Frequently Asked Questions

The policies, procedures and definitions related to academic honesty are located in the WMU Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs and the Western Michigan University Student Code.

The instructor completes an Academic Integrity Charge form on GoWMU (see instructions) and forwards it to the Student Rights and Responsibilities with supporting documents.

A staff member in SRR will contact the student to schedule a meeting with the student. SRR will institute a "conduct hold" preventing the student from dropping, adding, or registering in classes until the case is resolved.

The SRR staff member and the student against whom charges are being brought will be in attendance at the initial appointment. The purpose of this appointment is to provide the student with the opportunity to review the charge form, and any accompanying documentation and complete an Academic Integrity Process Form. This informal meeting is designed to provide students with information about the process, give them an opportunity to indicate responsibility or lack thereof and ask any pertinent questions.

The SRR staff member will contact the instructor to inform her/him that the student has admitted responsibility. The SRR staff member will facilitate communication between the instructor and the student, unless the instructor chooses not to meet with the student.

The case proceeds to a hearing. The SRR staff member will consult with the instructor to determine the type of hearing. These include, either a hearing between the instructor and the student or a hearing with the student, the instructor and an Academic Integrity Hearing Panel (AIHP). The AIHP consists of three faculty members and two students, selected by the Professional Concerns Committee of the Faculty Senate.

The hearing is an opportunity for a student to share her/his perspective with the hearing body and for the hearing body to ask any questions and clarify the information provided.

An instructor can give a reduced or failing grade for the assignment as well as impose an academic penalty up to failure for the course in which the student is enrolled. Separate sanctions may be applied by SRR as well. These include warning, reprimand, behavior contract, discretionary sanctions, restitution, and loss of privileges, probation, suspension, and expulsion.

A student may appeal a finding of responsibility by the instructor to the AIHP. The student must do so within five university business days. The decision of the AIHP at the appeal or initial hearing level is final. There is no appeal of the decision of the AIHP at either level.

If a finding of not responsible has been made, the charge is dismissed and no penalties are imposed.

If the case goes to a hearing a student is afforded the opportunity to be assisted by a support person of his or her own choosing and at their own expense. Please be advised: The support person is not permitted to speak or to participate directly in any hearing before a hearing body. All communications related to the case (before, during and after a hearing) shall be directed to the accused student and not to any advisor.

A decision by the instructor regarding a grade penalty cannot be appealed by the student once found responsible and has exhausted or waived all appeals. If the instructor determines to fail the student in the course, the student is not permitted to continue attending class.

While a case is pending, the student has the right to attend and participate in the class.

If a case is pending at the end of the semester or session, the instructor must assign an Incomplete (I) grade and then submit a change of grade once the process is completed.