Academic Integrity Procedures

Aquinas College is committed to promoting academic excellence through dedication to academic integrity and to fair processes for resolving alleged academic violations of the Student Code of Conduct.

All cases will be resolved based on whether a reasonable preponderance of evidence exists to support claims that students violated the Aquinas College Student Code of Conduct for Academic Integrity as outlined in the Course Catalog. 

Procedural Fairness

Timeliness is essential. All parties have a responsibility to respond promptly to Academic Integrity notifications and to resolving cases fairly, confidentially, and expeditiously.

During the process, students may not drop a class without consent from the reporting faculty member and should continue attending class and submitting assignments. The Registrar will place a hold on the student’s account until the case is resolved.

The Academic Integrity Liaison has a responsibility to meet with the student and guide them through the case resolution process detailed below.  The Academic Integrity Liaison will determine whether the evidence provided reasonably supports the allegation.

The Dean of Students Office is responsible for maintaining Academic Integrity reports as part of the Student Judicial database. Transcript designations are not used for violations. 

Grade Sanctions

Reporting instructors are responsible for assigning appropriate sanctions and are encouraged to consult with the Academic Integrity Liaison.  All sanctions must be consistent with the current Course Catalog and course syllabus. 

Second Offense: College Sanctions

All students who accept responsibility for an Academic Integrity Sanction will be notified that a second offense could result in suspension or expulsion from the College.  If a second offense occurs, the sanction will be determined by the Provost, the Dean of Students, and the Academic Integrity Liaison. All sanctions are final and not subject to appeal.

Case Reporting

Academic Integrity Liaison Responsibilities:
The Academic Integrity Liaison is responsible for meeting with students and faculty promptly,  providing a fair assessment of evidence, making recommendations about college standards, and seeing each case through the resolution process. Additionally, the Liaison is charged with maintaining confidentiality and reporting cases, sanctions, and recommendations to the Provost annually. 

Faculty Responsibilities:

To impose a sanction, faculty members must meet with the student confidentially, explain the alleged violation and  proposed sanction, and submit the on-line “Academic Integrity Reporting Form” including the corroborating evidence. Faculty must inform students to contact the Academic Integrity Liaison within three business days and explain the resolution process by directing the student to this webpage.

Student Responsibilities:

When a faculty member files an “Academic Integrity Reporting Form,” the student must contact the Academic Integrity Liaison within three business days to schedule an appointment. The function of  this meeting  is to clarify policies, review the submitted materials, and discuss the options for appeal when warranted. Failure to do so will result in an academic hold being placed on the student’s account and after one week, the case will be referred to the Student Conduct Team for resolution and possible additional sanctions. 

Case Resolution

Waivers

In the event that a student wants to accept responsibility after meeting with the faculty member, they may  waive the Academic Integrity Liaison meeting, by submitting and signing the Academic Integrity Student Response form online. 

Academic Integrity Review Meeting

In all other cases, the student must set up a meeting with the Academic Integrity Liaison within three  business days. This meeting is not a hearing. The Academic Integrity Liaison will review the evidence and determine whether the Student Code of Conduct has been violated, and offer the student counsel and support until the case is resolved.

During this meeting the Academic Integrity Liaison will:

1. Review the allegation with the student. 
2. Allow the student to respond to the allegation and the evidence compiled.
3. Review relevant policies and issues with the student.
4. Review process and answer student’s questions.
5. Provide student with opportunity to:

• • Present further information,
  • Offer additional perspectives, and/or
  • Suggest avenues of investigation.

Resolution

Following this meeting, the Academic Integrity Liaison will determine if a preponderance of evidence indicates that it is “more likely than not” that a violation occurred.  

If the Academic Integrity Liaison determines that insufficient evidence of a violation exists and: 

1. The reporting faculty member agrees, then the case can be dropped.
2. The reporting faculty member does not agree, the matter will be referred to the student conduct process to determine whether a violation occurred.  
3. If the  Academic Integrity Liaison determines that sufficient evidence of a violation exists but that the sanction should be modified, a new sanction may be determined in consultation with the reporting faculty member.

The student will have the opportunity to accept or deny responsibility for the alleged violation.

1. If the student accepts responsibility, the Academic Integrity Liaison will make appropriate sanction determinations and recommendations for remediation, as needed.  Sanction determinations are final.

• If the student has one or more previous Academic Integrity violation(s), sanction determinations will be made jointly by the Provost, the Dean of Students, and the Academic Integrity Liaison, considering the student’s cumulative conduct record.

2. If the student does not accept responsibility, the Academic Integrity Liaison will refer the case to the student conduct process to determine whether a policy violation occurred.

• If a violation is found, and the student has one or more previous Academic Integrity violation(s), sanction determinations will be made jointly by the Provost, the Dean of Students, and the Academic Integrity Liaison, considering the student’s cumulative conduct record.

The Appeals Process

Students may submit a request for appeal on limited grounds for decisions made through the student conduct process, as outlined in student conduct procedures (link once procedures are live).