Faculty FAQs

Are there situations in which an instructor may treat a potential academic integrity issue as a “teachable moment” and engage the student in discussion rather than submitting it through the official process?

It depends. A teachable moment may be appropriate in some situations when:

  • Expectations were not clearly stated in writing (e.g. in the course syllabus, in the assignment or exam instructions) and the student could reasonably be confused about what was required; or
  • The assignment is designed to teach skills such as citation, paraphrasing, source integration, or research practices, and the mistake is already addressed in the grading criteria; or
  • The behavior appears to be the result of confusion, inexperience, cultural differences in academic norms, or an honest error, and can be effectively resolved through clarification, feedback, or additional instruction; and
  • Using a teachable moment does not compromise fairness for other students or result in inconsistent treatment across the class. 

If the behavior is deliberate, repeated, gives a student an unfair advantage, or occurs despite clearly communicated written expectations, the situation should be referred to the academic integrity process.

Due Process Reminder:
Applying a grade penalty in response to an alleged policy violation may violate due process. These situations should be addressed through the academic integrity process to ensure students receive proper notice and an opportunity to respond.

I have a student with a prior violation and I don’t want to refer this case to Student Accountability & Conflict Resolution because I don’t want the student to fail my class or get kicked out of school. What should I do?

Referring a case does not mean that a student will automatically fail the course or be suspended. If a student is found responsible for a violation, there are a variety of outcomes that can be assigned; some of which do not include a grade reduction.

I believe a student is cheating, but I cannot definitively prove it. What can I do?

Contact Student Accountability & Conflict Resolution and provide details as to why you believe an act of academic misconduct has occurred. Once we know the details, we can advise you on the best and most appropriate plan of action.

I offered a student an Informal Resolution and have not heard back from them after the allotted three business days. What should I do?

​If you have not heard back from them after three days, we recommend following up with an email to remind them the deadline has passed and provide another deadline. If you still have not heard back from them after a few more days, please contact our office and we can assist you. Depending on the circumstances, we may begin the Facilitated Resolution process.

Do I contact the student about referring a case to Student Accountability & Conflict Resolution?

It’s up to you. Once you submit the Charge Form to our office, we will contact the student. However, if you would like to notify them as a courtesy, you are able to do so.

How do I prepare for a hearing?

Once the hearing has been scheduled, you will have access to a Procedural Advisor who can assist you in preparing for the hearing and can guide you through the process.