The Process

The Community of Trust 

Students, faculty and staff are all considered "stewards" of the community of trust. The Honor Code operates from the presumption that members of our community are trustworthy; thus, it is necessary to evaluate suspected behavior before one reports a matter for review by the Council (see our Faculty FAQ page for tips on how to conduct this conversation).

Our process begins with a personal discussion whereby the person observing the conduct requests an explanation. Only if the explanation proves inadequate to negate the concern of a possible violation, should an official report be filed.

If you are a Reporting Party, you may report the matter following your conversation with the student (or good faith effort to do so) by filling out the online report form.

How the Process Works

An Overview of the Process (for more detail, please see the Student Handbook)

Our Code requires providing the suspected student with the opportunity to explain the conduct prior to formal Honor Council Action.  For more information about this requirement, see "The Community of Trust" section above.  Some academic violations involving undergraduate students may be eligible for Early Resolution (first time, low-level violations only--see Appendix I of the Honor Code for a list).

• For reports that are either ineligible for or that do not resolve in Early Resolution ^[FN1]
  • The reporter submits a report using our online report form.
  • The Chair reviews the report to determine proper authority.
  • The Chair and the Procedural Advisor (PA) meets with the Respondent and reviews their rights. The PA also contacts the Reporting Party to inform the student of rights and to offer to serve as a resource throughout the process.
  • The Chair appoints an investigating committee that typically has up to seven (7) days to investigate a case (unless given an extension by the Chair).
  • The Panel Authorization Committee (PAC) reviews the report and determines if insufficient information exists to proceed to a hearing. If sufficient information is available, the PAC refers the matter for a Panel proceeding; if not, the PAC dismisses the matter.
  • The Panel. A Panel is an opportunity for the Council to review all relevant information and to question witnesses. The student has the presumption of innocence until found responsible for a violation. If the panel finds insufficient information to find a student in violation, it dismisses the matter. If the panel finds the student responsible, it proceeds to the sanctioning phase of the process and determines appropriate sanctions and educational measures.
  • After the Panel (usually the following day), the Director of SARP (or designee) reviews the Honor Council outcome and meets with the Chair and the student to deliver sanctions, if any. The Director then sends the student and the Reporting Party the official written outcome and provides the student with information regarding appeal.
  • The student has seven working days from receiving official written notification to file an appeal of the decision. The appeal is directed to the Appeals Committee which is appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• Early Resolution Option (only applicable in undergraduate cases)
  • For certain allegations of academic dishonesty where a faculty member is the Reporting Party, may be eligible for an Early Resolution (see Honor Code Appendix I for more information regarding whether a particular situation is eligible or contact Student Accountability & Restorative Practices at 221-2509).
• Informal Resolution
  • For cases where the Honor Council and SARP determine that it may be possible to resolve the reported matter without a formal proceeding, the Council may offer informal resolution. Informal resolution involves the Respondent meeting with an Honor Council representative and representative of SARP. If the parties can agree to a summary of facts, the Council and SARP representatives can resolve the case informally. See Honor Code Section IX (F) for more information.  

The Panel

During the school year, the Council typically conducts Panels Monday through Thursday, generally in the early evening. A Panel is comprised of two phases: the Judgment phase and the Sanctions phase if necessary). The Panel usually conducts both phases on the same night when possible.

The Judgment Phase

In the judgment phase, six Council members serve as the panel. These individuals review the available information, ask questions, and determine whether the student has violated the Code. The Respondent, the Reporting Party, witnesses, the Procedural Advisor (PA), the Investigating Committee Chair (ICC), the Student Advisor, and the Chair also are present in the hearing. The ICC will conduct initial questioning of all involved parties. The Respondent is permitted to make brief opening and closing statements. All parties may be questioned during the Panel, but there is no cross-examination as you would find in a court of law.

The Sanctions Phase

If the Panel finds the student responsible for the violation(s), the Panel usually moves immediately into a sanctions phase. The only parties involved in the sanctions phase are the Chair, the Panel, the Respondent, the PA and the student's character witnesses, if any. The Respondent is permitted up to two character witnesses and also may submit letters relevant to sanctioning.  During the sanctions phase, the Panel determines the appropriate sanction(s) for the student. In accomplishing this, the Panel reviews the student's prior record (if any) and the circumstances of the violation and any extraordinary circumstances affecting the student.

See our FAQ section and the Student Handbook for more information.

Appeals

Students found responsible for an honor violation can appeal the outcome on the grounds outlined in Section XII of the Honor Code.  Appeals are due within seven days of written notification of the outcome by SARP. Appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Committee through the Vice President for Student Affairs and, if the committee finds possible merit in the appeal, by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee who makes the final decision.