Adjudication of Acts of Academic Misconduct

A. Initial Determination of Infraction

The instructor who observes or suspects an act of academic misconduct must first discuss the incident with the student(s). The instructor may request that his or her department chair be present at that discussion. If the instructor is convinced that an act of academic misconduct has occurred, s/he shall impose an appropriate sanction in the form of compensatory coursework, a grade reduction, or a failing grade, consistent with the academic integrity policy of the course.

In all cases where the instructor has determined that there has been a violation of academic integrity, s/he is required to report, in writing, the infraction to the student(s), the chair or program director(s) related to that course, and to the Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies within seven days of the determination that an act of academic misconduct has occurred. A form will be provided for this purpose. The Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies shall then verify to the student(s) in writing that such a charge has been made.

B. Review Process

1. Determination of Review

If the Dean, in consultation with the involved parties, determines that the infraction is very grave, or if the student already has a case of academic misconduct reported in his or her file, then he shall require that the case be reviewed by the Academic Integrity Board. In all other cases the student is not obligated to undergo a review if s/he accepts the sanctions imposed by the instructor.

If a student feels that s/he has been wrongly accused of an infraction of academic misconduct or honesty, or believes that s/he has been unjustly penalized for the same, s/he has the right to appeal to the Academic Integrity Board.

A student who wishes to appeal a sanction imposed by an instructor must do so in writing to the Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies. Except in extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Dean, students should submit their appeal within one month of receiving the instructor’s sanction. An appeal can only be initiated by the accused student.

2. Academic Integrity Board

The Academic Integrity Board shall consist of seven regular members:

• Three faculty members, (one of whom will be designated by the President as the Chair of the Board);
• Three students selected by the Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, from a list of five nominees chosen by Student Congress;
• The Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, ex officio. (The Dean shall exercise the right to vote only in the case of a tie.)

3. Processing of Cases by Review Board

Within ten business days of a written appeal by a student or a referral by the Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies (whichever date is the sooner of the two), the Chair of the Academic Integrity Board must convene a Review Board. Time frames may be adjusted for compelling reasons, with notification and an explanation provided to the student and the instructor. The Review Board shall consist of the members of the Academic Integrity Board plus one additional faculty member from the department or program of the instructor who reported the incident. That faculty member will be appointed by the Chair of the Academic Integrity Board.

The Chair of the Academic Integrity Board shall chair the Review Board. During the review,

• the instructor will have the opportunity to explain why s/he has judged that there has been an infraction of the academic integrity policy and, where the student has appealed the sanction, to explain the rationale, and
• the student will have the opportunity to defend himself or herself against the charge of academic misconduct and/or to explain why s/he believes the instructor’s sanction is not appropriate.

Both the instructor and the student have the right to have advisors who are members of the College community. The advisor’s role is limited to providing support and consultation; the advisor may not actively participate in the hearing. Instructors and students may call witnesses or submit evidence, and each must submit his or her evidence of written documentation in writing and may appear before the Review Board. The Review Board may, at its discretion, meet separately with the instructor and the student involved. Accused students have the right to review all evidence. The Review will be closed to persons other than those who are directly involved.

The Review Board will then deliberate on the evidence and make a decision on the case. A simple majority vote is required in all decisions. Within forty-eight hours, the Chair will notify, in writing, both the student and the instructor of the outcome of the review. A copy of all rulings will be filed with the Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies. The Dean will implement all decisions.

4. Hearing Findings and Sanctions

If by majority vote the Review Board determines that the charge of academic misconduct is not supported, then the instructor’s initial report will be destroyed, and it will be recommended to the instructor that the assignment(s) in question shall be graded on their merits. If a student wishes to appeal a final course grade, s/he should follow the College’s policy on academic grievances.

If a student is found, by simple majority vote of the Review Board, in violation of the College’s policy on academic integrity, then sanctions previously assigned by the instructor will be upheld and the instructor’s initial report will be placed in the student’s file until three years after the conferral of the degree for graduation, at which point it shall be destroyed, unless a subsequent finding of guilt for academic misconduct occurs. The Review Board, after consultation with the instructor, may impose additional sanctions which may include, but are not limited to, suspension and expulsion. The final adjudication will be publicly posted within the College community, with names and specific identifiers excluded from the posting.

C. Subsequent Offenses

If a report of academic misconduct submitted to the Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies turns out to be a second offense for that student, and it is upheld by a Review Board of the Academic Integrity Board (or not challenged by an appeal to the Academic Integrity Board), then a sanction not limited to, but no less than, a one-semester suspension shall be imposed. Seniors in their final semester will not be allowed to participate in graduation celebrations sponsored by the Division of Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student Affairs Administration. Both shall be notified of this sanction.

The penalty for a third offense shall be dismissal from Providence College.

D. Final Appeals

A student may appeal a suspension or dismissal from the college for reasons of academic misconduct to the Vice President for Academic Affairs of Providence College. Such an appeal must be submitted in writing within five business days of the Chair of the Review Board’s notification to the student. Possible appellate grounds are:

• alleged procedural errors that could have affected the determination of the Review Board;
• newly discovered facts not previously available or known that could have had a significant impact on the determination of the Review Board; and/or
•   a request for review of the sanction and the rationale for such a review, including any mitigating circumstances.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs will consider the appeal and may, at his or her discretion, meet with the student. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will issue an appellate decision to the student within ten business days of the appeal. The Vice President for Academic Affairs may affirm the decision, remand the matter to the Review Board for further review, or dismiss the charges.

A sanction of suspension or dismissal for academic misconduct that is affirmed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs may be appealed by the student to the Executive Vice President of Providence College. The appeal must be filed in writing by the student within five business days of the Chair of the Review Board’s notification to the student. The Executive Vice President may decide the appeal based on written submissions and/or meeting with any interested party or parties. The Executive Vice President will issue an appellate decision within ten business days of the appeal. Decisions made by the Executive Vice President are final.