What to Do if You are Suspected of Academic Misconduct

When your meeting is confirmed you'll get a report from Student Academic Affairs with the evidence submitted by your instructor. 

Sometimes, we are unable to share certain pieces of evidence in advance to preserve the integrity of the assessment. For example, if you are accused of cheating on an exam we may not be able to supply the exam itself prior to that meeting. You would, however, be able to review the exam during your meeting with the Coordinator of Academic Integrity.

In your Academic Misconduct Meeting, you will have the opportunity to provide any evidence or explanation. It is possible that no violation of the LSA Community Expectations has occurred. That is why the meeting is important and that you are given an opportunity to respond to the instructor’s concern.

Students and instructors are informed about the decision via email.

• If students are found responsible and there are college-level sanctions, they will be explained in the email.
• If students are found responsible and there are course-level sanctions, the instructor will follow up with them directly.
  

If a student is found responsible for misconduct, they may receive a course-level and/or a college-level sanction for the same incident.

Course-level sanctions: When students are found responsible for academic misconduct, the instructor will apply grade penalties based on course syllabus policies or department policy, if applicable.

College-level sanctions:

• College-level sanctions are determined by the Office of Student Academic Affairs and relate to the student's standing at the university and the nature of the misconduct.
• Examples:
  • Disciplinary probation - students are on probation for one year. As part of this process, a notation is placed on your unofficial transcript. This notation serves as a warning and reprimand that you have been found responsible for academic misconduct. After that one year period, the notation is removed provided no further violations of academic misconduct have occurred.
  • Reflective Essay - you must write an essay about this experience, share what you have learned from it, and discuss how you intend to incorporate LSA Community Expectations into your personal and academic life.
  • Suspension - You are ineligible to enroll at the university for one semester and a permanent notation is added to your transcript. In order to re-enroll in future terms, you must write a petition for reactivation at least two weeks prior to the start of the term you wish to enroll.
  • Expulsion - you are permanently removed from the university.
• Most first-time offenses of academic misconduct result in a disciplinary probation.

Most first offenses of academic misconduct do not result in suspension or expulsion. However, there are a few violations that we do feel are egregious enough to warrant suspension or expulsion.

• Forged documents: (like a doctor's note) or “doctoring” or altering of a university record or communication in order to receive an unfair advantage will result in suspension. For example, altering the date of a communication or transaction so it appears you attempted to make the request prior to a particular date or deadline will result in suspension.
• Repeat offenses: You may also face suspension if you are found responsible for a second or third instance of academic misconduct, regardless of the type of misconduct.
• Expulsion from the University is typically reserved for multiple egregious acts that may have previously resulted in suspension.

Students often unintentionally violate academic integrity standards. For example, including source language in your paper without citing it. Violations can be unintended, but they are still violations and need to be addressed.

During your Academic Misconduct Meeting, the Coordinator of Academic Integrity will hear your point of view and take into consideration the circumstances of your situation. Our goal is not to punish, but to educate you about academic integrity and guide your decision making if you find yourself in a similar situation in the future. 

Yes. You should report any academic integrity violation.

• Applications will give you an opportunity to explain the incident and discuss what you’ve learned from the experience.
•  Not reporting a violation is dishonest and could result in being denied admission or having your admission revoked if it is discovered that you had an academic integrity violation and did not disclose it.
• Graduate programs and prospective employers often require the student’s undergraduate institution to verify a student’s academic standing as part of the admissions process. These requests typically come from the student directly and can be submitted to SAA using the Dean’s Recommendation form. As part of this process, we are required to disclose academic integrity violations.

The LSA Student Honor Council President may be able to answer your questions and offer a student perspective.

You may also email our office (lsajudicial@umich.edu), and we will be happy to answer your questions.