The Process

The Community of Trust 

Students, faculty and staff are all considered "stewards" of the community of trust. The Honor Code operates from the presumption that members of our community are trustworthy; thus, it is necessary to evaluate suspected behavior before one reports a matter for review by the Council (see our Faculty FAQ page for tips on how to conduct this conversation).

Our process begins with the person who observed the conduct bringing the matter to the student's attention, ideally in an in-person or "live" conversation, and requesting an explanation. Only if the explanation proves inadequate to negate the concern of a possible violation, or if the student does not respond, should an official report be filed.

If you are a Reporting Party, you may report the matter following your conversation with the student (or good faith effort to do so) by filling out the online report form.

How the Process Works

An Overview of the Process (for more detail, please see the Student Handbook)

Our Code requires providing the suspected student with the opportunity to explain the conduct prior to formal Honor Council Action.  For more information about this requirement, see "The Community of Trust" section above.  Some academic violations involving undergraduate students may be eligible for Early Resolution (see below).

• Informal Resolution
  • For cases where the Honor Council and SARP determine that it appears the student is accepting responsibility for the matters reported and the facts are sufficiently clear, the case may be resolved without a formal invrestigation and hearing via a process called "Informal Resolution." The process involves the student meeting informally with an Honor Council representative and representative of SARP. If the parties can agree to a summary of facts, the Council and SARP representatives can resolve the case informally. See Honor Code Section IX (F) for more information. 
• For reports that are either ineligible for or that do not resolve in Early or Informal Resolution ^[FN1]
  • The reporter submits a report using our online report form.
  • The Chair reviews the report to determine proper authority.
  • The Chair and the Procedural Advisor (PA) meets with the Respondent and reviews their rights. The PA also contacts the Reporting Party to inform the student of rights and to offer to serve as a resource throughout the process.
  • The Chair appoints an Investigating Committee that typically has up to fourteen working days to investigate a case (unless given an extension by the Chair).
  • The Chair and the Investigating Committee Chair review the report and determines if sufficient information exists to proceed to a hearing (Panel). If necessary, a designated third Council member assists in the decision. 
  • The Panel reviews all relevant information and questions the parties and witnesses.
  • The student has the presumption of innocence until found responsible for a violation. If the panel finds insufficient information to find a student in violation, it dismisses the matter. If the panel finds the student responsible, it proceeds to the sanctioning phase of the process and determines appropriate sanctions and educational measures.
  • After the Panel (usually the following working day), the Director of SARP (or designee) reviews the Honor Council outcome and meets with the Chair and the student to deliver sanctions, if any. The Director then sends the student and the Reporting Party the official written outcome and provides the student with information regarding appeal.
  • The student has five working days from receiving official written notification to file an appeal of the decision. The appeal is directed to the Appeals Committee which is appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• Early Resolution Option (currently only applicable in undergraduate and graduate Business student cases)
  • For certain allegations of academic dishonesty where a faculty member is the Reporting Party, the matter may be eligible for an Early Resolution. The Early Resolution process varies by Council. For more details, see the Undergraduate or Graduate Business Early Resolution process flowcharts.

The Panel

During the school year, the Council typically conducts Panels Monday through Thursday, generally in the early evening. A Panel is comprised of two phases: the Judgment phase and the Sanctions phase if necessary). The Panel usually conducts both phases on the same night when possible.

The Judgment Phase

In the judgment phase, five Council members serve as the panel. These individuals review the available information, ask questions, and determine whether the student has violated the Code. The Respondent, the Reporting Party, witnesses, the Procedural Advisor (PA), the Investigating Committee Chair (ICC), the Student Advisor, and the Chair also are present in the hearing. The ICC will conduct initial questioning of all involved parties. The Respondent is permitted to make brief opening and closing statements. All parties may be questioned during the Panel, but there is no cross-examination as you would find in a court of law.

The Sanctions Phase

If the Panel finds the student responsible for the violation(s), the Panel usually moves immediately into a sanctions phase. The only parties involved in the sanctions phase are the Chair, the Panel, the Respondent, and the PA. During the sanctions phase, the Panel determines the appropriate sanction(s) for the student. In accomplishing this, the Panel reviews the student's prior record (if any) and the circumstances of the violation and any extraordinary circumstances affecting the student.

See our FAQ section and the Student Handbook for more information.

Appeals

Students found responsible for an honor violation can appeal the outcome on the grounds outlined in Section XII of the Honor Code.  Appeals are due within five working days of written notification of the outcome by SARP. Appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Committee through the Vice President for Student Affairs and, if the committee finds possible merit in the appeal, by the Provost's designee who makes the final decision.

Silent Supporter Guidelines

As our conduct resolution process is not a courtroom proceeding, but rather is part of the institution's programs designed to provide an appropriate living/learning environment for all members of our community, the role of a Silent Supporter is limited. Silent Supporters provide emotional support to the student who has requested their presence in a manner that does not disturb the proceedings.

Please reference these Silent Supporter Guidelines for more information.