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While cases involving academic dishonesty are discipline cases, the College has established the following procedure as its process for adjudicating them.
Introduction
Pueblo Community College is committed to providing a superior educational experience for all students who attend the College. Academic integrity and honesty in all educational classrooms and programs are critical in providing this high level of education.
The College places a strong expectation on all students to act honestly in all situations. The College does recognize that some students will choose to commit acts of academic dishonesty, which places an expectation on all faculty and staff to confront these acts of dishonesty. When a student is suspected of committing an act of academic dishonesty, the College will follow the process listed below, which assures that the College’s standards are upheld and the student’s due process rights are respected.
What is “Academic Dishonesty”?
“Academic Dishonesty is any form of cheating and plagiarism which results in students giving or receiving unauthorized assistance in an academic exercise or receiving credit for work which is not their own.”
Academic dishonesty is a behavioral issue, not an issue of academic performance. As such, it is considered an act of misconduct and is subject to the College disciplinary process as defined in the Student Code of Conduct, which is found in this Student Handbook.
What Are Specific Acts of Academic Dishonesty?
As listed in the Student Code of Conduct, the following acts of Misconduct are acts of academic dishonesty:
1. Cheating—intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.
2. Fabrication—intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
3. Facilitating Academic Dishonesty—intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate a provision of the institutional code of academic integrity.
4. Plagiarism—the deliberate adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, or statements of another person as one’s own without acknowledgment.
5. Unauthorized Collaboration—intentionally sharing information or working together in an academic exercise when such actions are not approved by the course instructor.
(This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all acts of academic dishonesty, but is a guide to help instructors and students understand what constitutes academic dishonest.)
Initial Response by Instructor
When an instructor believes that an act of academic dishonesty has taken place, the instructor is required to meet with the student. This meeting is to take place as soon after the incident as possible. The instructor informs the student of the accusation and reviews the evidence with the student, then allows the student to present evidence or comment on the evidence that has been presented. The instructor then determines, based upon a preponderance of evidence (which would include the student admitting to committing an act of academic dishonesty), whether or not an act of academic dishonesty has taken place. One of two determinations is possible: 1) that an act of academic dishonesty did not take place and the case is dismissed, or 2) that an act of academic dishonesty did take place. The instructor then informs the student of the determination. If it is determined that a violation did take place the instructor informs the student of the proposed sanction(s). The instructor also informs the student of his/her appeal rights. If the student chooses not to appeal, then the instructor documents the event, determination and sanction(s), and forwards a copy of these to the department chair.
Sanction(s) Review
The department chair then reviews the proposed sanction(s) and responds within one (1) week of receiving the proposal. If the department chair approves, then the sanction(s) can be imposed immediately. The department chair then forwards a copy of the event, determination and sanction(s) to the Vice President of Student Services. If the chair does not approve the sanction(s), then the chair meets with the instructor to determine appropriate sanction(s). The instructor then meets with the student to inform the student of the new sanction(s). The student may elect to appeal the new sanction(s).
Academic Sanctions
The goal of the disciplinary system at PCC is to hold students accountable for their actions and to educate students. Appropriate sanctions help the College to teach, and the student to learn, that there are negative consequences to inappropriate or dishonest actions.
The College strives for consistency in sanctions imposed for acts of academic dishonesty, while still allowing the instructor a certain level of professional discretion. Instructors are expected to impose an appropriate grade penalty up to and including an “F” in the course. Potential grade penalties for academic dishonesty are to be stated in each course syllabus.
In addition, limited-entry programs may outline program sanctions for academic dishonesty, which can include dismissal from the program. These additional sanctions are to be detailed in each program’s handbook.
NOTE: A student may not withdraw from a course in order to avoid possible academic and disciplinary sanctions. If a student is suspected of committing an act of academic dishonesty, then the case must be resolved before the student can initiate a withdrawal. If a student receives an “F” in any course as an academic sanction, the student cannot withdraw from that course. If a student appeals the determination or sanction, the student may not withdraw from the course until after the appeal is resolved. If the appeal process results in the sanction being upheld, then the grade of “F” for that course will be placed on the student’s official transcript.
Disciplinary Sanctions
In addition to any academic sanction(s), a student found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty is placed on disciplinary probation for at least the remainder of the semester of infraction and the next two semesters of attendance. If a student is already on disciplinary probation, the Vice President of Student Services will schedule a hearing to determine if additional sanctions are warranted. Additional sanctions include, but are not limited to, disciplinary suspension and disciplinary expulsion.
Appeal Hearing
If the student chooses to appeal the instructor’s decision or recommended sanction(s), the student must file a written appeal to the dean who oversees the instructional department within five (5) working days of the initial determination. An administrative hearing will then be scheduled within one (1) week of the filing of the appeal, and the dean will either serve as the Hearing Officer or designate another (such as the department chair or another department chair, if the department chair is the instructor) as the Hearing Officer for the hearing. The Hearing Officer reviews all evidence from both the instructor and the student, then determines the findings of the case and reaches a determination. The Hearing Officer can make one of two determinations: 1) that no violation took place and the case is dismissed, or 2) that a violation did take place. If the hearing officer determines that academic dishonesty did take place, the Hearing Officer informs the student of this determination in writing, and informs the student of any appeal rights. If the student chooses not to appeal, then the Hearing Officer forwards the proposed sanction(s) to the appropriate department chair for review.
Final Level of Appeal
If the student chooses to appeal the determination of the Hearing Officer, the student must file a petition for review with the Vice President of Learning within five (5) working days of notification of the decision. The Vice President of Learning or designee reviews the written records and issues a written decision. The Vice President of Learning’s (or designee’s) decision is final.
Timelines
Department chairs, instructional deans and the Vice President of Learning may, for good cause, extend the scheduling timelines described above.
Suspected Academic Dishonesty Outside of the Classroom
The College requires that standards of academic integrity and academic honesty be upheld outside the classroom as well as inside the classroom. If a student is suspected of committing an act of academic dishonesty outside of the classroom (in a lab, the Library, the Learning Center, etc.) the student will be subject to the following:
The person who believes that academic dishonesty took place will gather all available evidence and forward it to the instructor of record for the class in question. The instructor will then confront the student with the evidence and follow the steps as outlined above (see Initial Response of Instructor).
Student Rights
As with any disciplinary case, a student has certain rights. These rights are:
1. The right of Due Process, where the student is notified of the accusations, is presented with the evidence related to the accusations, and has the opportunity to respond to the evidence and present his/her own evidence.
2. The right to have each determination based upon a preponderance of evidence (that it is more likely than not that the action took place).
3. The right that the sanction(s) be fitting for the violation.
Role of the Vice President of Student Services
It is the responsibility of the Vice President of Student Services to keep track of all disciplinary actions that are taken against students. Since cases of academic dishonesty are disciplinary cases, they need to be reported to the Vice President of Student Services. If a student has been found to have committed two or more acts of academic dishonesty, or if the student is on disciplinary probation for other behavioral issues, then the Vice President of Student Services must conduct a hearing to determine if additional sanctions are in order. Additional sanctions can include, but are not limited to, disciplinary suspension or expulsion.
Questions concerning this process can be directed to the Vice President of Learning or any instructional dean.
Approved by Pueblo Community College Cabinet effective September 1, 1996. Latest review and revision: August 2008
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