The Disciplinary Process for Academic Dishonesty
Academic integrity is the foundation of the academic community. Because each student has the primary responsibility for being academically honest, students are responsible for reading and understanding all sections in the Student Handbook relating to standards of conduct and academic life. Students who violate University rules on academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure or removal from a course, disciplinary probation, and/or dismissal from the University.

Definitions
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, falsification, and falsifying academic records, and other acts intentionally designed to provide unfair advantage to the student, and/ or the attempt to commit such acts.

Cheating includes, but is not limited to, intentionally giving or receiving unauthorized aid or notes on examinations, papers, or class assignments intended to be individually completed. Cheating also includes the unauthorized copying of tests or any other deceit or fraud related to the student’s academic conduct or violating the guidelines set out by a faculty member for assignments and/or exams. Dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s) also constitutes cheating.

Plagiarism occurs when a student obtains portions or elements of someone else’s work, including materials prepared by another person or agency, and presents those ideas or words as her or his own academic work. The intentional or unintentional use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement shall constitute plagiarism. Students are responsible for following guidelines of the appropriate course or discipline (ie; MLA, APA).

Collusion occurs when a student collaborates with another person without authorization when preparing an assignment.

Fabrication occurs when a student makes up data or results and records or reports them.

Falsification occurs when a student manipulates research materials, equipment or processes or changes or omits results such that the research is not accurately reflected in the research record.

Falsifying academic records includes, but is not limited to, altering grades or other academic records. Altering or assisting in the altering of any official record of the university, and/or submitting false information or omitting requested information that is required for or related to any academic record of the university. Academic records include, but are not limited to, applications for admission, the awarding of a degree, grade reports, test papers, registration materials, grade change forms, and reporting forms used by the Office of the Registrar. Forgery allegations, such as forging a signature on add/drop forms, may be separate from academic dishonesty. Forgery charges are adjudicated following the Student Code of Conduct procedures in the Student Handbook

Procedures: Academic Dishonesty Cases
Texas Woman's University makes every effort to preserve the faculty/student relationship.  The following procedure has been developed with this relationship in mind. Faculty members should clearly identify course specific standards which interpret University, college, and or departmental policies related to academic integrity. These should appear in the course syllabus.  

STEP 1: SUSPECTING A STUDENT WITH ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
The Faculty member will first contact Student Life to determine if there is a previous occurrence of academic dishonesty. The Faculty will meet with the student suspected of academic dishonesty. If the student is in agreement with the allegation or not in agreement then, Faculty are asked to complete an Academic Dishonesty Report Form. After completion of this form, deliver or fax it to Student Life with a copy of the course syllabus and the original exam/paper upon which the Academic Dishonesty Report Form allegations are based. The Dean of Students serves as the Conduct Review Officer.

STEP 2: IF THE STUDENT ADMITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
The faculty member will complete the Academic Dishonesty form and must forward it to the Office of Student Life. The faculty member may determine the penalty (if any) which includes a verbal reprimand, reduced or failing grade for the assignment as well as any grade penalty up to and including an F for the course. It is very important this step is documented with Student Life in case the student has violated the policy for a 2nd time.

STEP 3: IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
The Academic Dishonesty Report Form must be forwarded to the Office of Student Life. Upon receipt of your forwarded materials, the Student Life Office Assistant will schedule an appointment for the student to meet with a Conduct Review Officer. A hearing will be held before the Student Code of Conduct (SCC) with the SCC serving as the hearing body. A SCC consists of four faculty members, four students and a chairperson. Faculty members are appointed by the Provost. At the conclusion of the hearing, a determination of responsible or not responsible will be made. If the student is found to be responsible for academic dishonesty, then the committee will consider the sanction recommended by the faculty member. In addition the committee will make a recommendation for a sanction to the Conduct Review Officer.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

IF A FINDING OF NOT RESPONSIBLE HAS BEEN MADE:
All charges are dismissed and no penalties are assessed.

IF A FINDING OF RESPONSIBLE HAS BEEN MADE:
A finding of responsibility occurs based on a student's admission or as a result of a hearing with the SCC. If a student admits responsibility, then the faculty member may impose a verbal reprimand or an academic penalty of up to failure for the course. All other sanctions would be determined by the SCC.

IF THE STUDENT WANTS TO APPEAL A FINDING OF RESPONSIBILITY AFTER A HEARING WITH THE INSTRUCTOR:
A student may appeal the decision resulting from a hearing with the Vice President for Student Life within 72 hours.

WHILE A CASE IS PENDING:
A case is considered pending until one of two events occurs: (1) the student admits responsibility or (2) the hearing process is completed. While a case is pending, the student has the right to attend and participate in the class. If the case is pending at the end of the semester, the instructor must assign an NG grade and submit a charge of grade form to the Registrar's office once the process is complete.

CHECKLIST OF ITEMS TO BE FORWARDED TO SCC:

1. Check with Student Life to determine if there is a previous occurrence of academic dishonesty.
2. Complete Acadeic Dishonesty Report Form (retain a copy for your records).
3. Copy of course syllabus.
4. Original Exam/Paper upon which the charge of academic dishonesty is based.
5. Any other pertinent information (retain a copy for your records).

The faculty member may recommend a sanction to the Committee during the hearing process. If the assigned sanction involves an action involving a grade and the Committee upholds the recommendation of the faculty member, the faculty member will assign that final grade. In a rare instance when a faculty member can not or will not assign a grade, only the Dean of the college or school can assign a grade or override the instructor of record. Whether the matter is resolved administratively or through a formal hearing, the student may appeal the decision of the committee by delivering a written notice of appeal to the Vice President for Student Life within 72 hours following the receipt of the decision. An appeal should contain information relevant to the hearing and should not be an appeal of the sanction. The decision of the Vice President for Student Life is final.

Student Records
Records of scholastic dishonesty are retained in the Student Life Office and are kept separate from the student's academic record or transcript. Disciplinary records including academic dishonesty may be released to persons outside of the university only with consent of the student, or by exceptions described in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act including: 1) other school officials who have been determined to have a legitimate educational interest; 2) federal, state and/or local officials to whom such information is specifically allowed; and/or 3) a court order or subpoena.

If you have questions about academic dishonesty contact Heather Speed at hspeed@twu.edu