UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PROCEDURE \ 02-03-03
CATEGORY: ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
SECTION: Academic Integrity
SUBJECT: Student Obligations and Adjudication
for Alleged Violations
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 10, 1988
I. PURPOSE
To provide the guidelines for adjudication for alleged student
breach of academic integrity.
II. SCOPE
This procedure applies to all matters in which a faculty
member intends to penalize a student based upon an alleged
breach of academic integrity.
III. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Administrative Officer designated within the individual
academic unit to oversee matters of academic integrity, upon
receiving a statement of charges from a faculty member,
notifies the student and the hearing authority.
The School Academic Integrity Hearing Board is composed of
both faculty and students, the number of which, manner and
criteria of selection, terms of service, and other related
organizational matters will be determined by the individual
academic unit.
The Dean or Campus President issues the final decision.
Timeliness It is the responsibility of all parties, including
administrative officers, to take prompt action in order that
charges can be resolved quickly and fairly. Failure of the
instructor to utilize these procedures diligently may
constitute grounds for dismissal of charges. Parties have
the right to seek review of the Provost or to petition the
University Review Board for an appeal from a decision of an
academic integrity hearing board or investigatory committee
within five (5) working days of the date of the decision
letter.
IV. PROCEDURE
Responsibility Action
Instructor 1. Advise the student that there is
reason to believe that the student
has committed an offense related to
academic integrity.
a. The student will be afforded at
least an informal opportunity to
respond.
b. If a specific resolution offered by
either student or faculty member
is accepted, the matter will be
considered closed if both parties
sign a written agreement to that
effect and submit it to the dean's
office.
2. If a resolution cannot be reached,
file a written statement of charges
with the designated academic
integrity hearing officer.
a. If this happens at the end of the
term, issue a "G" grade for the
course until the matter is
resolved.
Designated Administrative
Officer 3. Transmit the charges to the student,
together with a copy of the
University of Pittsburgh Guidelines
on Academic Integrity.
a. The letter of transmittal to the
student will state the time and
place when a hearing on the
charges will be held.
4. Send to the instructor a copy of the
above letter.
Hearing Authority 5. Provide a fair inquiry into the truth
or falsity of the charges
a. The charged party and the
instructor will be afforded the
right to cross-examine
b. At the level of the school academic
integrity hearing, extramural
legal counsel is not permitted,
but a representative from within
the University community is
permitted for both faculty and
students
6. Maintain a suitable record of the
proceedings, exclusive of
deliberations to arrive at a
decision.
7. Determine whether the charges have
been proved by clear and convincing
evidence, together with findings with
respect to the material facts. If
any charges are established, the
decision should state the particular
sanction or sanctions to be imposed.
8. Submit the decision in writing to the
dean/campus president.
Dean/Campus
President 9. Make an independent review of the
hearing proceedings.
a. When deemed necessary, require that
the charges be dismissed, or that
the case be remanded for further
proceedings.
10. Issue a final decision upon completion
of any additional proceedings.
a. The dean/campus president may
reject any findings made by the
hearing authority adverse to the
student, and may dismiss the
charges or reduce the severity of
any sanction imposed.
b. The dean/campus president may not
make new findings adverse to the
student or increase the severity
of a sanction, except in the case
of repeating offenders who have
been previously found in violation
of the Academic Integrity
Guidelines through formal hearing
procedures.
Designated Administrative
Officer 11. Transmit to the charged party and the
instructor copies of all actions
taken by the hearing authority and
the dean/campus president.
a. If a sanction is imposed, the
notice to the student will make
reference to the student's
opportunity, by petition files
with the provost, to appeal to the
University Review Board on matters
within its jurisdiction and scope
of review. See Policy 02-03-05,
University Review Board.
V. REFERENCES
- Policy 02-03-03, Student Obligations and Adjudication for
Alleged Violations.
- Policy 02-03-05, University Review Board.
- Procedure 02-03-05, University Review Board.