ARTICLE VI

SECTION VI-1. University Standard: Academic Integrity

Students have a responsibility to promote academic integrity at the University by not participating in or facilitating others' participation in any act of academic dishonesty and by reporting all violations or suspected violations of the Academic Integrity Standard to their instructors.

The Honor Pledge — To enhance the learning environment at Utah State University and to develop student academic integrity, each student agrees to the following Honor Pledge:

1. Cheating: (1) using or attempting to use or providing others with any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, examinations, or in any other academic exercise or activity, including working in a group when the instructor has designated that the quiz, test, examination, or any other academic exercise or activity be done “individually”; (2) depending on the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (3) substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself, in taking an examination or preparing academic work; (4) acquiring tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty member, staff member, or another student without express permission; (5) continuing to write after time has been called on a quiz, test, examination, or any other academic exercise or activity; (6) submitting substantially the same work for credit in more than one class, except with prior approval of the instructor; or (7) engaging in any form of research fraud.
2. Falsification: altering or fabricating any information or citation in an academic exercise or activity.
3. Plagiarism: representing, by paraphrase or direct quotation, the published or unpublished work of another person as one's own in any academic exercise or activity without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes using materials prepared by another person or by an agency engaged in the sale of term papers or other academic materials.

SECTION VI-2. Reporting Violations of Academic Integrity

The Academic Integrity Violation Form (AIVF) provides guidance to instructors and students, ensures minimum due process requirements are met, and allows tracking of repeat offenders at the University level. The AIVF is available online.

Once an instructor has determined that an academic violation has occurred and that a sanction is appropriate, an AIVF must be submitted prior to application of the sanction. The student may appeal the determination that an academic violation occurred if the AIVF is not filed.

All submitted AIVF forms are kept in the Vice President of Student Affairs Office for the duration of the student’s academic career at Utah State University. When resolution has been reached between the student and instructor, a Resolution Report detailing the action taken and agreement of both parties on that action shall be submitted to the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. If no Resolution Report has been filed for a submitted AIVF within the semester, the Campus Student Conduct Officer will investigate to determine if resolution was reached and why no Resolution Report was filed.

SECTION VI-3. Discipline Regarding Academic Integrity Violations

An instructor has full autonomy to evaluate a student’s academic performance in a course. If a student commits an academic violation (Section VI-1, above), the instructor may sanction the student. Application of this sanction must follow Section VI-4 procedural policy. Such sanctions may include: (1) requiring the student to rewrite a paper/assignment or to retake a test/examination; (2) adjusting the student’s grade - for either an assignment/test or the course; (3) giving the student a failing grade for the course; or (4) taking actions as appropriate. Additional disciplinary action beyond instructor sanction shall be determined by the Student Conduct Officer and the University.

The penalties that the University will impose on a student for the first Academic Integrity violation are:

1. Placement on academic integrity probation after the first offense.

The penalties that the University may impose on a student for multiple or egregious academic integrity violations are:

1. Probation-continued participation in an academic program predicated upon the student satisfying certain requirements as specified in a written notice of probation.
2. Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary penalties if the student does not comply with the specified requirements or is found to be committing academic integrity violations during the probationary period. The student must request termination of the probation in writing.
3. Performance of community service.
4. Suspension-temporary dismissal from an academic program or from the University for a specified time, after which the student is eligible to continue the program or return to the University. Conditions for continuance or readmission may be specified.
5. Expulsion-permanent dismissal either from an academic program or from the University.
6. Assigning a designation with a course grade indicating an academic integrity violation involving academic integrity. Conditions for removal may be specified, but the designation remains on the student’s transcript for a minimum of one year; provided however, that once the student’s degree is posted to the transcript, the designation may not be removed thereafter.
7. Denial or revocation of degrees.

SECTION VI-4. Regarding Academic Integrity Violations

This section applies to proceedings to determine if a student has committed an academic integrity violation and if the violation warrants the imposition of further disciplinary penalty in addition to the sanction by the instructor. This section does not apply to probation, suspension, or expulsion from a department, program, college, or the University based on academic performance (e.g. minimum grade point requirements).

1. Notification of Alleged Offense and Intended Consequences
   1. Whenever an instructor reasonably suspects that a student has committed and academic integrity violation (See: Section VI-1), the accused student shall be notified by the instructor of the violation and its consequences through use of the AIVF within seven days of a discovery of a violation, and that a sanction is appropriate.
      
      The AIVF will be automatically sent via email to the student, the instructor, the Dean of the college in which the course is housed, and to the Vice President for Student Affairs. If the student is a graduate student, the AIVF shall also be reported to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. If the student is a regional campus or distance education student, the AIVF shall also be reported to the appropriate Executive Director or dean of the regional campus.
      
      If the instructor has a rational reason for not submitting the AIVF form within seven days, the instructor must obtain permission to submit an AIVF from the Dean of the college in which the course is housed.
      
      
   2. The student shall respond to the instructor within seven days of receiving the AIVF email and request a meeting with the instructor to discuss the alleged offense and intended consequences. If the student does not respond to the AIVF email within seven days or if the student responds to the AIVF but refuses to meet with the instructor, the intended sanctions listed on the AIVF will be applied and the student will not be allowed to appeal the determination that a violation occurred.
      
      If the student has a rational reason for not responding to the AIVF email, the student may contact the Vice President of Student Affairs, who will determine if the reason is legitimate. If approved, the student will have seven days to request a meeting with the instructor.
      
      
2. Instructor and Student Resolution
   1. The student and instructor shall meet to discuss the alleged offense and intended sanction. If the student admits the violation, both instructor and student will sign the Resolution Report. The intended sanction listed on the AIVF will be applied and the Resolution Report will be filed with the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. If the student denies the violation, the student will then have seven days to contact the Dean of the College in which the course is housed to request a meeting with the Dean, the instructor, and student.
   2. If the student denies the violation occurred and is pursuing the prescribed escalation process, but the instructor must submit a grade to meet university requirements, the instructor shall submit an I/F. Once resolution is reached, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the I/F is changed to the appropriate grade within the allotted time given by the Office of the Registrar for incomplete grades.
   3. The instructor may recommend on the Resolution Report that the University consider additional disciplinary penalties.
3. Acceptable Reasons for Appeal

   There are three acceptable reasons for a student to appeal the determination of the instructor:

   1. No AIVF was submitted. The student may appeal on grounds that minimum due process was not met.
   2. There is factual disagreement between the student and instructor about whether or not a violation occurred. The student may challenge the evidence presented by the instructor that the student has committed a violation.
   3. If new evidence or witness is found within seven days of the student and instructor meeting, the student may appeal.
4. Escalation to the Dean
   1. If the student denies that a violation has occurred and chooses to appeal the decision of the instructor, the student shall have seven days from the student/instructor meeting to request a meeting with the instructor and the Dean of the college in which the course is housed.
   2. The student, instructor, and Dean shall meet to discuss the alleged offense and intended sanction. If the student then admits the violation, both instructor and student will sign the Resolution Report. The intended sanction listed on the AIVF will be applied and the Resolution Report will be filed with the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.
   3. The Dean may determine that there is insufficient evidence that a violation occurred. In this case, no sanction will be given. Both student and instructor will sign the Resolution Report and it will be filed with the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.
   4. If the student denies the violation but it is the consensus of the Dean and the instructor that a violation occurred, the student will then have seven days to contact the Vice President of Student Affairs to request a hearing with the Honor Board.
5. Request for a Hearing with the Honor Board
   1. If no resolution has been reached between the student, instructor, and Dean of the College in which the course is housed, the student has seven days from the meeting with the instructor and Dean to request a hearing with the Honor Board from the Vice President of Student Affairs.
   2. When a matter is referred for a hearing, the hearing board pool chair shall: (1) designate four students (which may include him or herself) and two faculty members, from the pool to act as the Honor Board. The Honor Board shall elect one of the student members to serve as a voting chair.
      1. The names of the members of a designated Honor Board shall be immediately communicated to the student and the student shall be informed of the following procedures and procedural rights in advance of the hearing (any or all of which may be exercised):
         1. Written notice of the time, date, and location of the hearing before the hearing board, a copy of the Board's decision, and any other written correspondence related to the case will be provided to the student and instructor.
         2. A hearing shall not be scheduled less than 10 days after the notice of hearing is mailed.
         3. For purposes of notification, the student's address and email address, as reported to the Office of Student Records, Room 246 Taggart Student Center, shall be the address and email address used for all notification purposes. It is the responsibility of the student to immediately inform the Office of Student Records of any address or email change.
         4. Notices sent to the address or email address on record with the Office of Student Records through the U.S. Mail or through the official University email system will be considered delivered on the date mailed.
         5. Should telephone contact with the student be deemed necessary, the student's telephone number as reported to the Office of Student Records shall be the telephone number used. To assure receipt of any such telephone communications, it is the responsibility of the student to immediately inform the Office of Student Records of any change in his or her telephone number.
         6. To challenge, with due cause, a member of an Honor Board. The challenge shall be reviewed and acted upon by the Vice President for Student Affairs, in collaboration with the chair of the hearing board pool chair. Familiarity with the alleged violation or persons involved in the hearing, or other bias may be sufficient reason to honor the challenge and direct the appointment of a replacement on the Honor Board.
         7. To have an advisor of the student's own choice present at the hearing. An advisor may be a parent, legal guardian, a faculty member, an USUSA student advocate, an attorney, or other person. The advisor shall merely counsel the student and is not permitted to speak or participate directly in the hearing. All communications related to a proceeding shall be made directly with the student, and not with an advisor, unless the student is incapacitated. It is the student’s responsibility to keep an advisor informed regarding such communications.
         8. If the student is hearing impaired, an interpreter will be provided, where necessary, and the student may present his or her case through an interpreter or other communication device. If the student does not have adequate communication skills in the English language, a translator will be provided, where necessary, and the student may present his or her case through a translator.
         9. To request, with due cause, a change in the date and time of the hearing. The student may request a new hearing if he or she was kept from attending the hearing by circumstances beyond his or her control.
         10. To testify in his or her own behalf, present witnesses, and bring in evidence supporting or his or her claims or position in the matter. The student shall submit a list of witnesses to the Vice President for Student Affairs three days before the date scheduled for the hearing. The University shall also provide the student with a list of other witnesses one day in advance of the hearing.
         11. The student maintains the right to hear and to question the witnesses and to examine the evidence against them.
         12. To remain silent; the burden of establishing the alleged violation is on the instructor who asserted the violation.
   3. At any time during the hearing process, the parties may reach an agreement concerning the violation, the applied sanction, and an appropriate disciplinary penalty, if applicable, thereby rendering further proceedings unnecessary; provided, however, that any agreement must be accompanied by a Resolution Report stating the agreed violation and sanction; it shall be signed by the student and instructor and filed with the Vice President for Student Affairs.
   4. If an Honor Board is convened, the following procedures will apply.
      1. The hearing shall be closed to the general public. Only the following individuals will be allowed into the hearing room: (1) Honor Board members; (2) a University attorney, who shall act as advisor to the Board when needed; (3) the instructor, the dean of the college where the course is housed; (4) the student; (5) the student's advisor (see: Section VI- 4.E.2.A.7); (6) any witnesses; (7) the Vice President for Student Affairs; and (8) where appropriate, the Director of Financial Aid when the student is receiving financial aid based in any degree on the student's athletic ability.
      2. Witnesses will be present only at the time of their testimony and will not be permitted to hear the testimony of other witnesses. All persons present at the hearing shall treat the matters discussed therein as confidential.
      3. Should the student not attend the hearing, the hearing may be conducted in his or her absence and such absence shall not invalidate the proceedings or decision of the Board if the student has been sent notice of the hearing to the address supplied by the student to the Office of Student Records (exceptions noted in Section VI-4.F.2.A.10).
   5. The instructor shall be invited to make a statement.
   6. The student shall be invited to make a statement.
   7. The student is responsible for presenting his or her own case and shall have the opportunity to question witnesses and present other evidence.
   8. The Honor Board members may ask questions of anyone in attendance.
   9. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Honor Board shall deliberate in private to decide whether the student committed an academic integrity violation. If the student has appealed based on the lack of an AIVF filed prior to applied sanctions, the Honor Board shall determine if the student’s due process rights were violated. A University attorney may be present during the Board's deliberation. All actions by the Honor Board shall be decided by a majority vote.
   10. The Honor Board shall not consider evidence that has not been presented at the hearing. The Honor Board’s determination shall be made on the basis of whether it is more likely than not (i.e. a preponderance of evidence) that the accused student has committed the alleged violation.
   11. The decision of the Honor Board shall be reported in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs within two days from the date of the hearing. The Honor Board may institute, uphold, or discard instructor sanctions. They may not modify sanctions recommended by the instructor. In the case of instructor sanctions, the decision of the Honor Board is final.
   12. As appropriate, the Vice President for Student Affairs shall notify the student, the instructor, and the appropriate Dean, in writing of the Board’s decision.

SECTION VI-5. Policy Regarding Multiple and/or Egregious Offenses

1. All submitted AIVFs and Resolution Reports are stored in the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs and maintained by the Student Conduct Officer; these documents are maintained until the student has left the university.
2. When the Resolution Report for the first offense is received, the student will be placed on Academic Integrity Probation. The student will be notified of their probationary status in writing by the Student Conduct Officer. Academic Integrity Probation applies to all cases resulting in an instructor sanction.
   1. Resolved cases resulting in the student receiving a failing grade for the course as an instructor sanction will be considered egregious and will be reviewed by the Student Conduct Officer and may be sent to the Honor Board to determine additional University disciplinary action.
3. Multiple reported offenses, regardless of instructor sanction, will result in review by the Student Conduct Officer and the Honor Board and further disciplinary action by the University.

SECTION VI-6. Recording and Disclosure of Sanctions and Disciplinary Action

1. Disclosure of Applied Sanctions
   1. Access to filed AIVF and Resolution Reports containing details of applied sanctions is controlled by the Student Conduct Officer through the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs according to federal and University policy. Requests for information contained in a student’s Academic Integrity file should be directed to the Student Conduct Officer.
2. Disclosure of University Disciplinary Action
   1. A penalty of disciplinary probation, suspension, expulsion, a designation with a course grade indicating an Honor System violation, or denial or revocation of degree shall be entered upon the student's transcript after the completion of the above processes.
   2. Upon the specific written release of the student, the Vice President for Student Affairs shall make available a copy of the final Honor Board report which has resulted in a disciplinary action of probation, suspension, expulsion, a designation with a course grade indicating an Honor System violation, or denial or revocation of degree to a prospective/present employer, parent (if the student is over the legal age), and other persons or entities. If a report is not available because a hearing was not conducted, a summary statement regarding the disposition of the violation shall be provided. Such a report or summary statement will be disclosed, without the prior consent of the student, to another educational institution that has requested the record and at which the student seeks or intends to enroll; but the University will make a reasonable attempt to notify the student (or his or her parent if under the legal age) of the disclosure and, upon request, provide the student with a copy of the record that was disclosed. No other information shall be provided to a third party without the express written release of the student.
   3. A student's record may be cleared of a disciplinary probation, suspension, or designation with a course grade indicating an Honor System violation (if the student’s degree has not been posted to his or her transcript) by the Vice President for Student Affairs following the end of the designated penalty period, if there has been no further problem with the student. A written request for expunging the record is required and shall be initiated by the student with a letter to the Vice President for Student Affairs. A copy of the request shall be forwarded to the Office of Student Records. The Vice President may convene an Honor Board to review the request, if deemed appropriate or necessary. If the request is granted, the Vice President for Student Affairs shall notify the Office of Student Records.
   4. A student's record may not be cleared of an expulsion or revocation of a degree. A designation with a course grade indicating an Honor System violation involving academic dishonesty may not be removed from the student’s transcript after the student’s degree has been posted to the transcript.

   5. The penalty of disciplinary probation, suspension, expulsion, or denial or revocation of a degree will not be entered upon a student’s transcript until after the completion of the disciplinary process, including any appeals. A student may exercise a right of appeal, and transfer to another institution simultaneously, and therefore not receive the full consequence of the sanction.

      This policy allows Utah State University to send an updated transcript to a transferring institution at the conclusion of the disciplinary process.