» Academic Integrity Sanctions

Sanctions are determined by the instructor and/or the AIC. While sanctions may begin with a less severe action and then progress to more severe actions, the instructor and/or the AIC may initiate sanctions in any order, if in its opinion the circumstances so warrant. Nothing in the policy shall be construed to limit the right of the AIC to impose any form of discipline a student without a prior violation including suspension or expulsion. Generally, the order of recommended sanctions are as follows:

First violation: Instructor imposed sanction (see below for a list of sample sanctions for different cases of academic integrity violations) and a letter from the AIC. If the recommended sanction by the instructor (or the sanction imposed by the AIC which may be a warning, a recommendation for suspension or a recommendation for expulsion from the university) is an F grade for the course, the student cannot drop the course and the F grade cannot be eliminated by retaking the course.

Second (and subsequent) violations: Instructor imposed sanction, AIC sanction appropriate to the nature of the violation and a letter from the AIC. The AIC sanction may be a warning, a recommendation for suspension or a recommendation for expulsion from the University.

Possible Sanctions

The sanction given to a student is entirely up to the instructor/administrator based on the severity of the violation. However, the AIC provides below a list of typical sanctions for academic integrity violations to help guide instructors

AIC Sanctions

Academic integrity violation Typical sanction
Unauthorized collaboration on assignment A failing grade on the assignment/exam.
Unpremeditated cheating on quiz or exam A failing grade on the assignment/exam.
Premeditated cheating on quiz or exam A failing grade on the assignment/exam., or failure of course
Facilitation of dishonesty Documented warning with AIC / grade reduction / failing grade for the course
Plagiarism on submitted assignment A failing grade on the assignment/exam.
Fabrication of data A failing grade for the course

 

Faculty’s reporting of a violation to the AIC is crucial.

In addition, other sanctions may include but not be limited to:
  • Disciplinary warning.
  • A make–up assignment that may be more difficult than the original assignment.
  • No credit for the original assignment/exam.
  • A failing grade on the assignment/exam.
  • A reduced final grade for the course.
  • A failing grade for the course.
  • Denial of access to internships or research programs.
  • Referral to Dean of Students for unintentional plagiarism (see below).

Additional Information on Sanctions

  • If an alleged violation occurs at the Tutoring, Learning and Testing Center, the AIC will notify the faculty and student, leaving it up to the faculty to impose a sanction.
  • A student cannot withdraw from a course before receiving the violation notification from the AIC. If a student withdraws prior to notification, the AIC may reinstate the student to the course. 
  • After the sanction has been determined, a student may withdraw from the class with the instructor's permission, providing that the alleged violation occurred before the university deadline for withdrawing, and provided the sanction is not a failure for the course. Withdrawing from a class does not automatically remove the violation report. 
  • If instructor assigns an automatic course grade of F as a result of an academic integrity violation, it cannot be removed from the calculation of the GPA should the course in question be repeated. If the instructor imposes a lesser sanction which results in a course grade of F, repeating the course will replace the F in the GPA calculation.
  • Any grade received as a result of a second academic integrity violation cannot be removed from the calculation of the GPA should the course in question be repeated.
  • For students taking a course P/NP, the instructor may choose to impose the letter grade of an “F” as the sanction for an academic integrity violation.
  • The AIC sanction letter will be placed in the student’s file in the Office of the Provost along with the instructor’s report. 
  • A copy of the letter will also be sent to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students and the University Registrar.
  • False statements made during the course of the process may result in additional sanction(s) and a referral to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students for a Student Conduct Code violation.
  • Unintentional plagiarism: In the case of students who may not have had an extensive explanation of plagiarism and how to avoid it (e.g. students new to Chapman), instructors may give the student a choice between a typical sanction and an alternate sanction consisting of referral to the Dean of Students for additional trainings and educational lessons on plagiarism and how to avoid it. If the student completes this program satisfactorily by the assigned deadline, the violation will not be noted in the student’s file. However, the AIC will retain record of the incident and it will be treated as a first violation in case the student commits a second academic integrity violation. The student retains the right to appeal the sanction. If the student does not complete the training, then the original sanction will apply.

Interim Action

  • The Provost or their designee involved may suspend the student from one or more classes, experiential clinics or labs for an interim period prior to resolution of the academic integrity proceeding if they believe that the information supporting the allegations of academic misconduct is reliable and determine that the continued presence of the student in classes or experiential assignments poses a significant threat to any person or property.
  • The Provost or their designee must provide a written notice of the interim suspension to the student, with a copy to the Provost and the Dean of Students Office. The interim suspension will become effective immediately on the date of the written notice.
  • A student who is suspended for an interim period may request a meeting with the Provost or their designee to review their decision and to respond to the allegations that they pose a threat, by making a written request to the Provost or their designee for a meeting. The Provost or their designee will schedule the meeting no later than five (5) days following receipt of the written request and decide whether the reasons for imposing the interim suspension are supported by the evidence.
  • The interim suspension will remain in effect until a final decision has been made on the pending academic misconduct charges or until the Provost or their designee, determines that the reasons for imposing the interim suspension no longer exist or are not supported by the available evidence.