Academic Support Academic Integrity Breaches

How should you respond to my instructor when I’m notified of a possible Academic Integrity breach.

You may have an emotional response such as anger, anxiety, or fear when you are informed of your instructor’s suspicion. It is recommended that you show restraint in your feelings when responding to your instructor and respond professionally. On campus resources are available if you would like to discuss your case and receive information or advice on College policy and procedures. 

When responding to your instructor, keep the following in mind: 

• Consider the evidence against you. Note that the burden of proof to be found responsible for academic misconduct is known as the ‘balance of probabilities’. This means that if the evidence against you is strong, you will likely be found in violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.
• Be honest. Denial in the face of evidence will not resolve the situation. Lying or fabricating evidence may lead to more severe disciplinary sanctions.
• Remember that there is an appeal process available. If you believe that you are not being fully heard or procedure is not being followed, you have the opportunity to raise these concerns through the appeal process.

It’s important to note that even if you didn’t intend to violate the academic integrity policy, you will still be found responsible for the violation and face sanctions. 

You are expected to review the academic integrity policy, avoid academic integrity violations, and reach out to your instructor or campus services to ask for advice if you are unsure about your work.

What happens to a student reported for an academic integrity breach 

When a report is submitted to the Office of Student Support, Rights and Responsibilities, they will process the report and inform the student about the next steps. 

For a first violation, the student will receive a Decision Letter, which will note the details of the student’s case and what sanctions the instructor has placed on the student. 

Suppose the student has previous academic integrity violations. In that case, they will receive a letter notifying them that their report has been forwarded to the Division Chair overseeing the department for review. The Division Chair may reach out to the student, requesting the student to respond to the allegations before sending the student a decision letter. In this decision letter, the Division Chair will note if the student is responsible.

How are decisions made? 

There are a variety of factors that are considered when sanctions are being determined for a student found responsible for academic misconduct. Some of these factors may include: 

• Was the academic misconduct planned or a result of stress or impulse?
• Has the student been honest and cooperative during the academic integrity process?
• Is this the student’s first offense?
• Does the student seem genuinely sorry and apologetic for the offense?
• Were other students affected by the actions of the student?
• Was the student aware that the offense was a case of academic misconduct?
• How much of the student’s work has been affected by the academic misconduct?

What stays on the record 

Reported incidents of academic misconduct are kept on file in the Office of Student Support, Rights and Responsibilities. A record of the academic misconduct does not appear on the student’s official student record unless specified (such as transcripts). A student who is suspended from the College for an academic integrity violation(s) will receive a notation of Disciplinary Suspension on their transcript.