Procedures for Resolving Violations of Academic Integrity

An instructor resolution allows an instructor to resolve the concern regarding academic misconduct with the student directly. This process involves a discussion between instructor and student regarding the importance of academic integrity and a focus on the incident as a learning opportunity for the student.

An instructor resolution is appropriate when the incident is not egregious and should merit no consequence greater than a zero on the assignment, though the student may be required to do additional, remedial work (e.g., rewrite a paper). The distinction between academic evaluation (e.g. reduction in grade, additional work) and disciplinary action is important to note. Instructors have the authority to make academic judgments relating to their students’ work, and to make decisions in the interests of furthering their students’ education. Only the college, acting through its formal processes, may issue a disciplinary action.

In the case of an instructor resolution, the following procedures should be followed:

1. Instructor informs the student of possible academic misconduct and provides the student with evidence of misconduct.
2. A meeting takes place between the instructor and student to discuss the allegation and possible course/grading sanctions. The student will be provided with the opportunity to be heard, ask questions, and provide any written evidence or other relevant information.
3. After meeting with the student, the instructor determines which outcome applies:

Outcome A: Instructor accepts student’s explanation and finds that no misconduct has occurred.

                                                                        OR

Outcome B: Student acknowledges misconduct and accepts course/grading sanction.

• Instructor informs the Office of Student Academic Affairs of the incident via the Instructor Resolution Form. 
• The Office of Student Academic Affairs sends the student an official warning via a resolution letter. The resolution letter lets the student know that the Office of Student Academic Affairs is aware of the incident and instructor resolution. It also lets them know how to proceed should they not agree with the instructor resolution.

                                                                        OR

Outcome C: Student does not acknowledge misconduct and/or accept course sanction; however, the instructor feels misconduct has occurred.

• Instructor submits the case to the Office of Student Academic Affairs for resolution via the Report of Suspected Misconduct Form. 
• Following a judicial hearing, the Student Academic Affairs sends the student and instructor a resolution letter with the findings. If the student was found responsible, the instructor can now impose class sanctions.

Note: In the case of repeat or egregious offenses, the Office of Student Academic Affairs reserves the right to reject the outcome of an Instructor Resolution and require a case to go through the Office of Student Academic Affairs Resolution Process. Instructors are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Academic Affairs for consultation at any point in the process.

A faculty or staff member within LSA who believes academic misconduct has occurred may also file a formal complaint of academic misconduct with the LSA Office of Student Academic Affairs (via the Report of Suspected Misconduct form) who will handle the case and determine if misconduct has occurred.

When a case is managed by the Office of Student Academic Affairs, the instructor should not impose any penalty or require any remedial work until the case has been resolved. Once a case has been filed with the Office of Student Academic Affairs, it may not be withdrawn with the approval of the Assistant Dean. Barring unforeseen circumstances, cases will be resolved within the academic term (and typically within three weeks) in which the incident occurs.

In those situations where the Office of Student Academic Affairs resolves the matter directly with the student, the following process occurs:

Prior to the meeting between the accused student and the Coordinator of Academic Integrity or the Assistant Dean’s designee, the student will receive (via email) notice of the allegation against them so that they are aware of the nature of the potential misconduct. Prior to the meeting, the student also has the right to review relevant information related to the allegation.

In the meeting the Coordinator of Academic Integrity or designee will describe the charges made, detail the evidence supporting those charges, and review the range of College sanctions (e.g. disciplinary probation, community service, suspension). This is an opportunity for the student to be heard and to present their side of the incident. The student should show up to this meeting ready to present any relevant material, read a statement, and/or ask questions. Typically, in each meeting a representative of the LSA Student Honor Council sits in attendance and participates, though acting neither as an advocate for nor against the student. Please notify the Office of Student Academic Affairs if you will have a support person in attendance at the meeting.

If, during this meeting, the Coordinator of Academic Integrity or designee believes that the credibility of the accusing party (e.g. narrative), or information they submitted, is relevant to a finding of potential responsibility, the Office of Student Academic Affairs will facilitate the opportunity for the accused student to ask questions of the of the other party, either through the exchange of written questions or the opportunity to ask live questions during a subsequent meeting as determined by the Coordinator or designee. This additional step will be completed prior to the Coordinator or designee’s determination of responsibility.

The Coordinator of Academic Integrity or the Assistant Dean’s designee has the authority to determine, based upon the information available, whether a violation of the LSA Community Expectations of Academic Integrity has occurred and the student is responsible for academic misconduct. The standard of review is preponderance. This means that the accused student is not responsible unless the evidence as presented demonstrates that it is more likely than not that academic misconduct has occurred. The student will then be informed by letter, with an electronic (email) copy to the instructor(s), of the decision and sanction(s), if any, to be imposed.

If a student is found responsible for academic misconduct, appropriate grade penalties for the infraction will be at the discretion of the instructor in accordance with the syllabus if applicable. In addition, the student may be assigned college sanctions by the Office of Student Academic Affairs. If a student is found not responsible for academic misconduct, the instructor(s) will grade the student accordingly.

The meeting between the accused student and the Coordinator of Academic Integrity or the Assistant Dean’s designee may be virtual or in-person.

Note: If a student against whom the complaint of alleged academic misconduct has been reported does not make timely arrangements for a meeting to take place the Office of Student Academic Affairs will place a judicial hold on the student’s account until a meeting occurs. Instructors will be notified at the end of the term if a judicial hold has been placed on a student’s account and the case is still pending. In addition, the Assistant Dean may make a determination to continue the process in the student’s absence based on the evidence presented.

A student found responsible for academic misconduct may submit, through the Office of Student Academic Affairs, a written appeal to the LSA Academic Judiciary Committee (AJC). The student must submit an appeal within two weeks from the date of the resolution letter. The written notice of appeal must state what is being appealed – the finding of academic misconduct, the sanction imposed, or both. The appeal must also state and describe in detail at least one of the following grounds for appeal:

1. There were violations of the procedure that seriously compromised the investigation and/or conclusions. 
2. There is significant new evidence not reasonably available at the time of the meeting with the Coordinator of Academic Integrity or the Assistant Dean’s designee. 
3. The sanctions are excessive relative to the violation.

Note: Successful submissions for the case to be reviewed are rare and exceptional.

The LSA AJC has sole discretion to determine if sufficient grounds exist for consideration of an appeal. If the request for the appeal has merit, the AJC shall gather a panel of its members to review the appeal once a decision to grant the appeal hearing has been made.

Following its review, the AJC may sustain or reverse the finding of academic misconduct. If the finding of academic misconduct stands, the Committee may recommend to the Assistant Dean to sustain, modify, or increase the sanction(s) imposed. The student will be informed by an electronic (email) the outcome of the appeal hearing.

In cases where a student registered in another School or College at the University of Michigan (e.g. Engineering, Nursing, Kinesiology, Ross, Art and Design) is alleged of academic misconduct in an LSA course, the authority of the College of LSA extends only to determining whether or not the alleged action is a violation of the LSA Community Expectations regarding Academic Integrity and the application of a grade penalty in the course. As it concerns administrative sanctions made at the college-level, the Office of Student Academic Affairs will recommend a sanction or sanctions to the appropriate office of the other School or College in which the student is registered, but that School or College has the responsibility for imposing any recommendation or additional sanction it determines appropriate.

In cases where a student registered in LSA has been found responsible for academic misconduct in a course offered by another School or College at the University of Michigan, the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education will notify the student in writing of the decision in the case and of any administrative sanction (but not the finding of responsibility or any course-level sanction imposed by the instructor) to the Assistant Dean.