evidence, the instructor may directly propose a sanction.
If both the faculty member and student agree on a resolution, the instructor must submit a signed, written agreement to School Dean and the Vice President of Academic Affairs within ten (10) working days.
In all cases in which an instructor is persuaded of academic dishonesty and proposes a sanction of any kind, the instructor will include a brief report of the evidence, the sanction, and the reasons for the sanction along with the signed agreement. Violations that are purely technical in nature, without any perceived intent to achieve academic advantage, and which only require redoing the assignment without a grade sanction, may or may not be reported at the instructor’s discretion.
If the faculty member and student do not agree on culpability or the sanction, the student has ten (10) working days after the meeting with the faculty member to file a written appeal with the School Dean. The case will then move on to Level II.
LEVEL II: Hearing with the School Dean:
- A student who appeals the case should submit his or her own written interpretation of the incident to the School Dean of the faculty member with a copy to the faculty member. Upon receipt of this appeal by the School Dean, the student’s grade for the assignment or the course becomes an I (incomplete) until the case is resolved.
- The School Dean, acting as arbitrator, decides whether academic integrity was violated and the appropriate sanction, if necessary. For a sanction less than expulsion, there should be substantial evidence (adequate to support a conclusion). For expulsion, there should be clear and convincing evidence (leading to a firm belief or conviction in the allegation).
- Within ten (10) working days of the date of receiving the School Dean’s decision, either the faculty member or the student may file a written request for appeal with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The case will then move on to Level III.
LEVEL III: Vice President for Academic Affairs
Upon receipt of a written request for appeal, the Vice President of Academic Affairs shall decide whether the processes listed above have been met satisfactorily. If not, the Vice President of Academic Affairs shall state a curative course of action.