Article VI: Academic Conduct Hearing Process

Western Michigan University’s academic honesty and conduct in research policies have been created and defined by members of its academic community, recommended by its faculty senate, and adopted by its board of trustees. The processes necessary to support these policies are managed and facilitated by Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR).

This section applies to cases in which a student is to be charged with a violation of Article IV. Section B.01:

Academic Misconduct.

1. Charging a student with a violation: A faculty member submits the academic misconduct charge form indicating the charge(s). Charges of academic misconduct should be made within 20 University business days of discovery of the misconduct. ln some instances, academic misconduct may be discovered after a course or program of study is completed. No academic sanction shall be assessed without a finding of responsibility through this process. After submission of the charges, the course syllabus, original assignment, and supporting documentation shall be submitted electronically to Student Rights and Responsibilities. Upon submission of charges, a hold is placed on the student’s account. SRR will contact the student for an appointment to meet with a staff member. The student is expected to respond to communications from SRR as outlined in Article lV, Section 8.12. During the meeting with the student, an Academic Conduct Process Form will be completed. 
 

2. If the student accepts responsibility: SRR will contact the faculty member and the faculty member may impose an academic sanction including a reduced or failing grade for the assignment(s) in question up to failure of the course in which the student is enrolled. SRR may also impose non-grade-related sanctions ranging from a warning to expulsion from the University, as described in Article V.A.4. 

3. If the student does not accept responsibility: SRR will consult with the faculty member to ascertain the faculty member’s preference as to the hearing type. The hearing may be a meeting between the faculty member and the student or a meeting between the student, faculty member, and an Academic Integrity Hearing Panel (AIHP). An Academic Integrity Hearing Panel will consist of three faculty members and two students, selected using procedures established by the Professional Concerns Committee of the Faculty Senate. The choice of hearing type is the faculty member’s. SRR will set up the hearing and will notify the student and faculty member of its time, date, and location. The faculty member is expected to respond to communications from SRR in a timely manner, typically five University business days. Should the faculty member fail to make timely responses, the case shall proceed to an AIHP hearing, notwithstanding the faculty member's selection of hearing type. The failure of either the student or faculty member to appear shall not preclude a hearing from proceeding, nor prejudice its outcome. 

4. If the student wants to appeal a finding of responsibility after an instructor hearing: A student may appeal a finding of responsibility resulting from an instructor hearing to an Academic Integrity Hearing Panel within five University business days. The student cannot appeal after that time has elapsed. 

5. The authority of the Academic Integrity Hearing Panel: An Academic Integrity Committee will conduct hearings to determine whether the student is responsible for academic dishonesty. The decision of the Academic Integrity Panel is final and may not be appealed. An Academic Integrity Hearing Panel makes no decisions regarding the sanctions and/or grades to be imposed, either by the faculty member or by SRR. 

6. If a finding of “responsible” has been made: A finding of “responsible” occurs when a student accepts responsibility, the faculty member so decides in an instructor hearing, or an Academic Integrity Hearing Panel so decides by majority vote. When that finding has occurred, the faculty member may impose an academic sanction including a reduced or failing grade for the assignment(s) in question up to failure of the course in which the student is enrolled. A decision by the faculty member regarding a grade sanction cannot be appealed by the student once the student has been found responsible and has exhausted or waived all appeals of the finding. Also, once the student has been found responsible and has exhausted or waived all appeals of the finding, that student’s continued attendance in the relevant class depends on the grade penalty imposed by the faculty member and/or the sanctions from SRR. If the faculty member determines to fail the student in the course, the student is not permitted to continue attending or participating in class, whether virtually or in person. In all cases when a final finding of responsibility has been made, the finding will be included in the student’s educational record. Students will not be permitted to withdraw from the course in question during the Academic lntegrity Hearing process nor after a finding of responsibility. 

7. If a finding of “not responsible” has been made: If a finding of “not responsible” has been made, the charge is dismissed, and sanctions shall not be imposed.

8. While a case is pending: A case is considered pending until one of two events occurs:

    1. The student accepts responsibility or
    2. the hearing process is completed.

While a case is pending, the student has the right to attend and participate in the class. If the case is pending at the end of the semester, the faculty member shall assign an Incomplete grade and then submit a change of grade consistent with the finding of responsible/not responsible within five University business days of the completion of the process.

9. Faculty member unavailable to assign grade: Circumstances may arise wherein a faculty member cannot or does not assign a grade in a timely manner. In such instances, the faculty member’s academic unit chair/director shall make reasonable efforts to contact and ask the faculty member to supply a grade. If these efforts are unsuccessful, the faculty member’s academic unit chair/director shall appoint another qualified faculty member to assign the grade.