Roane State Community College

Purpose

This page provides supportive information and guidance to faculty concerned with issues of student academic misconduct.

RSCC policy SA-06-01 defines Roane State's official policies and procedures regarding academic misconduct. While this page may help clarify policies and procedures, the official policy should be consulted and followed in every instance.

Documents

RSCC policy SA-06-01: General Regulations on Student Conduct and Disciplinary Sanctions

Academic Misconduct Agreement

Academic Misconduct Report Form

Summary Academic Misconduct Appeal Form

Overview

Academic Misconduct is a broad term that includes plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, and facilitiation. Ultimately, students are responsible for their own learning. Understanding the scholarly process and valuing the importance of academic integrity is a major component of a Roane State college education. When students fail to uphold standards of academic integrity, they deprive themselves and all other students of valuable educational opportunities.

Students who plagiarize, cheat or commit other acts of academic misconduct may face a variety of consequences, including a zero for the assignment or a failing grade for the entire course.

Roane State faculty set both the academic and behavioral expections for their class. Roane State policy SA-06-01 explains that Roane State faculty determine the appropriate consequence for specific acts of student academic misconduct in their respective classes. Policy SA-06-01 outlines both the procedures for enforcing these consequences while providing student access to due process to ensure fairness.

The charts below summarize the basic procedural steps faculty should take when assigning consequences for acts of student academic misconduct.

Academic Misconduct Agreement

Faculty must establish and clearly communicate to their students what constitues academic misconduct and the possible consequences.

Roane State's Academic Misconduct Committee recommends that faculty have students in every class review and sign the Academic Misconduct Agreement. The Academic Misconduct Agreement is an informational tool designed to help students understand academic misconduct and certify understanding of possible consequences. If used, copies of this signed contract should be kept on file for future reference. If used, students should be allowed to keep a signed copy for their own personal records as well.

Use of the Academic Misconduct Agreement is not required. Faculty who do not distribute this contract and keep signed copies on file are responsible for demonstrating that they have clearly communicated course expectations regarding student academic misconduct.

 

Summary of faculty/administrative actions regarding acts of academic misconduct

Note: This chart is intended to summarize RSCC policy SA-06-01. Consult the actual policy for complete information.

1. As soon as possible, distribute the Academic Misconduct Agreement to students in your class. Read and discuss the Contract with students and have them sign it. Collect the Contracts, make a copy of them, return one copy to the students, and keep one copy for your own records.
2. When you suspect a student of academic misconduct, discuss the incident with the student.
3. Decide the consequence of the academic misconduct:

• A zero for the assignment
• An “F” for the course

When assigning a zero for the assignment:

1. Inform the student of the consequence.
2. Tell the student of his/her right to appeal the course grade through the process outlined in the RSCC Catalog.
3. Complete the Academic Misconduct Report Form. Send a copy of the Form to your Division Dean and keep a copy for yourself.

When assigning an “F” for the course:

1. Inform the student of the consequence.
2. Tell the student of his/her right to due process in appealing the grade.
3. Fill out the top half of the Summary Academic Misconduct Appeal Form and have the student sign the form. Make three copies of the Form, one for the student, one for yourself, and one for your Division Dean. Send the original Form to the Dean of Students.
4. Complete the Academic Misconduct Report Form. Send a copy to your Division Dean; send a copy to the Dean of Students; and keep a copy for your records.
5. Send a written request to the Dean of Students, for an “F” to be assigned to the class in question.
6. If you wish to prevent the student from dropping the course in order to not receive an “F,” contact your Division Dean. He/she will then contact the Registrar and request that an administrative hold be placed on the course in question.
7. The student has three options:
   • To have his/her case informally adjudicated by the Dean of Students (See Student Disciplinary Policy SA-06-01 for detailed description of the appeal process).
   • To have an institutional hearing (See Student Disciplinary Policy SA-06-01 for detailed description of the appeal process).
   • To waive his/her right to an appeal to a hearing process.

 

 

Summary of student rights to appeal

Note: This chart is intended to summarize RSCC policy SA-06-01. Consult the actual policy for complete information.

Any student receiving an F for the entire course due to academic misconduct has three options:

1. To have his/her case informally adjudicated by the Dean of Students (See Student Disciplinary Policy SA-06-01 for detailed description of the appeal process).
2. To have an institutional hearing (See Student Disciplinary Policy SA-06-01 for detailed description of the appeal process).
3. To waive his/her right to an appeal to a hearing process.

To have his/her case informally adjudicated by the Dean of Students:

1. The student will check the appropriate box on the Summary Academic Misconduct Appeal Form and send it within five business days to the Dean of Students.
2. The matter will be resolved by the Dean of Students.

To have an institutional hearing:

1. The student will check the appropriate box on the Summary Academic Misconduct Appeal Form and send it within five days to the Dean of Students.
2. Within 10 business days, an ad hoc Academic Misconduct Hearing Committee will hold a hearing. The Committee will be comprised of three faculty members who do not have an interest in the case who are appointed by the Dean of Students.
3. Through the leadership of the Dean of Students (who will serve as a non-voting member), the matter will be resolved by the Academic Misconduct Hearing Committee.

To waive his/her right to an appeal to a hearing process:

1. The student will check the appropriate box in the Summary Academic Misconduct Appeal Form and send it within five business days to the Dean of Students.
2. The student’s failure to return the Summary Academic Misconduct Appeal Form to the Dean of Students within five business days of receipt of the form constitutes a waiver of all hearing options.
3. The matter is over.