Policy 304: Academic Integrity Code

Policy 304: Academic Integrity Code

Formerly Approved: 5/24/22

304.1 Policy

Academic Integrity is a core principle of higher education and a fundamental obligation of all members of the College Community. All College of Eastern Idaho Community College (“College”) Students are expected to familiarize themselves with this Academic Integrity Code (“Code”), to understand their Academic Integrity obligations, and to conduct themselves honestly and honorably in their Academic Work.

The primary goal of all processes undertaken in accordance with this Code and any Integrity Code Sanctions issued to Students shall be educational and corrective, focused on fostering a greater understanding of and appreciation for one’s academic responsibilities to the College and to one’s own education. Academic Integrity proceedings shall only be conducted as Disciplinary matters when Major Academic Violations are at issue.

304.2 Definitions

Academic Dean: The College Employee with primary administrative authority over the academic and instructional operations of a specific academic unit, subject, or program of study at the College.

Academic Discipline: A specific punitive consequence to a Student as a result of a Major Academic Violation that could result in the issuance of the most serious Integrity Code Sanctions to the Student, including, but not limited to, Suspension or Expulsion from the College.

Academic Integrity: The adherence to intellectual honesty and authentic, responsible scholarship in one’s Academic Work at the College.

Academic Integrity Meeting: The meeting between the Respondent and the Code Decisions-Maker to discuss the Complaint and the Respondent’s alleged Academic Integrity violation, as well as any evidence in support of the alleged violation, at which the Respondent has an opportunity to respond to the allegations in the Complaint and the evidence in support of those allegations and to present additional evidence.

Academic Work: All work product submitted to the College by a Student for a grade, academic credit, or official evaluation by the College, including, but not limited to, class assignments, examination responses, essays, reports, projects, research results and/or analyses, presentations and/or presentation materials, and artistic works.

Aggravating Factor: Any evidence or information that might warrant addressing an alleged Academic Integrity Code violation as Major Academic Violation or justify imposing a harsher Integrity Code Sanction for a particular violation, including, but not limited to, a history of prior violations; whether the violation demonstrates callous disregard or disrespect for an Instructor, other Students, the principles of Academic Integrity, or the College; and whether the Student demonstrates a lack of remorse or refuses to accept personal responsibility for the violation.

AP: Administrative Procedure.

Appeals Director: Appropriate Division Dean if the initial Code Decision Maker was or had been the Department Chair. Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs if the initial Code Decision Maker was or had been an Appropriate Division Dean.

Appeals Executive: Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs if the Appeals Director was or had been the appropriate Division Dean, or President of the College if the Appeals Director was or had been the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs.

Appellant: A Complainant or Respondent appealing a decision of and/or Responsive Action issued by a Code Decision-Maker in accordance with the Academic Integrity Code appeal procedures.

Appellee: A Code Decision-Maker, Respondent, and/or Complainant responding to an Appellant’s appeal of a decision made and/or Responsive Action issued by a Code Decision-Maker.

Bribe: Either 1) Anything of value offered, promised, or given to a College Employee with the intention of influencing that Employee’s official decisions or actions, including, but not limited to, money, tangible goods, services, or information, or 2) the act of offering, promising, or giving a College Employee anything of value with the intention of influencing that Employee’s official decisions or actions.

Business Day: The time ranging between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on a day when the College conducts Ordinary College Operations, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, any officially recognized College holidays, and any other day the College is officially closed for any reason.

Clear and Convincing Evidence: A decision-maker must have a firm belief that, based on the evidence available, it is highly probable a Student engaged in the conduct alleged in the Complaint in violation of the Academic Integrity Code. Clear and Convincing Evidence is a higher evidentiary standard than a Preponderance of the Evidence.

 Clearly Erroneous: Being or containing a finding of fact that is not supported by substantial or competent evidence or by reasonable inferences.

Code Decision-Maker: An Employee or third party retained by the College (e.g., a consultant or attorney) and designated by the college (either by the Code or the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs) empowered to enforce the Academic Integrity Code, to conduct Academic Integrity Meetings, to decide if Students have violated the Code, and, if so, to determine an appropriate Integrity Code Sanction.

College Campus: Each College Campus, education center, adult learning center and any other facility where Students normally receive instruction from the College or where Ordinary College Operations are normally conducted. 

College IT Systems: All College-owned or -controlled telephones, computers, software, network devices, servers, printers, and other College-owned or -controlled technology equipment, including both hardware and software, as well as the College’s website “cei.edu,” any email with a “cei.edu” domain name, and/or any information stored or transmitted on College servers.

College Property: Any College Campus, building, or grounds owned, leased, operated, or controlled by the College, as well as any structures, improvements, or equipment thereon.

College Sponsored Activity: Any event, activity, or endeavor officially approved by the College, on- or off-campus College Property, which is organized, initiated, aided, or supervised by the College’s administration or official organizations.

Collusion: Facilitating academic dishonesty and/or intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.

Complainant: An individual who brings a Complaint alleging to have been subjected to or injured by a Student’s violation of this Academic Integrity Code or who is responsible for a College Sponsored Activity during which a Student committed an alleged violation of this Academic Integrity Code.

Complaint: A formal, written allegation that a Student has violated the Academic Integrity Code.

Confront: To oppose directly and contemporaneously, generally in person and face to face, but, at a minimum, in a manner in which one can hear and view the testimony of others against oneself as it is being given.

Corrective Academic Action: means a non-punitive consequence of a Student’s Academic Integrity Code violation, focused on educational measures intended to help Students learn from the experience and better understand the importance of Academic Integrity and the College’s Academic Integrity expectations. Corrective Academic Action is not Disciplinary and will not result in the Student’s Suspension or Expulsion.

Dean of Student Affairs: The College’s Dean of Student Affairs, individually and as an administrative office of the College, or the Dean’s designee.  In the event of a College administrative reorganization prior to a revision of this Code, “Dean of Student Affairs” shall include a College administrator with duties and responsibilities equivalent to those of the Dean of Student Affairs as of the effective date this Code, or the Dean’s designee. (This office may sometimes be referred to as the Dean of Students.)

Department Chair: A full-time faculty member or other College Employee who serves as the academic leader of a specific academic department and the immediate supervisor of Instructors within that department under the authority of an academic Dean or a director of adult basic education.

Discipline or Disciplinary or Disciplinary Sanction: A punitive consequence to a Student as a result of the Student’s Major Misconduct that could result in the Student’s Suspension or Expulsion from the college.

DRC: The College’s Disability Resource Center.

Employee: Any person employed by the College on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or regular basis or directly engaged in the performance of work under the provision of a contract with the College.  This definition does not include unpaid Volunteers.

Examination: A test, quiz, or other official assessment, evaluation, or measurement in any format (e.g., in writing, verbally, on a computer), scored or unscored, of a Student’s individual knowledge, skill, aptitude, proficiency, preparedness, or appropriate academic placement.

Expelled or Expulsion: The complete and permanent separation of a Student from the College.  An Expelled Student is barred from all College Property and College Sponsored Activities, will be withdrawn from all classes, and will not receive credit for those classes or a refund of any tuition.  A Student who has been Expelled is ineligible to petition the College to be allowed to re-enroll at a later date.

Fabrication: Intentional and/or unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or the source of any information in an academic exercise. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to, citing a source that does not exist, creating fake information, words, or data and stating the fake information, words, or data is from an official author or source, stating that results come from an author or source when the original author or source did not claim those results, citing an author or source in a reference section or bibliography section when the author or source is not referenced in the assignment, purposely changing the meaning or application of data, words, or information from another source or author.

Identity Misrepresentation: The use of false, stolen, or borrowed identification materials (e.g., driver’s license, username/passwords) to obtain admission to CEI, access to student financial aid, access to CEI programs, assessments and other activities, unauthorized access to computer accounts, unauthorized access to a remotely proctored exam, or unauthorized access to the CEI learning management system.

Innocent or Innocence: The established facts clearly and convincingly prove with certainty that a Student did not violate the Academic Integrity Code.

Instructor: An adjunct or full-time faculty member at the College or an Employee providing educational services in continuing education, early college, workforce development, adult basic education, and developmental education classes.

Integrity Code Sanction: Any Corrective Academic Action or Academic Discipline imposed on a Student by the College as a result of the Student accepting responsibility or being found responsible for an Academic Integrity Code violation.

Knowingly: Done in a way that a Reasonable Person would believe shows forethought, deliberate action, or an intention for an outcome to occur.

Legal Professional: A non-Attorney who 1) holds a Juris Doctor (“JD”) or equivalent degree; 2) is licensed to practice law in a non-U.S. jurisdiction; or 3) is currently or formerly employed (including by retirement) as, or who has received education or training to become, a paralegal, judge, administrative law judge, magistrate, justice of the peace, or hearing officer. 

Lesser Academic Violation: Any Academic Integrity Code violation that does not rise to the level of a Major Academic Violation and warrants a Corrective Academic Action, rather than Academic Discipline.

Major Academic Violation: A serious Academic Integrity Code violation that could result directly in a Student receiving Academic Discipline, up to and including Suspension or permanent Expulsion from the College, or the withholding or revocation of the Student’s degree or certificate.

Material Error in Process: A significant mistake or omission in administration of the Academic Integrity Code that a Reasonable Person could find affected, or likely could have affected, the final outcome of a complaint proceeding or otherwise made the proceeding fundamentally unfair.

Mitigating Factor: Any information or evidence presented to a Code Decision-Maker that might warrant addressing an alleged violation as Lesser Misconduct or justify a lesser Responsive Action, including, but not limited to, whether the Student admits to or accepts personal responsibility for the violation, lack of prior violations, personal circumstances that might explain but not excuse the violation (e.g., severe stress or provocation), and whether the Student demonstrates genuine regret or remorse.

Ordinary College Operations: All day-to-day business and other functions of the College, including, but not limited to, academic instruction, administrative services, student life, performance of employment responsibilities, facilities maintenance and grounds-keeping, creative activity, community events, campus safety and security, and the maintenance of a College-wide environment that is open, accessible, and welcoming to the Falcon Community.

Plagiarism: The use or representation of someone else’s work, words, or ideas in any form and from any source, with or without that person’s consent, as if they were one’s own Academic Work, including by incorporating them into one’s Academic Work without proper attribution, citation, or acknowledgement. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

1. Direct Plagiarism: copying others’ ideas, words, or data without citing, quoting, or referencing the author or source;
2. Incidental (accidental) Plagiarism: this happens when a student uses another person’s words, ideas, or data, but does not cite, quote, or reference them appropriately;
3. Paraphrased Plagiarism: this happens when a student uses his or her own words to describe ideas, words, or data from another person or source without citing or referencing that person or source;
4. Plagiarism Mosaic: this happens when students borrow words, ideas, or data from another person or source. Then the student combines those words, ideas, or data into his or her own writing without citing or referencing the original author or source;
5. Insufficient Acknowledgment: partial or incomplete referencing of another person or source when borrowing words, ideas, or data from that person or source. 
6. Self-Plagiarism: When a student reuses a work or assignment in its entirety that they have previously created, or reuses a portion of a work or an assignment they have previously created in the creation of a new work/assignment. If this is done, it must be done with permission from the instructor, and with proper attribution, citation, or acknowledgement.

Preponderance of the Evidence: The decision-maker must determine that, based on the available credible information, it is more likely than not (i.e., there is a greater than 50% chance) a Student engaged in the conduct alleged in a Complaint in violation of the Academic Integrity Code.

Probation: A Student has been formally warned that any violations of the Academic Integrity Code during a specified period of time will likely result in a Disciplinary Sanction.  A Probationary period may be for one or more semesters or may last indefinitely.  Probation itself is not a Disciplinary Sanction.

Reasonable Person: A hypothetical adult with average sensibilities and an ordinary degree of intelligence, common sense, emotional maturity, prudence, care, and foresight.

Recklessly: if the student intentionally violates the Academic Integrity Standards, knowing that this violation constitutes a gross deviation from the standards which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation.

Reprimand: A formal written notice to a Student that the Student engaged in unacceptable conduct in violation of the Code that must be corrected and/or not repeated.

Respondent: The Student who is alleged in a Complaint to have violated the Academic Integrity Code.

Restorative Justice: Any method of addressing and correcting Academic Integrity Code violations that provides an alternative to traditional punishments by focusing on accepting personal responsibility, making amends to individuals or institutions who have been harmed, and developing a stronger sense of one’s identity and role as a member of the Falcon Community.

Retaliation: Adverse action taken against any participant in the Academic Integrity Code process because of that person’s participation in the process.

Student(s): Any person who is currently registered for or enrolled in any course(s) at the College on either a full-time, part-time, or clock-hour basis, as well as any person currently registered for or participating in continuing education, early college, workforce development, adult basic education, or developmental education classes through the College.

Support Person: A person assisting or supporting a Student during a Code Resolution Meeting or appeal meeting, including, but not limited to, an Employee; a parent, sibling, or other relative; or a religious or spiritual leader.  A Support Person may not speak or assist during Code-related proceedings but may be present as a silent advocate. A Support Person may speak with the party he or she is supporting during the Code Resolution Meeting, providing the consultation is not disruptive to the meeting. The Code Decision Maker may ask the Support Person and Respondent or Complainant to cease disruptive speech or behavior, and may take any measures deemed necessary to address that disruptive speech or behavior.

Suspend or Suspended or Suspension: The temporary complete separation of a Student from the College for any length of time.  A Suspended Student will be withdrawn from all classes and will not receive credit or a tuition refund for those classes (exceptions may be made by the College President or Vice President only) Once suspended, a Student may not enroll in any classes at the College, is barred from all College Property, and may not attend any College Sponsored Activity (unless specific arrangements have been made through the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs).  Students who complete all required conditions of their Suspensions may return to the College at the end of their Suspension period, although they may be required to comply with certain ongoing conditions after they return.

Volunteers: Any person who has officially filled out a volunteer form in the CEI Human Resources office and is officially volunteering in any capacity at the college.

304.3 Procedures

This Code applies to all Students who have applied for admission to or are currently enrolled in classes at the College, including online classes.

1. All Academic Integrity proceedings are confidential matters between the College and the Students alleged to have engaged in Academic Integrity violations. Third-parties have no right to participate in or receive information about such proceedings, even if they have reported alleged violations.
2. This Code is not intended and may not be used to address grade disputes or other differences of opinion about Instructors’ assessments of Students’ Academic Work.
3. Nothing in this Code shall limit the ability of Instructors, Department Chairs, or Academic Deans to include additional Academic Integrity obligations on syllabi for specific courses, provided the additional obligations are consistent with this Code and part of an approved syllabus.
4. Additional Academic Integrity Codes for Specific Academic Programs. Specific academic programs (e.g., Nursing, General Education) may adopt additional Academic Integrity Codes tailored to a particular program’s needs, provided they are consistent with this Code, in writing, approved by the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs or their designee, distributed to applicable Students or published where Students can easily find them, and subject to regular review and revision not less than every three (3) years.
5. Chairs, or Academic Deans have the right to include additional Academic Integrity obligations on syllabi for specific courses, provided the additional obligations are consistent with this Code and part of an approved syllabus.

304.4 Student Rights and Responsibilities

1. All Students

1. Students have the right to be informed of and have easy access to this Academic Integrity Code. All Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the Code. Ignorance of the Code is not a defense to any Academic Integrity violation.
2. Although all members of the College Community are ultimately responsible for their own actions, Students have the right to expect that the College will endeavor to provide an educational environment that promotes Academic Integrity.
3. Students have the right to expect that the College will endeavor to assist them in developing good Academic Integrity practices and correcting those practices that do not comply with the College’s expectations.
4. All Students are required to participate in and answer questions truthfully during the Code process. Code Decision-Makers may infer from a Student Respondent’s refusal to participate or answer questions that the Respondent engaged in the violation as alleged in the Complaint.
5. Students have the right to be free from Retaliation in any form for participating in the Code process.

2.  Students Alleged to Have Engaged in Academic Integrity Violations Have the Right:

1. To be treated with respect and dignity;
2. To have Academic Integrity proceedings administered by objective, neutral, and knowledgeable College Employees;
3. To an Academic Integrity process that causes as little disruption as practicable;
4. To defend oneself against allegations of Academic Integrity violations;
5. To be informed of and have an opportunity to respond to any evidence in support of allegations that one engaged in an Academic Integrity violation and to present evidence in one’s defense against those allegations;
6. To have one’s privacy and confidentiality respected to the extent possible under applicable law and College policy;
7. If alleged to have engaged in a Major Academic Violation, to Confront any witnesses who testify in support of those allegations;
8. To be treated neutrally and to have judgment on the Complaint withheld until a final decision is made;
9. To an opportunity to have a Support Person present during Academic Integrity Meetings and any subsequent appeal meetings regarding alleged Major Academic Violations for which Academic Discipline may be imposed;
10. To have a Complaint resolved in a timely manner;
11. To a decision that is free from prejudice and bias and based on credible, relevant evidence;
12. To receive timely written notice of the decision, including a summary of the facts on which the decision was based;
13. To an opportunity to make any available appeals.

304.5 Distinguishing Between “Lesser” and “Major” Academic Integrity Violations

Students accused of the most serious Academic Integrity violations are entitled to more formal Disciplinary proceedings than those accused of less serious violations, because the possible consequences to Students for the most serious violations are significantly greater. Accordingly, the College distinguishes between Lesser Academic Violations and Major Academic Violations when conducting Academic Integrity Code proceedings.

1. Code Decision-Makers have the discretion to decide whether to address alleged Academic Integrity violations as Lesser Academic Violations or Major Academic Violations. Such decisions shall be based on specific Aggravating Factors, Mitigating Factors, and other relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, an accused Student’s history of prior Code violations, the severity or pervasiveness of the alleged violations and their impact on other members of the College Community, whether the Student is accused of engaging in the alleged violations Knowingly or Negligently, and whether the accused Student is alleged to have engaged in multiple Academic Integrity violations.
2. Lesser Academic Violations are appropriately addressed with Corrective Academic Action and do not warrant Academic Discipline. Students alleged to have engaged in Lesser Academic Violations may not be accompanied by a Support Person during Code proceedings, and neither decisions that Students engaged in Lesser Academic Violations nor the Corrective Academic Action issued to those Students can be formally appealed, although Students may request review of Corrective Academic Action that directly affects a Student’s grade or course credit.
3. Major Academic Violations includes the most serious violations of the Code that could result in Integrity Code Sanctions up to and including Suspension or Expulsion from the College or the withholding or revocation of a degree or certificate.
4. Students alleged to have engaged in Major Academic Violations may be accompanied by a Support Person of their choosing. Students may not be accompanied by a Support Person at any other time during the Code process.

304.6 Required State of Mind for Academic Integrity Violations

1. Unless specified otherwise, Students violate this Code if they engage in prohibited acts or omissions Knowingly, Negligently, or Recklessly.
2. Acts and omissions that a Reasonable Person would consider good-faith mistakes under the circumstances do not violate this Code.

304.7 Specific Academic Integrity Violations

The following acts and omissions by Students constitute Academic Integrity violations under this Code and are prohibited:

1. Collusion with or Copying another Student’s Academic Work or answers from another Student’s Examination or allowing one’s own Academic Work or answers to Examination questions to be copied by another Student;
2. Using materials during an Examination that were not explicitly authorized by one’s Instructor, the Examination proctor, Office of Disability Resources, or another authorized College Employee.
3. Collaborating with another person, including another Student, during an Examination or on other Academic Work without explicit authorization;
4. Soliciting, buying, or accepting the Academic Work of another, or offering, selling, or providing one’s own Academic Work to another Student, without explicit authorization from the College;
5. Using, soliciting, buying, selling, offering, providing, uploading/downloading to the Internet, or accepting the contents (i.e., questions and/or answers) of any College Examination or faculty member’s intellectual property not specifically released by an authorized College official;
6. Taking or offering to take an Examination, or contributing or offering to contribute to Academic Work, for another Student or permitting or soliciting anyone to take an Examination or contribute to Academic Work in one’s place;
7. Bribing or offering a Bribe to a College Employee in order to obtain a passing score or improved grade on an Examination or Academic Work, or for a course;
8. Fabricating or knowingly falsifying, misstating, creating fake information, words, and data, or misrepresenting, facts, events, or sources on Academic Work;
1. Engaging in Plagiarism;
10. Submitting the same or substantially similar Academic Work in a course that one previously submitted in a different course for a grade or for academic credit without receiving explicit permission to do so from one’s current Instructor;
11. Identity Misrepresentation by the use of false, stolen or borrowed identification materials (e.g., driver’s license, username/passwords).
50. Signing an attendance sheet for another Student or Knowingly allowing someone else to sign an attendance sheet for oneself, or otherwise participating in gaining credit for attendance for oneself or for another Student without actually attending;
1000. Knowingly falsifying or misrepresenting reported hours, work, or activities as part of an internship, externship, field experience, clinical activity, independent study, or similar academic experience.

304.8 Reporting Suspected Academic Integrity Violations

1. Any member of the College Community may report a suspected violation of the Academic Integrity Code.
2. Persons may report suspected Code violations directly to the course Instructor of the Student suspected of the violation, if known. Reports may also be submitted to the Department Chair or Academic Dean with authority over the course or Examination (e.g., a placement exam) in which the violation allegedly occurred.
3. If the Student’s Instructor or the applicable Department Chair or Academic Dean is unknown, suspected Code violations may be reported by submitting an Incident Report via the college self-reporting tool, Maxient. (https://cm.maxient.com/cei). Suspected Academic Integrity violations should not be reported to the Dean of Students.
4. The College expects a suspected Academic Integrity violation to be reported as soon as possible, preferably within ten (10) days. The longer one waits to report a violation, the more difficult it may be for the College to address it properly. Accordingly, the College may decline to pursue a suspected Academic Integrity violation if so much time has passed since the alleged conduct that the College can no longer investigate effectively.
5. Reporting suspected Academic Integrity violations will require the following information (if known):

1. The name and contact information of the person submitting the report;
2. The name(s) of the Student(s) and any other person(s) involved in the suspected violation;
3. The date of the suspected violation;
4. The course name, course number, and section number (if applicable) of the course in which the violation is suspected to have occurred;
5. A description of the suspected violation;
6. A list of any known documents or other evidence relating to the suspected violation (e.g., emails, text messages, Academic Work, etc.).

6. Confidentiality and Anonymity

1. Persons reporting suspected Academic Integrity violations may request that their reports remain confidential. The College will endeavor to honor requests for confidentiality, although doing so may seriously limit the College’s ability to investigate and respond appropriately.
2. Anonymous reporting is available through the Maxient reporting tool.

304.9 Who May Be a Complainant

1. Violations of the Academic Integrity Code are offenses against the entire College Community, rather than against any one specific person. Regardless of who reports a suspected Academic Integrity violation, the Complainant in a Code proceeding will generally be a College Employee, bringing the Complaint on behalf of the College (e.g., “Complainant: [Employee’s name], [Employee’s title], on behalf of the College of Eastern Idaho.
2. Instructors have the responsibility to respond appropriately to Academic Integrity violations that occur during or as part of their classes, as well as violations Instructors identify themselves. Accordingly, a Student Respondent’s Instructor will generally be the Complainant in a Code proceeding.

304.10 Conducting Academic Integrity Code Proceedings

1. Selecting the Code Decision-Maker

1. For most Complaints alleging Lesser Academic Violations, the Student Respondent’s Instructor shall be the Code Decision-Maker, as well as the Complainant. If an Instructor is unable to be the Code Decision-Maker, the Appropriate Academic Dean of the applicable Academic Discipline shall designate another Instructor to conduct the Code proceeding.
2. For most Complaints alleging Major Academic Violations, the Code Decision-Maker shall be the Appropriate Academic Dean or their designee of the academic unit or subject from which the Complaint arises. If the Appropriate Academic Dean determines that the violation alleged in the Complaint should not be addressed as a Major Academic Violation, the Dean may return it to the Instructor to be addressed as Lesser Academic Misconduct. If the Appropriate Academic Dean is unable to serve as the Code Decision-Maker, such as in the case of a conflict of interest, the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs shall designate another Dean to be the Code Decision-Maker.

2. Notice of Complaints and Delivery of Complaint-Related Information

1. The Code Decision-Maker shall provide written notice of the Complaint to the Student Respondent within five (5) Business Days. The notice shall include the following:

1. An explicit statement that the Student is a Respondent to an Academic Integrity Code Complaint;
2. A summary of the allegations against the Student, including any known evidence in support of those allegations;
3. The specific Code section(s) the Student is alleged to have violated;
4. Whether the Student is accused of a Lesser Academic Violation, the Code Decision-Maker’s basis for making that decision (i.e., “lesser” versus “major”), and if Academic Discipline (e.g., Suspension) could be imposed;

5. If the Student is accused of a Major Academic Violation, the Student has the right to be accompanied to the Academic Integrity Meeting and any subsequent appeal meeting by a Support Person.
6. The date, time, and location of the Academic Integrity Meeting and the conditions under which that meeting could be rescheduled.
7. That an administrative hold may be placed on the Student’s records and/or account with the College, pending resolution of the Complaint.

2. Unless approved in writing by the Code Decision-Maker, all Academic Integrity Code notices and Complaint-related information shall be sent to Students’ official CEI email account.
3. Notice will be considered effective and all information will be considered received on the date email is sent to Students’ CEI email account.

3. Academic Integrity Meetings
   1. Lesser Academic Violation Meetings

1. After a Student Respondent has received notice of the Complaint, the Code Decision-Maker shall conduct an Academic Integrity Meeting with the Respondent in a private setting and discuss the Lesser Academic Violation the Respondent is alleged to have committed and the specific evidence supporting those allegations. At the discretion of the Code Decision-Maker, there may be a neutral third-party present to witness the proceedings.
2. Respondents may not be accompanied by Support Person.
3. Respondents shall have a full and fair opportunity to review and respond to the allegations in the Complaint and the supporting evidence, including statements from the individuals who reported the alleged Academic Integrity violation, as well as any witnesses. Respondents shall also have an opportunity to present their side of the story and to offer any additional evidence they believe is relevant, including any Mitigating Factors. Witnesses may have their personal identifiable information redacted in order to protect their anonymity.
4. Witnesses are not required, or generally permitted, to provide live testimony, but it may be allowed at the discretion of the Code Decision-Maker.
5. Before a decision is reached, if the Code Decision-Maker comes to believe that the Respondent’s violation is more serious than previously known and may warrant Academic Discipline, the Code Decision-Maker shall inform the Respondent of that fact, Suspend the Academic Integrity Meeting, refer the Complaint to the applicable Appropriate Academic Dean for further proceedings, who will issue the Respondent a revised notice of the Complaint.
   2. Major Academic Violation Meetings

1. After the Student Respondent has received notice of the Complaint, the Code Decision-Maker shall conduct an Academic Integrity Meeting with the Respondent in a private setting and discuss the Major Academic Violation the Respondent is alleged to have engaged in and the specific evidence supporting the allegation(s). Respondents shall have a full and fair opportunity to review and respond to the allegations in the Complaint and to offer any additional evidence they believe is relevant, including any Mitigating Factors.
2.  Support Persons

1. Respondents may be accompanied by one (1) Support Person of their choice during Academic Integrity Meetings involving Complaints of Major Academic Violations. Respondent may confer with Support Persons during the meeting. The Code Decision-Maker may at any time require the conversation between the Respondent and the Support Person to cease and/or dismiss the Support Person if the Support Person is being disruptive to the proceeding. Students must inform the Code Decision-Maker at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Academic Integrity Meeting if they will be accompanied by a Support Person and define the Support Person’s relationship to the Student. The College reserves the right to have College legal counsel present at any time.

3. Witnesses

1. Respondents may request with three (3) Business Days advanced notice, to have witnesses testify in person or in writing during Academic Integrity Meetings involving alleged Major Academic Violations.
2. The Code Decision-Maker shall ask witnesses questions and/or permit them to make statements. Respondents shall have a full and fair opportunity to present additional questions or topics of questions for the Code Decision-Maker to ask each witness. The Code Decision-Maker may decline to ask witnesses any questions the Code Decision-Maker believes are irrelevant, repetitive, harassing, or unnecessarily embarrassing. Respondents may not object during witness testimony, but may have the opportunity to directly ask the witness questions as long as they are not irrelevant, repetitive, harassing, or unnecessarily embarrassing.  The Code Decision Maker (CDM) has full discretion to limit or stop witness questioning if the CDM determines that the questioning is irrelevant, repetitive, harassing, or unnecessarily embarrassing.  This paragraph also applies to questions asked of the Complainant.

4. Technical rules of evidence, such as would be used in a court of law, do not apply during Academic Integrity Meetings, although Complainants and Respondents may submit arguments about why certain evidence should or should not affect Code Decision-Makers’ decisions, but these arguments must be submitted three (3) days prior to the Academic Integrity Meeting.

4. Academic Integrity Code Decisions

1. Decisions on Complaints will be made by applying the Preponderance of the Evidence standard unless specified otherwise. Code Decision-Makers shall determine if, based on the evidence, it is more likely than not the Respondent engaged in the violation alleged in the Complaint.
2. Code Decision-Makers may infer from a Respondent’s refusal to participate or answer questions that the Respondent engaged in the violation as alleged in the Complaint.
3. If the Code Decision-Maker decides that the evidence does not support a conclusion that the Respondent engaged in the alleged violation, the matter shall be concluded and the Complaint closed.
4. If the Code Decision-Maker finds that the Respondent more likely than not engaged in the violation alleged in the Complaint, the Code Decision-Maker shall determine an appropriate Integrity Code Sanction.

5. Integrity Code Sanctions by the Code Decision-Maker

1. If Respondents admit to violating or are found to have violated the Academic Integrity Code, Code Decision-Makers have the discretion to issue or not issue one or more Integrity Code Sanctions.
2. All Integrity Code Sanctions shall be issued in writing, via official CEI email, along with an explanation of the facts the Code Decision-Maker took into consideration, including any Aggravating Factors or Mitigating Factors.
3. Integrity Code Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
   1. Corrective Academic Action (for both findings of Lesser Academic Violations and Major Academic Violations)

1. Educational assignments designed to improve Respondents’ understanding of the importance of Academic Integrity, their Academic Integrity responsibilities, and the consequences of not adhering to those responsibilities
   1. 2. Restorative Justice requirements;
      3. A written Reprimand;
      4. Probation;
      5. A lowered or failing grade in, or zero credit for, a particular Academic Work or Examination;
      6. A lowered or failing grade in, or zero credit for, the course in which the Academic Integrity violation occurred.

4. Academic Discipline (for findings of Major Academic Violations only)

1. Temporary or permanent removal from a specific College academic or certificate program;
2. Restriction on enrollment (e.g., permitted to take only or barred from taking online classes);
3. Suspension from the College for any length of time;
4. Withholding or revoking of a degree or certificate.

6. Notice of Decisions, Integrity Code Sanctions, and Right to Appeal

1. Code Decision-Makers shall provide Respondents and Complainants (if different from the Code Decision-Maker) with timely written decisions stating explicitly what, if any, Academic Integrity violations a Respondent was found to have engaged in, explaining the specific factual basis for that decision, and stating the specific Integrity Code Sanction issued by the Code Decision-Maker, including an explanation of any Aggravating Factors or Mitigating Factors taken into consideration. This notice will be issued via official CEI email.
2. Code Decision-Makers shall inform Respondents in writing of any right they may have to request review of or to appeal a decision or Integrity Code Sanction, including the deadline to submit a request for review or an appeal and the College office to which or Employee to whom the request for review or appeal should be submitted. This notice will be issued via official CEI email.

7. Converting Suspensions to Expulsions

1. If a Student violates the conditions of a Suspension, including by engaging in additional Code violations during the term of a Suspension, the Code Decision-Maker may convert the Student’s Suspension to an Expulsion without conducting an additional Academic Integrity Meeting.
2. Code Decision-Makers must provide Students with written notice that their Suspension was converted to an Expulsion, including an explanation of how the Students violated their Suspension and the facts and evidence on which that decision was based. This notice will be issued via official CEI email.
3. Students whose Suspensions are converted to an Expulsion shall have the same right to appeal as any Student who receives Expulsion as Academic Discipline, including, but not limited to, a full and fair opportunity to respond to the decision to increase their Suspension to an Expulsion and to submit any additional evidence they believe demonstrates that decision was incorrect. This should be included in the Students official appeal.

 

304.11 Requests for Review of Corrective Academic Action Affecting Grades or Credit

1. Findings of Lesser Academic Violations and/or the imposition of Corrective Academic Action may not be formally appealed. However, Respondents may request that a Code Decision-Maker’s immediate supervisor (“Immediate Supervisor”) (e.g., Department Chair) review a Corrective Academic Action that results directly in the Respondent receiving a lowered or failing grade in, or zero credit for, an Academic Work, Examination, or course. A Code Decision-Maker’s finding that the Respondent violated the Code may not be reviewed. No other Corrective Academic Actions (e.g., Reprimands, Probation) will be reviewed.
2. A request for review must be submitted in writing to the Code Decision-Maker and the Immediate Supervisor within five (5) Business Days of the Respondent receiving the decision and must contain 1) a copy of the decision, 2) a copy of any Academic Work or Examination for which the Respondent received a lowered or failing grade or zero credit (if the Respondent does not have a copy, one should be provided by the Code Decision-Maker), and 3) a statement explaining why the Respondent believes the Corrective Academic Action was inappropriate. Respondent’s request for review must be submitted by filling out a “Request for Review/Appeal to Code Decision-Maker form,” which can be downloaded from the CEI webpage.
   1. If a student does not appeal within the time allowed, the most recent decision of record shall become final.
3. The Code Decision-Maker may, but is not required to, submit a written response to the Respondent’s request for review to the Immediate Supervisor within five (5) Business Days of receiving it, with the Immediate Supervisor providing a copy of the response to the Respondent within three (3) days.
4. The Immediate Superior’s review shall be limited to deciding whether the Corrective Academic Action issued to the Respondent was unjustifiably disproportionate to the seriousness of the Respondent’s violation. The Immediate Supervisor’s review will list one of the following findings:
   1. That the conclusion of a violation is not supported by the evidence, then he/she shall render a finding of no violation and that the sanction(s) imposed be overturned.
   2. That the conclusion of a violation is supported by the evidence and the sanction imposed is appropriate, then he/she shall uphold the faculty member's decision and sanction(s).
   3. That the conclusion of a violation is supported by the evidence, and the sanction(s) imposed are inadequate or excessive, then he/she shall modify the sanction(s) as appropriate.                 
5. The Immediate Supervisor shall issue a written decision within ten (10) Business Days of receiving the Respondent’s request for review, indicating whether the Respondent’s Corrective Academic Action is affirmed, reversed, or reduced.
6. The determination of the Immediate Supervisor is final and may not be reviewed further or appealed.

304.12 Appeals

Who may Appeal:

Respondents determined to have violated the Academic Integrity Code may appeal a Code Decision-Maker’s decision and/or an Integrity Code Sanction only when a) the Respondent was found to have committed a Major Academic Violation, and b) the Respondent received Academic Discipline. If the incident involves multiple students, each student will individually go through the appeal process, and another CEI student involved cannot be a support person for the student undergoing the appeal.

1. An Appellant’s request for appeal shall only be considered if it is based on one or more of the following arguments:

1. The Code Decision-Maker’s decision was Clearly Erroneous;
2.  The Code Decision-Maker’s decision was tainted by clear bias;
3. The severity of the Academic Discipline was unjustifiably disproportionate to the Respondent’s violation;
4. A Material Error in Process occurred that affected or reasonably could have affected the Code Decision-Maker’s decision or the Integrity Code Sanctions issued to the Respondent;
5. The discovery of new information that was not known and could not reasonably have been discovered at the time of the Academic Integrity Meeting that is substantially likely to have affected the outcome of the Complaint had it been presented at the Academic Integrity Meeting.

2. Requesting an Appeal

If the Code Decision Maker was a department chair or Program Manager, the Request for an appeal will be addressed to the appropriate Division Dean. If the initial Code Decision Maker was the Division Dean, the appeal will be addressed to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.  Whoever the appeal is correctly addressed to will hereafter be called the Appeal Director.

1. An Appellant’s written request for appeal must be submitted to the Code Decision-Maker (the “Appellee”) and the Appeals Director no more than five (5) Business Days after the Appellant received notice of the Code Decision-Maker’s decision.
2. Review of the Appellant’s appeal decision will be based on a “preponderance of the evidence standard.”
3. The written request for appeal must contain the following items:
   1. copy of the Code Decision-Maker’s decisions
   2. the Appellant’s basis for bringing the appeal,
   3. a statement explaining why the decision or Integrity Code Sanction should be changed, and

 

3. 4. if the appeal is based on new evidence, a copy or written summary of the new evidence and a statement identifying the source of the new information and explaining why it was not available at the time of the Academic Integrity Meeting.
4. Upon receipt of a timely appeal, the Appeal Director will determine, in his or her full discretion, whether an appeal is warranted based on if appellant has raised an Acceptable Basis for Appeal. If the Appellant has not raised an Acceptable Basis for an Appeal, the Appeal Director will send the Appellant a written denial of the appeal, explaining the basis for the denial.

3. Appellee Responses to Appeals

Within five (5) Business Days after receiving notice of an Appellant’s appeal, the Appellee may, but is not required to, submit a written response in opposition to the appeal to the Appellant and Appeals Director.

4. Procedures for Academic Integrity Appeals

1. Appeal decisions will generally be based on written submissions from the Appellant and Appellee. The Appeal Director can decide an appeal without an Appeal Meeting based on written submissions only, if, in his or her full discretion, the Appeal Director decides that an Appeal Meeting is clearly not warranted. This decision will be made within ten (10) business days following the initial receipt of the appeal.
2. If the Appeal Director determines that an appropriate decision cannot be made based on written submissions alone, the Appeal Director shall hold an Appeal Meeting. If there is to be an Appeal Meeting, the Appeal Director shall schedule the meeting to take place within the following five (5) days of the decision to hold the Appeal Meeting, or within ten (10) business days of receipt of the request for an appeal, whichever is later.
3. If an Appeal Meeting is scheduled, the appellants and appellees shall be notified of the date of the Appeal Meeting at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting.

5. Procedures for Academic Integrity Appeal Meeting

1. Attendance at meetings shall be limited to only necessary persons, including the Appeal Director, Appellant, Appellees, and one support person for each Appellant and Appellee, Additionally, one (1) consultant to assist the Appeal Director with procedural and technical questions about the Academic Integrity Code and College policy (e.g., a representative from the College’s General Counsel’s Office, Disability Resources Coordinator, or Human Resources office) may attend.
   1. Appellees may, but are not required to, attend Appeal Meetings. Appellants and Appellees may each be accompanied to Appeal Meetings by one (1) Support Person
   2. The Support Person will be a silent participant and may not speak for the Appellant or Appellee. The Appeal Director has full discretion to warn or remind the Support Person who violates this section of the rules of the meeting, to ask them to leave the meeting, or to take other appropriate action. Upon taking such action, the Appeal Director may, in circumstances where the violation is severe, decide whether to continue the meeting, postpone the meeting, or deny the appeal. An Appeal Meeting is not a new Academic Integrity Meeting, and further witness testimony or other additional evidence will generally not be heard or considered. Additional evidence may be considered only when necessary, as determined by the Appeal Director, to demonstrate the existence of new evidence that
      1. could not have been discovered at the time of the Academic Integrity Meeting and
      2. is substantially likely to have affected the Code Decision-Maker’s decision.
   3. Academic Integrity Appeal Meetings shall offer Appellants and Appellees an equal opportunity to be heard. Appellants shall address the Appeal Director first and explain why an appeal should be granted. Appellees (if attending) then may, but are not required to, address the Appeal Director, and explain why the appeal should be denied. The Appeal Director may ask questions, but Appellants and Appellees may not object, ask each other or the Appeal Director questions (except to seek clarification of a question from the Appeal Director that the Appellant or Appellee does not understand), or otherwise interrupt each other’s arguments. The Academic Integrity Appeal Director may offer each party an equal opportunity to make a rebuttal argument.
2. Decisions of Academic Integrity Appeal Director
   1. Academic Integrity Appeal Directors should give substantial deference to Code Decision-Makers’ decisions and only change or overturn a decision and/or its Sanction if they are firmly convinced the decision was in error, even if the Appeals Director them self might have reached a different conclusion if they had been the Code Decision-Maker.
   2. When deciding appeals, Appeal Directors may:
      1. Deny the appeal and affirm the Code Decision-Maker’s decision and/or Academic Discipline,
      2. Affirm the decision that a Code violation occurred but reduce or increase the Integrity Code Sanction,
      3. Grant the appeal (entirely or in part) and remand the Complaint to the Code Decision-Maker for further proceedings and a new decision, or,
      4. Overturn a decision entirely and vacate all Integrity Code Sanctions if, and only if, the Appeal Director is firmly convinced that the Respondent is actually innocent.
   3. The Appeal Director will send their written decision within five (5) Business Days to the Appellants, Appellees, and the Department Chair and/or Appropriate Division Dean.

6. The decision of an Appeal Director is final, and no further appeal or review of an Academic Integrity Code decision or Integrity Code Sanction is available unless the Academic Integrity Appeal Director’s decision would result in an Expulsion or the withholding or revocation of a degree or certificate.
7. Automatic Review of Expulsions and Decisions to Withhold or Revoke Degrees or Certificates

1. All Academic Integrity Appeal decisions that would result in an Expulsion or the withholding or revocation of a degree or certificate shall be reviewed and approved by the Appeals Executive. This will be done by reviewing documentation provided from the Academic Integrity Appeal, not from new submissions of material or evidence by either party. This review will not constitute a new meeting, but only a review of the material from the Academic Integrity Appeal that resulted in withholding or revocation of a degree or certificate. The Appeals Executive review shall be limited to confirming that
   1. proper procedures were followed,
   2. the Academic Integrity Appeal decision was not Clearly Erroneous, and
   3. The Academic Integrity Appeal decision was not tainted by clear bias.
2. If the Appeals Executive determines proper procedures were not followed or that the Appeal Director’s decision was Clearly Erroneous or tainted by clear bias, the Appeals Executive shall either
   1. direct the Appeal Director to reconvene in accordance with the correct procedure and/or issue a revised decision, or
   2. designate an entirely new Appeal Director to reconsider the appeal.
3.  The Appeals Executive shall continue to review the Academic Integrity Appeal decisions until the Appeals Executive is satisfied that proper procedures were followed, and that the Academic Integrity Appeal decision was reasonable in light of the facts.
4. Appellants, Appellees, or their Support Persons, are not permitted to contact the Appeals Executive directly or indirectly regarding the Appeals Executive’s review of Academic Integrity Appeal decisions.

304.13 Eligibility for Readmission to the College

Students who are Suspended from the College for violating this Academic Integrity Code may be required to satisfy specific conditions, provided to the Students in writing via official CEI email at the time of their Suspension, in order to be eligible for readmission to the College after the term of their Suspension has ended.

Students who have been Expelled from the College for violating this Academic Integrity Code are permanently ineligible for readmission at any time. Any request for readmission after Expulsion shall be denied automatically with no opportunity for appeal.