Academic Dishonesty

Academic Dishonesty Instructor Action – Notifies Student

1. The instructor of a course who discovers an instance of academic dishonesty by a student is responsible for determining the action to be taken.
2. The instructor discusses the academic dishonesty with the student prior to taking any formal action. The notice to students may be made informally, such as emailing or placing a comment in Canvas regarding the student’s grade. A grade may be assigned prior to speaking to the student if the circumstances warrant a grade submission (e.g. final grades are due; clear instance of academic dishonesty has occurred).
3. If as a result of the discussion with the student formal action is required, the actions the instructor may take include but are not limited to:
   1. Assigning a reduction in grade for the paper, project or examination.
   2. Assigning an “F” grade, zero points, or a reduced number of points on all or part of a particular paper, project, or examination.
4. Instructor informs the student that the final grade for the course will be lowered upon resolution of the academic dishonesty issue.
5. The instructor may send the student a letter using the “Instructor Sanction Letter” fully stating what action is to be taken as a result of the academic dishonesty.
6. The instructor informs the student that no grade is to be assigned for the course until the academic dishonesty issue has been resolved.

Instructor Action – Notifies Vice President of Student Services by Making a Report

1. The faculty member notifies the Vice President of Student Services regarding all instances of academic dishonesty where an academic penalty has been administered to a student by making a report at lowercolumbia.edu/students/make-a-report.
2. The faculty sends all the necessary information as to the academic dishonesty and the action the instructor intends to assign to the Vice President of Student Services.

Student Action – Meet with Vice President of Student Services

1. The instructor may request that the student meet with the Vice President of Student Services.
2. The Vice President of Student Services informs the student of the implications of academic dishonesty and the consequences that could result.
3. If there is a repeat incident of academic dishonesty, the Vice President of Student Services will initiate the disciplinary process.

Student Withdrawal when Academic Dishonesty is Suspected

1. A student will not be allowed to withdraw from a course when academic dishonesty is suspected or in which the student has committed academic dishonesty.

Registrar Action

1. The Vice President of Student Services informs the Registrar of the student’s name and the course for which academic dishonesty is under investigation.
2. The Registrar will insure that it is not possible for the student to drop the course and receive a “W” grade.
3. When the instructor turns in the student’s grade as a result of resolution the Registrar enters the grade on the student transcript.

Filing a Grievance

You have the right to file an academic grievance if you believe your final course grade was assigned by an application of an improper, arbitrary, or capricious academic evaluation. Please see the Student Academic Grievance Procedure at lowercolumbia.edu/publications/student-handbook/student-academic-grievance-procedure in the Student Handbook for details.

Appendix 

• Student Academic Grievance Petition  at lowercolumbia.edu/students/forms
• Code of Student Conduct at lowercolumbia.edu/publications/student-handbook/code-of-student-conduct
• Make a Report at lowercolumbia.edu/students/make-a-report