How it Works

The Smeal Honor Code is a shared responsibility.  Smeal students, faculty and administrators all play a key role in strengthening our community of trust.  Trust is established when both parties know what is expected, and they commit to uphold those expectations.

At the beginning of each course, your professor should inform you of the academic integrity requirements for delivery.  With each assignment or exam, you should be very clear about the professor’s expectations for delivery.  Always ask for clarification and do not make assumptions about what is in or out of bounds.  When in doubt, feel free to ask.

For example:

• Is this a group or individual assignment?

• If it is an individual assignment, does that mean we should not discuss the material with classmates until after we’ve turned in the work?

• What are the requirements for citation when writing a paper?

• What are acceptable sources?  Can I use blogs? 

Honor Code violations are a serious matter, and professors have a responsibility to take action in accordance with university guidelines for academic integrity.  Sanctions range in accordance with the violations.

The Steps to Take in an Honor Code Violation

1. Students involved in honor code violations will be asked to meet with the professor. 

2. The discussion will address the concern(s) and recommended course of action.   The student will be asked to review the Academic Integrity Incident Review (AIIR) form, which details the nature of the violation and associated sanctions.  

3. A student may choose to accept the allegation and learn from the mistakes and move on.  Alternatively, if a student feels they have been wrongly accused then they have the option to request an appeal. 

4. The student has five business days to return the signed form indicating their decision.  The form is sent to Judicial Affairs for centralized record keeping within the university.  If the student has a prior history of violations, then the sanction will be revised and the file will be modified accordingly.
   

Contesting an Academic Integrity Violation

1. Students who wish to contest the matter may do so with a signed and returned AIIR form.

2. Appeals are reviewed by the Academic Integrity Committee within the Smeal College.  The committee is made up of Smeal faculty and students who are trained and experienced in the handling of AI matters.

3. The AI Committee does not hold live hearings nor does it conduct legal reviews.  Instead, it is an administrative review that is designed to offer an independent look at both sides of the matter. 

4. The committee will review all of the relevant documents, including the professor’s narrative of the incident.  Students will have an opportunity to submit their own written narrative for committee review.  The Committee will proceed with the review whether or not the student opts to submit a written narrative. 

5. Once the AI Committee reviews all of the materials, they will communicate their decision in writing.  Sanctions may be upheld, overturned or stepped up at the committee’s recommendation.  

6. Students will receive notification of the committee’s decision from the Undergraduate Dean’s Office.  This is the final step in the appeals process, and there are no further appeals.