Initiating the AIC
There are three reasons an AIC Hearing may be initiated:
- If the student has a prior finding of academic misconduct, the AIC Hearing Process will be automatically initiated.
- If the student disagrees with a faculty member's final decision (either related to the finding or the sanction), they may request an appeal through the AIC process.
- If the faculty member requests the decision be made by the AIC. There are times when a faculty member may have a belief of academic misconduct but they would prefer the decision be made by the AIC.
If the AIC Hearing is initiated, the student and the alleging faculty member will be notified of this in writing by the SCCS. The letter will be sent to their University emails through Maxient.
Before the Hearing
The SCCS will offer to speak with the instructor and the student separately to answer any questions they may have about the AIC Hearing.
Any information or evidence that the instructor or the student feels is relevant will be shared with the SCCS. Prior to the Hearing this information is provided to the Hearing participants.
The SCCS will request the availability of the instructor and the student. An overlapping time will be chosen and will be provided to the members of the AIC. Whomever is available at that time may be chosen to attend the AIC Hearing.
It will be the responsibility of the AIC members to recuse themselves if they believe there is a conflict with their service in a particular hearing.
The Hearing
The Hearing will consist of 4 steps.
- Presentation of the evidence by the Faculty Member: The instructor will present their
perspective.
- The Committee is able to ask questions of the instructor.
- Defense of the Student: The student will present their perspective.
- The Committee is able to ask questions of the student.
- Discussion and questions by the Committee: The AIC will ask questions of the student
and the instructor.
- Deliberation: The AIC will discuss the information provided in a closed session.
| Common Questions for Instructors | Common Questions for Students |
| Does your syllabus describe expectations of academic integrity? | What was your research/writing process? |
| How has the student's performance been in your class? | Did you utilize resources on campus when you have struggled? |
| Why were you suspicious of the student's work? | What will you do differently in the future? |
| What have you typically done in this type of a situation? | Is there anything the faculty member could have done differently so this was not the result? |
| Did you assess all the other student's through the same process as this student's? | Did you study with any other students? |
| Does the assignment have specific instructions about academic integrity (you can work in partners, you are expected to work alone, it is open book, no calculators, can use a cheat sheet, etc.) | What types of resources were you using to student for this exam or to complete this assignment (textbook, youtube, faculty slides, etc.)? |
| Where were the students sitting in relation to each other? | Is there anything that wasn't available to do when you spoke with the faculty member, that you have now? |
| Was there behavior that you considered suspicious during the exam? | How did you get your answer(s)? |
| What is the sanction you believe is appropriate in this situation? | What is your relationship with your peer? |
The Decision
Following the Hearing, the instructor and the student will be released from the Hearing and the AIC Members will remain for a private session to discuss their decision.
The AIC Members will make their decision based on a preponderance of the evidence. The decision will be reached by majority vote of all members of the AIC in attendance, and, in the case of a tie vote, the finding will be in favor of the student since the burden of proof resides with the faculty member.
The Chair of the Committee will forward, within seven calendar days, the confidential written decision to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards, the student, the faculty member(s) involved, the Dean of the College the student is seeking a degree from, and the Dean of the College in which the incident occurred.
Decisions may include the following:
- Uphold the faulty finding of academic misconduct and sanctioning as is.
- Uphold the finding of academic misconduct and adjust the sanction (either increase or decrease).
- Reverse the faculty finding of responsibility for academic misconduct.
Appeal of the AIC
The student may petition for an appeal of the AIC Hearing if one of these grounds are present:
- apparent bias (not related to discrimination) and evidence to support this claim
- a failure to follow designated procedures that significantly impacted the outcome of the hearing
- an assigned sanction that is largely disproportionate to the finding of responsibility for academic misconduct
To submit an appeal of the AIC's decision, the student must complete the Academic Integrity Committee Decision Appeal form.
The Appeal is a written process. The student is asked to provide all relevant information for their appeal in the form. The Appeal Body will review the information that is provided in the appeal and the case files related to the student's academic misconduct allegation(s).
The Appeal Body is comprised of three members, the Dean of Students, the Dean of the School that the student is affiliated with, and the AVC of Faculty Affairs.
Please be aware that appeal decisions are final.