Academic Standards

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

One of the most difficult aspects of preserving academic integrity in the classroom is knowing what to do 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 who you suspect of academic misconduct. 

STEP 1: Identify the type of suspected misconduct:

• Aiding in academic dishonesty
• Cheating
• Falsifing 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 proof do I have to back up that claim?
• Is there another conceivable explanation?
• Is there anyone else who could have knowledge 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 on the course syllabus?
• Was this act intentional or unintentional?

STEP 3: Notifying the student of your claim.

• The instructor should notify the student within 10 academic days of becoming aware of the alleged incident by emailing the student’s official Buffalo State email account and attaching a copy of the academic misconduct policy.
• Example of e-mail can include:
  • Template: Initial outreach to student to schedule meeting  to discuss allegations
• At this time, the instructor’s department chair should also be informed of the incident.

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

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

STEP 5: Notifying Academic Standards

• Notify 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 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, 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 wants to appeal this decision, Academic Standards will convene a meeting of the Academic Misconduct Committee to discuss the appeal.
   • At the meeting, both the instructor and the student will be provided with an opportunity to present their stance on the case and may be questioned about their stances, by the other individual and members of the Committee.
   • Once evidence has been presented by the instructor and by the student, and the Committee has asked their 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).