Academic Integrity is another way of describing honesty. Students must understand that cheating in any form is unacceptable, whether copying another student's work, copying information from the Internet or another source, bringing answers into a test, or giving answers to another student. Students who cheat will be subject to the Academic Integrity Policy.

If a faculty member discovers that a student has committed an academic integrity violation that warrants a sanction beyond a verbal warning, the following process will be followed:

A.  FIRST VIOLATION: The faculty member will discuss the situation with the student, explaining the nature of the violation, and the nature of the sanction, or sanctions, to be applied as per the course policy. The faculty member will also discuss the potential consequences of further violations. This discussion should be documented. If the faculty member imposes a sanction as per course policy the incident MUST be reported to the Coordinator of Academic Advising via the early warning system. The report must include the details of the offense, the sanction given (failure of the assignment, etc.), and the nature of supporting evidence, hard copies of which must be forwarded to the Coordinator of Academic Advising when possible.

In response to the FIRST violation the Coordinator of Academic Advising will:

1. Place details of the violation in a file prepared for that student.
2. Communicate the violation, consequences for further violations, and the appeal process for the current violation to the student via letter.
3. Communicate the violation to the College Judicial Coordinator for cross referencing against any student life violations on record for that student.

B. SECOND VIOLATION: Will be discussed with the student and reported to the Coordinator of Academic Advising in the same manner as the first violation.

In response to a SECOND violation the Coordinator of Academic Advising will:

1. Place details of the violation in the student’s file.
2. Communicate the second violation to the College Judicial Coordinator.

In response to the second violation the Judicial Coordinator will:

1. Place the student on DEFERRED SUSPENSION, and so communicate in writing to the student.
2. Communicate the violation and sanction to the parents/guardians of financially dependent students in writing.

C. THIRD VIOLATION: Will be discussed with the student and reported to the Coordinator of Academic Advising in the same manner as the first violation.

In response to the THIRD violation the Coordinator of Academic Advising will:

1. Place details of the violation in the student’s file.
2. Communicate the violation to the college Judicial Coordinator.

In response to the third violation the college Judicial Coordinator will:

1. Convene a STUDENT CONDUCT COUNCIL hearing, according to established Student Life guidelines, to determine responsibility for the current violation. If found responsible, the student will be SUSPENDED or EXPELLED from the college.
2. Communicate a summary of the hearing to the College Provost.

In response to the findings of the Student Conduct Council the College Provost will:

1. Inform the student in writing of the determination of the Student Conduct Council, and that a final appeal of that determination can be made to the College President.

D. APPEAL PROCESS: At any step, the student may appeal a decision.

1. Appeal of first and second violation sanctions can be made to the Dean of the division through which the course is offered, and then to the College Provost who will render the final decision.
2. Appeal of Student Conduct Council Hearing sanctions can be made to the College President, who will render the final decision.