Home

Academic Integrity Code

Preamble

Absolute academic integrity is expected of all students and faculty members of Alfred State College. The students must in no way misrepresent their work, fraudulently or unfairly advance their academic status, or in any way abet other students who fail to maintain academic integrity. The faculty members must adhere to a precept of just evaluation of academic work. It shall be communicated to the College community by being included in the Faculty Handbook, and student and faculty orientation information. Please note that the College Web page contains the most current version of the policies and procedures governing the College's Academic Integrity Code.

Responsibility

The maintenance of an atmosphere of academic honor and the fulfillment of the provisions of this Code are the responsibility of the students and faculty of Alfred State College.

Students' Responsibility

  • Students shall assume responsibility for academic work submitted (including papers, examinations, lab reports, graphics, etc.) and, if knowingly misrepresent work of others as their own shall be guilty of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, any unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation during an academic exercise. Academic dishonesty includes:
    • unauthorized use of any study aids, equipment, or another's work during an academic exercise,
    • unauthorized use of notes, study aids, electronic or other equipment during an examination;
    • copying or looking at another individual's examination;
    • taking or passing information to another individual during an examination;
    • taking an examination for another individual;
    • allowing another individual to take one's examination
    • stealing examinations, changing or adding an answer on an examination and resubmitting it to change the grade, and;
    • inventing data for a laboratory exercise or report.
    All graded academic exercises are expected to be performed on an individual basis unless otherwise stated by the instructor.
  • Plagiarism involves the submission of oral or written work containing, in whole or in part, passages written or spoken by someone else but misrepresented as one's own (This includes reading or hearing another's work or ideas and using them as one's own; quoting, paraphrasing, or condensing another's work without giving proper credit; purchasing or receiving another's work and using, handling, or submitting it as one's own work). When quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing, students must identify the extent to which a source has been used and must cite with precision. Unless such indication is given, any use of the ideas and words of someone else constitutes plagiarism, an especially serious charge in an intellectual discipline.
  • Students shall not help other students commit acts of academic dishonesty. (Knowingly allowing or helping another individual to plagiarize, cheat, or fabricate information is also a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity).
  • Students shall refrain from any action that would violate the basic principles of this Code, in fact or intent.
  • Students knowing of any situation in which a violation of the Code has occurred, or is likely to occur, are encouraged to bring this knowledge to the attention of the responsible faculty member.

Faculty Responsibility

  • Faculty members shall develop and maintain an academic atmosphere conducive to the spirit of free inquiry together with academic integrity.
  • Faculty members shall inform the students of special regulations applying to academic integrity in the work in each course. They shall make clear to what extent collaborative work or the exchange of aid or information is acceptable.
  • Faculty members who feel a student is drifting into questionable practices shall try, by constructive admonishment, to improve the student's understanding of academic responsibility.
  • Faculty members, in cases where a student violation of the Code of Academic Integrity has occurred and where punitive action is considered or has taken place, shall inform the course department chair in writing.
  • Multiple Offenses: A copy of this decision will be centrally stored in the Office of Judicial Affairs. When the Office of Judicial Affairs determines that a second incident has occurred with an individual student, the complaint will be referred to a hearing panel for a decision.

Filing a Complaint of Academic Dishonesty

Any member of the Alfred State College community may choose to file a written complaint of academic dishonesty against a student. If the complainant is not the instructor of the course where the alleged violation occurred, the written complaint must be submitted to the instructor of the course or the chair of the academic department (or the dean, if the chair of the department is also the instructor of the course).

Committee for Academic Integrity

There shall be a student-faculty committee vested with responsibility for action in support of the principles stated in this Code. The Committee has the responsibility for developing policy and procedures, subject to approval by the Faculty Senate, that will encourage and maintain a climate of academic integrity in the College community. This committee is also responsible for reviewing and recommending revisions for the improvement of the Code of Academic Integrity and the Student Academic Grievance Procedure to the Faculty Senate.

Responsibilities

  • Members of the Committee will serve as the hearing board for adjudicating complaints of academic dishonesty forwarded by an instructor or academic chair. Hearing panels may render sanctions upon students that range from academic integrity warning to expulsion (see sanctions section in Procedures for Hearing Panels and for Rendering Disciplinary Decisions Related to Academic Dishonesty).
  • Members of the Committee (who did not serve on the hearing panel) will be selected to serve as the appellate board for written appeals submitted by student charged with a violation of academic dishonesty and found responsible.

Organization

  • The Committee for Academic Integrity shall consist of twelve members of the faculty (4 from SMET, 4 from SAS and 4 from SAP) and six students (2 from SMET, 2 from SAS and 2 from SAP recommended by the Student Senate and approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs). A Chair of the Committee shall be a member of the faculty. Members of the Committee must attend a session on rendering disciplinary decisions, due process, and procedural issues prior to serving on a hearing panel or appellate board. This session will be organized by the Chair of the Committee for Academic Integrity. Hearing panels and appellate boards shall be formed out of members of the committee.
  • Terms for faculty will be three years. Terms for students will be one year. Appointment is renewable.
  • In addition, the vice president for academic affairs, the vice president for student affairs, and the designated dean shall be ex officio members of the Committee.
  • A non-voting chair of the hearing panels and appellate boards shall be designated by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student Affairs and shall be responsible for convening hearings (and appellate boards), ensuring fair process throughout the hearing and appeal processes, drafting decisions of the panels, and forwarding final decisions to the appropriate parties. The chair must be a member of the faculty and staff at Alfred State College.

Sanctions By Individual Faculty Members

Faculty reserve the right to take instructive measures in addressing student performance as it relates to violations of academic integrity. For instances, faculty may choose to counsel a student, write a written warning, fail the student on the assignment or the course, or enter a letter grade reduction on the assignment or the course as a result of an infraction.

Student Academic Grievance Procedure (for non-academic dishonesty incidents)

  • Purpose: The purpose of this procedure is to provide the student with a just and efficient method for investigation and recommendation of resolution of academic grievance (for non-academic dishonesty incidents) concerning a faculty member.
  • Student Academic Grievance: Barring complaints of academic dishonesty, an academic grievance shall include, but not be restricted to, a complaint by a student that there has been a violation, misinterpretation, or inequitable application of the regulations by the instructor or the department chair. The procedures for processing a student academic grievance can be found in the Procedures for Rendering Decisions Related to Student Academic Grievances.

Procedures for Hearing Panels and Rendering Disciplinary Decisions Related to Academic Dishonesty

The following procedures outlines the composition of hearing panels for incidents of academic dishonesty with students, the hearing process, the rights of students accused of violations of academic dishonesty, definitions and decision-making procedures for sanctions, and the appeal procedures.

Hearing Composition

  • A hearing panel is comprised of five members (3 faculty; one member from each school), two (2) students (at least one from the school where the complaint occurred), and a non-voting chair.
  • Each member shall have one vote.
  • The chair of the hearing panel/appellate board shall maintain written records of the hearing and final findings of the body. Deliberations in rendering disciplinary decisions (whether at the hearing level or appellate level) are private and confidential and as such, no written records will be maintained of these proceedings.

Notice of Complaint and Rights of Students Accused

  • The complainant and the student charged with a violation of academic dishonesty shall receive (by registered letter or other verifiable means), at least five days in advance, written notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing and confidential copies of all background materials which are being furnished to hearing board. The notice shall include a statement of the student's rights, including:
    • The right to be accompanied by another member of the College community (defined as a faculty or staff member of the College community) to serve as "advisor." Advisor is permitted to advise the student charged in the organization of his/her thoughts and presentation of materials and can advise the student directly in the hearing (Advisor may not address the hearing board or any other individuals providing testimony and may not respond to any questions for the respondent. Advisors may be present at hearings only. Members of the press and attorneys are prohibited from serving as advisors).
    • The right to be present when charges and evidence are presented to the committee, to present an explanation of his/her situation/circumstances at the hearing, and to ask individuals to present information on his/her behalf.
    • However, should the student fail to appear at the scheduled time and place, the hearing will be held in his/her absence and the hearing panel will render a decision.
    • The right to present witnesses on questions of fact.
    • The right to receive prompt written notice of the hearing board's/appellate board's decisions/ recommendations.
    • The right of access to copies of the records of the proceedings of the hearing. All decisions shall be made based upon the evidentiary standard of preponderance of evidence.

  • All other principals in the matter shall appear when requested to give testimony and/or answer questions of the committee.

    Jurisdiction over Multiple Offenses: In incidents where the student respondent is charged with multiple violations of the Student Code of Conduct and the Academic Integrity Code (specifically academic dishonesty), a hearing will occur with the Academic Integrity hearing panel and the hearing officer/board that is responsible for hearing the alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct (which addresses matters of personal student misconduct).

Order of Business for Disciplinary Hearings

Unless otherwise determined by the Chair of the Hearing Panel, the hearing will generally follow the order described below:

  • Members of the Hearing Panel introduce themselves and ask all present to do the same.
  • The Panel Chair briefly reviews the hearing procedures as outlined here.
  • The charges are read by the Chair.
  • The complainant will first present his/her testimony. Members of the Hearing Panel may question the complainant at any point during this presentation. The respondent will have the opportunity to question the complainant after these statements have concluded.
  • When the complainant has finished, the complainant's incident witnesses will each present statements, with the Hearing Panel and the respondent permitted to ask questions as in step 4 above.
  • When the complainant has produced the evidence he/she wishes to present, the respondent will be given the opportunity to present his/her testimony and incident witnesses' testimony as in 4 and 5 above. Again, both the Hearing Panel and the complainant will be permitted to question the respondent and his/her incident witnesses. Character witnesses are not permitted at any disciplinary hearing. Respondents may elect to submit written character references for the hearing panel/administrative hearing officer to review as a part of their deliberations.
  • When the respondent has produced the evidence he/she wishes to present, the Hearing Panel may ask further questions of either party or recall witnesses. The Hearing Panel may call brief recesses at any time to discuss the proceedings, and may ask further questions upon return from any such recess.
  • The Chair may also call witnesses, including expert witnesses from the College staff, to aid the Hearing Panel in its consideration of the case.
  • When the Hearing Panel's questions have concluded, the Chair should inform the respondent that a written decision will be sent to him/her. The hearing will then be adjourned. The members of the Panel will meet in executive session to deliberate and to render a decision. Decisions are rendered by majority vote.

Description of Sanctions for Hearing Panels

In the event the complaint is forwarded to a hearing board of the Committee on Academic Integrity, hearing boards may impose one of the following sanctions for violations of academic dishonesty:

  • Academic Integrity Warning: An official written notification to the student that includes a warning that further violations of the Academic Integrity policy will result in a more severe sanction.
  • Letter Grade Reduction in the Course: Student receives a full letter grade reduction in the course upon completion of course work at the end of the term.
  • Academic Integrity Probation: Student is placed on a disciplinary status whereas future violations of the Code will result in his/her suspension or dismissal from the College.
  • Special Failing Grade: Student receives a special grade of "F*" that indicates a failure due to academic dishonesty. This notation remains until the student successfully completes an educational program (supervised by the hearing board); otherwise, it remains. Education programs are assigned by the hearing boards of the Committee on Academic Integrity. Assignments can include a requirement for a student to attend a workshop, seminar, or course on an issue related to academic integrity; complete a community service project; or present a paper on a topic related to academic integrity.

    Students with an "F*" remaining on their transcripts after two terms (excluding summer) may not serve as officers of any recognized student organization, nor represent the university in any varsity sports, student contests, or arts performances.

  • Suspension: Suspension prohibits the student from attending Alfred State College and from being present on College property for the duration of the sanction, which shall occur for a minimum of the remainder of a semester and up to an indefinite period of time (determined by when the student has successfully completed all the terms and special conditions outlined in the disciplinary decision). Persons who reside on campus shall remove their belongings from their place of residence within 72 hours of notice that the penalty of Suspension has been rendered. Reinstatement and conditions for reinstatement, if any, shall depend upon an evaluation by the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee following application for reinstatement by the student. Any person violating this provision will be subject to arrest, possible fine and or incarceration for Criminal Trespass (section 140.10 and 140.15 of the NYS Penal Law. If required by the sanction, students who have been suspended must petition for reenrollment through the Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee. Additional conditions for readmission may be specified.

    Students receiving sanctions ranging from Academic Integrity Warning to Suspension also will be required to participate in an education program.

  • Expulsion: Expulsion prohibits the student from attending Alfred State College and from entering the College property. Expulsion will be permanently noted on the student's official education record. A decision of Expulsion terminates the person's status as an enrolled student with no opportunity for reinstatement. Any person violating this provision will be subject to arrest, possible fine and or incarceration for trespassing. An expelled student may not enter onto any part of the campus without specific authorization from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Persons who reside on campus shall remove their belongings from their place of residence within 72 hours of notice that the penalty of Expulsion has been rendered.

Hearing Panels' Range of Sanctions

In a desire for hearing panels to hold repeat offenders to a higher standard of behavior, the following sanctions will be applied to first, second and third offenses.

  • First Offense: Penalties may range from Academic Integrity Warning to Suspension. In cases associated with a criminal act, a sanction of Expulsion may be imposed.
  • Second Offense: Penalties may range from Special Failing Grade to Expulsion.
  • Third Offense: Expulsion.

Appeals of Decisions of Hearing Panels

Students sanctioned by the hearing board may wish to appeal the decision to an appellate board of the Committee on Academic Integrity. Appellate Boards shall be comprised of two faculty members (one from the school where the complaint was lodged) and one student from the Committee.

To initiate an appeal, the student must submit a written request for an appeal within four (4) business days of notification of the results of the hearing. The College can only accept appeals from the respondent. It cannot accept appeals from third parties (e.g., parents, faculty, staff, and friends). All requests must be submitted to the Chair of the Hearing Board. A three-member Appellant Hearing Panel of the Committee shall be convened by the Chair of the hearing board. If the original hearing was before a Committee hearing panel, then the appeal panel shall be comprised of members of the Committee who did not hear the original case.

The Appellant Hearing Panel will review the facts of the case in accordance with the due process guidelines set forth in this document. The Chair of the hearing board will notify the student in writing of the decision of the Appellant Hearing Panel within three (3) business days of the appellant hearing. This action shall be final and is not subject to further appeal.

Appellant panels do not rehear cases heard before the original hearing board. They will meet privately to determine if any of the appeal criteria noted below is applicable. Appellant panels do not meet with the complainant or the student charged, but they may ask the non-voting Chair to further fact-find if deemed necessary.

An appeal must be in writing and its scope shall be limited to the following:

  • Question of Fact: Students may appeal on "questions of fact" by introducing new evidence which would significantly affect the outcome of the case. Evidence that comes forward that was not known by the accused shall be considered new evidence. Evidence that was withheld by a student shall not constitute a question of fact, nor is it to be considered upon appeal.
  • Question of Procedure: Appeals will be considered on the basis of "questions of procedure" by demonstrating that the procedural guidelines established in this document were breached and that such departure from established procedure significantly affected the outcome of the case.
  • Severity of Sanction: Students may appeal the "severity of sanction" that has been imposed by presenting a statement explaining why they feel the penalty is too severe.

Appeals are considered for breach of procedures when the procedure in question directly affects the disciplinary decision rendered. For example, the time of notification of a disciplinary decision could result in a procedural breach but would have had no impact in how the decision was initially rendered by a panel. Thus, no grounds for appeal would be granted. However, if the hearing chair, per se, failed to allow the respondent or complainant to ask questions in the hearing related to the charges imposed, such action may constitute a procedural breach that eventually affected how the panel reached a decision. As a result, a respondent might assert that this type of procedural breach was grounds to submit an appeal.

If the Appellant panel determines that a question of procedure or question of fact violation has occurred where it significantly impacted on how a disciplinary decision was reached by the hearing board, they can determine that the case must be reheard. If they find the sanction too severe, they may choose to reduce the sanction imposed by the hearing board. Then the appellate officer may choose to rehear the case or modify the sanction and/or special conditions imposed. This decision will be communicated in writing to the student charged and the instructor of the course. If no just cause is demonstrated to exist, the Chair of the appellate board shall notify the student in writing of why the appeal was denied.

Confidentiality

All discussions that occur in hearings and in private deliberations are considered part of the student's educational record (FERPA). As such, these records shall remain confidential and shall only be released to "need to know" parties (as determined by the Chair of the hearing panel) and to external entities with the student's written consent. "Need to know" parties (e.g., the academic department chair) are required to notify students if they "re-disclose" these records to other members of the College community.

Procedures for Rendering Decisions of Student Academic Grievances

Resolving a Student Complaint

  • STEP 1: The student initiating the complaint shall contact the professor involved and attempt to resolve the grievance within 14 College calendar days from the date on which the student first had knowledge of, or reasonably should have known of, the occurrence of the inequity or injustice. The professor shall respond to the student regarding the concern within seven College calendar days. (A "College calendar day" is understood to be any day the College is in session-excluding, thereby, recesses and vacations.)
  • STEP 2: If the student is not satisfied with the response of the professor at Step 1, he/she may appeal the Step 1 response within 14 College calendar days after the receipt of the response. A Step 2 appeal is made to the course department chair (or in the person's absence, a designated representative). The complaint must be submitted in writing, must clearly and concisely state the facts which initiated the complaint, and must also recommend a resolution of the grievance. A written response is to be made by the chair within seven College calendar days. The chair is to provide copies of the appeal and response to the faculty member involved and to the chair of the Committee on Academic Integrity. If the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved by this action, the student may proceed to Step 3.
  • STEP 3: If the response from the department chair does not resolve the grievance, the student may appeal in writing to the Committee for Academic Integrity chair within 14 College calendar days following the response from the department chair. The committee shall schedule a student academic grievance hearing (see below) within 10 College calendar days of the receipt of the appeal and inform the student and professor involved of its recommendation within 14 College calendar days of the hearing. The committee recommendations shall be forwarded to the vice president for academic affairs (or designated representative) for review and action. Notification of the vice president's action shall occur within seven College calendar days of the committee's recommendation.
  • ALTERNATE STEP 3: In instances where the choice of courses for the coming semester depends on the outcome of a grievance, a step three hearing may be scheduled for the period of time between semesters, if both parties agree. When classes are not in session, the grievance may be heard at step three by a group composed of the vice president for academic affairs and one faculty member and one student from the Academic Integrity Committee, if available. The hearing will be conducted in the usual manner with both parties present. The resolution will be the decision of the vice president for academic affairs. There is no further appeal of the decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Procedures for Student Academic Grievance Hearings

  • A grievance hearing panel is comprised of five members (3 faculty; one member from each school), two (2) students (at least one from the school where the complaint occurred), and a non-voting chair.
  • Each member shall have one vote.
  • The committee shall maintain clear records of its proceedings.
  • All parties involved shall receive (by registered letter or other verifiable means), at least two days in advance, written notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing and confidential copies of all background materials which are being furnished to committee members. The notice shall include a statement of his or her rights, including:
    • The right to be accompanied by another member of the College community (defined as a faculty or staff member of the College community) to serve as "advisor." Advisor is permitted to advise the faculty member charged in the organization of his/her thoughts and presentation of materials and can advise him/her directly in the hearing (Advisor may not address the hearing board or any other individuals providing testimony and may not respond to any questions for the respondent. Advisors may be present at hearings only. Members of the press and attorneys are prohibited from serving as advisors).
    • The right to be present when charges and evidence are presented to the committee.
    • The right to present a defense and to challenge the charges or the evidence.
    • The right to present witnesses on questions of fact.
    • The right to receive prompt written notice of the committee's recommendations.
    • The right of access to copies of the written records of the proceedings of the hearing.
  • The student complainant or faculty member shall appear to give testimony and answer questions of the committee. If the student or faculty member refuses to appear, the committee shall have the authority to proceed.
  • All other principals in the matter shall appear when requested to give testimony and/or answer questions of the committee.
  • Committee members present at the hearing shall decide upon the merits of the grievance or charge and forward appropriate committee recommendations to the vice president for academic affairs with copy to the parties involved in the grievance:
    • the student
    • the faculty member
    • chair-Academic Integrity Committee
    • faculty dean and department chair
    • student dean and department chair
    • student's adviser
    • other individuals deemed appropriate
  • The vice president's decision shall be transmitted to all parties involved.
Alfred State College,  10 Upper College Drive,  Alfred, NY 14802   |   1-800-4-ALFRED (425-3733)