Academic Misconduct Policy

Buffalo State's official academic misconduct policy states that "all Buffalo State students are expected to display honesty and integrity in completing course requirements and following college academic regulations."

“Academic misconduct” refers to any form of plagiarism, fraud, or cheating in connection with academic coursework and is inconsistent with the aims and goals of Buffalo State. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • Aiding in academic dishonesty

    Taking action that allows another student to engage in an act of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to completing an examination or assignment for another student or stealing an examination or completed assignment for another student.

  • Cheating

    • Cheating. Includes but is not limited to: (1) use of any assistance not authorized by the course instructor(s) in taking quizzes, tests, examinations, or papers; (2) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the course instructor(s) in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments (i.e., AI usage); or (3) stealing tests or other academic material belonging to the course instructor(s). (4) Includes fraud, deceit, or dishonesty in an academic assignment, or using or attempting to use materials, or assisting others in using materials.

  • Disruptive/Inappropriate Behaviors

  • Fabrication

    Fabrication refers to providing false information, including inventing or counterfeiting data; making up (or manipulating) data or results; and recording or reporting on them in any form.

  • Falsifying academic materials

    Fabricating laboratory materials, notes, reports, or any forms of computer data; forging an instructor’s name or initials; resubmitting an examination or assignment for reevaluation that has been altered without the instructor’s authorization; or submitting a report, paper, materials, computer data, or examination (or any considerable part thereof) prepared by any person or entity other than the student responsible for the assignment.

  • Misrepresenting documents

    Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any college or official document, record, or instrument of identification (impersonation).

  • Plagiarizing

    • Plagiarizing - Copying or receiving material from any source (including AI) and submitting that material as one’s own without acknowledging and citing the particular debts to the source (quotations, paraphrases, basic ideas) or in any other manner representing the work of another as one’s own. This also includes collusion (conspiring with others to reproduce the work of others, including knowingly permitting work to be copied by another student) and unauthorized collaboration. Examples include sharing homework or written assignments, providing answers to exam questions, and assisting someone during an exam.

  • Purchasing academic assignments (contract cheating)

    Commissions a third party for services that result in the submission of work for assessment that is, either wholly or in part, not the student’s own work. The payment (financial or in-kind) is intended for submission in fulfillment of any course or academic program requirement, including purchasing programs to write or complete assignments.

  • Selling academic assignments

    Selling or offering for sale any academic assignment to any person enrolled at Buffalo State. No person shall provide any inappropriate assistance in the preparation, research, or writing of any assignment that the seller knows, or has reason to believe, is intended for submission in fulfillment of any course or academic program requirement.

  • Submitting previously submitted work

    Submitting academically required material that has been previously submitted, in whole or in substantial part, without the prior and expressed consent of the instructor.

  • Unauthorized Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

     Presenting work for an assessment generated by artificial intelligence software, without acknowledging the source. The use of any type of generative artificial intelligence tools (such as text generators [Chat GPT], image generators, and translators) is not permitted in the assessment unless explicitly specified by the module convenor. 

Please refer to the Academic Misconduct Policy for information on student rights regarding academic misconduct and for guidance on resolving alleged instances of academic misconduct.

Resolving Alleged Acts of Academic Misconduct

Consultative Resolution:

When an instructor suspects that a student has engaged in academic misconduct, the first step in resolving this situation is for the instructor and the student to seek a consultative resolution regarding the suspected act. When an instructor suspects a student of academic misconduct, the instructor should notify the student of this within 10 academic days of becoming aware of the alleged incident by sending an email to the student’s official Buffalo State email account and attaching a copy of the academic misconduct policy to the email. At this time, the instructor’s department chair should also be informed of the incident. Within 10 academic days of this notice, the instructor and the student should consult with each other to discuss their respective perspectives on the alleged act of misconduct. At the request of either the instructor or the student, the department chair may attend this meeting. There are four possible outcomes to this consultative process:

  1. The student did not commit an act of academic misconduct.
  • No sanction should be imposed.
  • Within 10 academic days of the consultation, the instructor should send an email to the student’s Buffalo State email address notifying the student of this outcome.
  • The instructor should inform the department chair of this outcome.
  1. The student unintentionally committed an act of academic misconduct.
  • No sanction should be imposed.
  • The instructor should help the student understand what was done wrong and how to avoid engaging in academic dishonesty in the future.
  • Within 10 academic days of the consultation, the instructor should send a decision letter (via email to the student’s official Buffalo State email address) that informs the student of the determination that the student unintentionally committed an act of academic misconduct, that no sanctions will be imposed, and that the student has the right to appeal this determination. The instructor should copy the department chair, the school’s dean’s office, and the academic standards office on this email.
  1. The student intentionally committed an act of academic misconduct.
  • The instructor has the authority to impose certain types of sanctions on the student and may request that the Academic Misconduct Committee impose a more severe sanction if the act of academic misconduct is egregious. The instructor may provide the student with a warning, ask the student to revise work, lower the student’s grade on an assignment, lower the student’s grade in the course, or impose any other reasonable sanction that is not one of the sanctions that may only be imposed by the Academic Misconduct Committee.
  • Within 10 academic days of the consultation, the instructor should send a decision letter (via email to the student’s official Buffalo State email address) that informs the student of the determination that the student intentionally committed an act of academic misconduct, that the instructor plans to impose certain specific sanctions for this misconduct, and that the student has the right to appeal this determination and/or these sanctions. The instructor should copy the department chair, the school’s dean’s office, and the academic standards office on this email.
  • Any instructor sanction should be considered pending until the Academic Standards Office confirms with the instructor that a sanction stronger than the one recommended by the instructor will not be imposed and that the student is not appealing the instructor’s determination and/or recommended sanctions. The instructor should not enter a final grade for a student while an instructor sanction for that student is considered pending.
  1. The student does not participate in the consultative process or attend the consultative meeting.
    • The instructor should take the actions specified under 3, i.e., behave as if the outcome of the consultation was that the student had intentionally committed an act of academic misconduct.

The following sanctions may only be imposed by the Academic Misconduct Committee:

  • An E grade with an indication on the student’s transcript that the E grade was due to academic misconduct
  • Suspension from the university
  • and dismissal from the university for academic misconduct.

What to do if you suspect a student of academic misconduct? 

One of the most challenging aspects of maintaining academic integrity in the classroom is determining the appropriate course of action when academic dishonesty is detected. This generally includes speaking with the student(s) you suspect of partaking in this claimed conduct, which produces concern in both the student and the staff.

The following information is meant to help you address a student whom you suspect of academic misconduct. 

STEP 1: Identify the type of suspected misconduct:

  • Aiding in academic dishonesty
  • Cheating
  • Falsifying academic materials
  • Misrepresenting documents
  • Plagiarizing
  • Purchasing/Selling of academic assignments
  •  Submitting previously submitted work
  • other: specify

 

STEP 2: Gather evidence to support your claim. Questions to explore as you gather documentation should include the following:

  • What appears to have occurred here?
  • What evidence do I have to support that claim?
  • Is there another conceivable explanation?
  • Is there anyone else who could know about this incident?
  • Was this scenario addressed in my expectations as I defined them in class or on the assignment rubric?
  • Is it clearly covered in the course syllabus?
  • Was this act intentional or unintentional?

 

STEP 3: Notifying the student of your claim.

 

STEP 4: Hold a Consultative Resolution with the student (Meet with the student)

  • Within 10 academic days of notifying the student (i.e., sending an email to the student indicating that you would like to discuss the matter during office hours), the instructor and the student should have a consultative resolution meeting to discuss their respective perspectives on the alleged act of misconduct.
    • When confronted, students will either acknowledge their involvement or provide an explanation for the occurrences. Some explanations may quickly address the situation, while others will appear to be fabrications. 
    • If the student denies all wrongdoing, do not pressure them; instead, inform them of the evidence you have and the imposed sanctions. And if they would like to appeal your decision, they will have the opportunity to do so with the Academic Standards.
    • Template 2&3: Students who deny responsibility and students who do not show up for the meeting.
    • Please note that the Statement of Resolution is no longer used during the academic misconduct proceedings. 

 

STEP 5: Notifying Academic Standards

  • Notify the Academic Standards of the meeting outcome and the proposed sanctions.
    • Please summarize the entire incident with the student, including dates of contact. 
    • Provide copies of the syllabus, test papers, assignments, or any materials pertinent to the accusations.
    • Faculty who submit plagiarism cases should include excerpts from the material from which the student is accused of plagiarizing.
    • Faculty can also inform us what sanctions they would like to impose. 
      • Sanctions will vary depending on the degree of the violation, how the class was informed of academic integrity requirements, if the act was intentional or unintentional, and the precise circumstances surrounding the occurrence.

 

STEP 6: Academic Standards and student appeal process

  1. Academic standards will then notify the student:
    • If they did not commit an act of misconduct, committed an act of unintentional misconduct, or committed an act of intentional misconduct   
    • The student agrees with the faculty-proposed sanctions
    • the ability and timeline to appeal the decision.
  2. If the student wishes to appeal this decision, the Academic Standards office will convene a meeting of the Academic Misconduct Committee to discuss the appeal.
    • At the meeting, both the instructor and the student will be given the opportunity to present their stance on the case and may be questioned about it by the other individual and committee members.
    • Once the instructor and the student have presented their evidence and the committee has asked its questions, the committee will engage in private deliberation. 
  3. Academic Standards will notify the student, faculty, and the Associate Dean.
    • of the committee outcome (if appealed).

Student Appeal

Students may appeal any finding of the consultative process outlined above or any sanction recommended by the instructor. A student request to appeal a determination of academic misconduct or a sanction associated with such a determination must be made in writing to the Academic Standards Office within 10 academic days of the instructor notifying the student of the determination or sanction via email. In the letter of appeal, the student must specify whether they are appealing the determination of academic misconduct, the recommended sanction, or both.

 

When a student chooses to appeal a determination or sanction, both the student and the instructor must submit a written statement to the Academic Standards Office supporting their stance on the alleged incident of misconduct.

These statements should be accompanied by any evidence that supports what is said in them. The Academic Standards Office will conduct an initial administrative review of these statements and supporting evidence once it receives the materials. There are two outcomes to this administrative review:

  1. The Academic Standards Office finds no cause for appeal in the written materials. 
  2. The instructor's determination and/or sanctions are upheld, and the appeal process is complete.

Within 10 academic days of receiving the case materials, the Academic Standards Office will inform the student of its decision by email and inform the instructor that any recommended sanctions may be imposed. 

The Academic Standards Office finds reason for the appeal to be heard by the Academic Misconduct Committee.

Within 10 days of the administrative review, the Academic Standards Office will convene a meeting of the Academic Misconduct Committee to discuss the appeal.

  1. The Academic Standards Office will distribute all case materials to the Committee before this meeting.
  2. The instructor and the student will be given at least 72 hours' notice of the meeting.
  3. Either the instructor or the student may attend this meeting remotely.

At the meeting, both the instructor and the student will be given the opportunity to present their stance on the case and may be questioned about it by the other individual and committee members.

Once the instructor and the student have presented evidence, and the committee has asked any questions it wishes, the committee will engage in private deliberation. 

When determining a particular alleged act of misconduct, the Committee will hear only evidence relevant to this act.

Suppose a student is found to have engaged in academic misconduct. In that case, the Committee may discuss evidence of previous academic misconduct before determining the sanction, if any, to be imposed on the student.

Within 10 academic days of concluding its deliberations, the Committee will send via email to the student, the instructor, the chair, the School's Dean's Office, and the Academic Standards Office a document containing its findings and any sanctions to be imposed.

 

Within 10 academic days of concluding its deliberations, the Committee will send via email to the student, the instructor, the chair, the School's Dean's Office, and the Academic Standards Office a document containing its findings and any sanctions to be imposed.

The findings of the Academic Misconduct Committee must take one of three forms:

  1. Findings Overturned, No Sanctions. 
  • A finding that no academic misconduct took place and that no sanctions will be imposed.
  • The student is exonerated, and any documentation related to the case within all offices will be expunged.

2. Findings Sustained, Sanctions Sustained. 

  • A finding that academic misconduct occurred as described in the original instructor decision letter, and that the recommended sanction(s) be enacted.

3. Findings Sustained, Sanctions Revised. 

  • A finding that academic misconduct occurred, but that a different sanction from the one originally recommended by the instructor is more appropriate.
  • This finding may involve an alternative sanction that is either more or less severe than the one originally recommended by the instructor.

The findings of the administrative review and/or committee review are final. No further appeal is available to the student.