"All students must be honest and forthright in their academic studies. To falsify the results of one's research, to steal the words or ideas of another, to cheat on an assignment, or to allow or assist another to commit these acts corrupts the educational process. Students are expected to do their own work and neither give nor receive unauthorized assistance. Any violation of this standard must be reported to the Office of Judicial Affairs."
(http://www.udel/stuguide/)

STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN YOU SUSPECT THAT A STUDENT HAS COMMITTED AN ACT OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

1. Review the material to ensure that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a charge of academic dishonesty.


2. Contact Michael Fernbacher or Kathryn Goldman to determine the student's judicial history and to identify the appropriate option for the case (Option A, B,or C). Refer to the chart below and consider the criteria for each option. In addition, please consider:
• How extensive is the problem?
• How much is the assignment/exam worth?
• Is it a major or minor assignment?
• What does your syllabus say about how you will file cases of alleged academic honesty policy violations with the Office of Student Conduct?
• What would the faculty member of another class section choose?
• What is your department's policy/stance regarding academic dishonesty?
• Do you need to consult with your supervisor/department chair?


3. Note that any student who has a prior history of academic dishonesty must be brought in under Option C.


4. For cases involving multiple students, the faculty member may choose a different option and/or academic penalty for each of the students.


5. Meet with the student to inform him/her of the pending case of academic dishonesty. Let the student know that the Office of Student Conduct will be in contact with him/her. The faculty member should continue to work with the student on course work.


6. Provide Michael Fernbacher with a short letter or relevant information in order to start the disciplinary process. (In a plagarism case, materials should include a copy of the student's work and a copy of the text or website that the student's work matches. In a cheating case, materials should include a copy of each student's work, the student getting the help as well as the person giving the help.) Please make every effort to provide the case materials with five (5) days of indentifying the alleged violation.


7. Assign the student an "I" grade until case is resolved.

THE STUDENT CONDUCT PROCESS

After the case materials arrive in the Office of Student Conduct, the student will receive a packet of information from the Office. The student will be informed about the allegation, provided with a copy of the case materials along with the letter submitted by the faculty member, and recommended sanctions. If the student accepts responsibility for the violation, the case is closed and the penalties go into effect. If the student contests the case, the faculty member will need to participate in the administrative hearing process. The Office of Student Conduct staff will review hearing procedures with you.

¹ Consider the point of value of the assignment as it relates to the course grading system.

²Consider the goal of the assignment.

• A teaching assignment should teach a new skill and allow a student to learn the process. Consider whether the violation is due to dishonesty or skill deficiency. Skill deficiency is not a Code of Conduct violation and should be resolved in the classroom through remedial help.
• A skill-building assignment assumes a student has the basic skill base and challenges him/her to further apply the skill.
• A proficiency assignment allows a student to demonstrate mastery of skill.

³ The student can choose to complete the Academic Integrity Seminar⁵and have the "X" notation removed from his/her transcript. The "F" grade will remain on the transcript.

⁴ The current incident as well as the student's previous disciplinary record are reviewed in determining the appropriate penalty. If the student contests the case, the final decision is up to the hearing officer and/or the Appellate Board.

⁵ The Academic Integrity Seminar is an 8-week, non-credit course taught by the Office of Student Conduct. The seminar includes both classroom instruction and on-line components. The seminar focuses on decision-making, ethics, integrity, time management, and stress management. A faculty member can recommend that the seminar be applied as an additional judicial penalty. The student would be expected to complete the seminar at a later semester.