Academic Integrity Procedures: Crookston

Procedures[1]

Upon a suspected violation of this policy, the process is as described below. A visual flow-chart for the process is included in Appendix: Crookston Academic Integrity Procedure Flowchart.

• The instructor teaching the course provides fair and timely notice (typically within 10 business days) of the allegation(s) to the student(s) via email. 
• The instructor will schedule a meeting with the student(s) to discuss the violation in person, virtually, or by phone at which time evidence supporting the allegation(s) will be presented to the student(s). The purpose of this meeting is to resolve the matter mutually whenever possible. In the event that multiple students are involved, it is at the instructor’s discretion as to whether to meet with the students individually or as a group. [Subsequent steps within these procedures are described for a single student, but apply for multiple students as well.]
• If the student admits to the violation or the student refuses to meet with the instructor, the instructor (a) determines an outcome that is appropriate given the nature of the violation, (b) communicates the outcome to the student in writing, and (c) submits a written Report of Academic Dishonesty[2]. The outcome may range in severity from a written warning to a failing grade for the course. (See Office of Community Standards sanctioning guidelines and the current Report of Academic Dishonesty).
• If, following the meeting between the instructor and student, the instructor believes that there is sufficient evidence of academic dishonesty and the student disagrees, the student may appeal the decision to the academic administrator[3] who oversees the course within five business days. In events where the course is in Academic Affairs, the student may select the academic administrator to whom they will submit their appeal. During the appeal process, the instructor does not assign an outcome or submit a Report of Academic Dishonesty. Note that the student may only appeal whether or not they are responsible for the violation; students may not appeal the outcomes assigned for the violation—that decision is solely at the discretion of the instructor.
• The academic administrator will review the facts of the case and may interview the individuals involved separately or together. 
• Both the student and the instructor have the right to have an advisor present with them when interviewed by the academic administrator so long as they provide 48 hour advance notice.  Advisors may not speak for their party (student or instructor); they will solely be available to observe or consult with their party. Advisors may be a student, faculty member, staff member, union representative (for faculty), attorney, or other support person. Individuals who may serve as a witness for the case may not serve as the support person.
• The student or the instructor may invite individuals with direct knowledge of the case to speak as witnesses so long as they provide 48 hour advance notice. Character witnesses who have no direct knowledge of the case are not permitted.
• Following the completion of the review of the case, the academic administrator’s decision regarding the student’s responsibility for the violation is final. If the academic administrator determines that the student is responsible for the violation, the case is referred back to the instructor. The instructor will then apply the outcome and submit a Report or Academic Dishonesty.

Multiple Violations

Academic integrity violations are adjudicated by instructors and academic administrators; however, they are considered as violations of the Student Conduct Code and are monitored by UMN Crookston’s senior conduct officer³. When multiple incidents of academic integrity are reported to the senior conduct officer, the matter is considered to be a conduct violation that extends beyond the scope of individual courses and warrants additional outcomes. The senior conduct officer refers these matters to the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs (VCASA), who assigns a outcome that may range from probation to expulsion from the university. As all appeals regarding the responsibility for the violation are handled prior to reporting said violations to the senior conduct officer, the only question to be determined in cases of multiple academic integrity violations is the outcome to be assigned. The decision of the VCASA regarding outcomes is final.

[1] Adapted from procedures developed at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

[2] When an instructor assigns an outcome of less than the full points for the assignment in question, it is at the instructor’s discretion as to whether or not to submit a formal Report of Academic Dishonesty.  When the outcome is 0 points for an assignment or greater, the instructor must submit a Report of Academic Dishonesty.

[3] As of 10/7/2019, this is a Unit Head.