Academic Misconduct: Frequently Asked Questions from Instructors

Q. If I prefer to handle a cheating incident informally, what procedures should I follow?

A. As an instructor you always have the option to handle a cheating incident informally. First of all you should arrange to meet with the student in a setting that provides privacy. The student should then be presented with the evidence upon which you are basing the case, e.g., copy of the plagiarized paper, witness statements and personal observations. Although your action will be considered an informal intervention, you are encouraged nevertheless to provide the student with a written statement summarizing your charge and action. Throughout the informal process, it will be important to communicate that if the student does not agree with your decision, he or she has the right to appeal your action to the Dean or the Dean's Representative.

Q. Which cases should I handle informally and which should I refer to the Dean or Dean's Representative?

A. Whereas any case may be handled informally, several are best referred to the Dean or Dean's Representative. These include cases in which there are disputes over facts or how facts are interpreted, e.g., "Even though my paper is very similar to the one you found on the web, mine is the original work" or "I didn't do it." By referring these cases to the Dean or Dean's Representative, students are assured of due process, e.g., the opportunity to present their case to an impartial representative of the University. This is particularly important if the sanction you are considering results in a significant "property" loss for the student, e.g., failing the course, a delay in graduation, etc.

Q. If I choose to report an incident to the Dean's Representative what will I be asked to provide?

A. If you forward a case to the Dean or Dean's Representative, you will be asked to suspend judgment on the matter. This will require that you enter an "X" for the student's grade pending a final resolution in the case. Secondly, you will be asked to provide the Dean's Representative with a written account of the cheating incident along with any evidence you may have collected in the process. On occasion, instructors may also be asked to meet with the Dean's Representative to clarify information that was submitted. However, instructors are rarely asked to meet with the Dean's Representative in the presence of students.

Q. Should every suspected cheating incident be confronted?

A. Cheating that is not confronted sends the wrong message to students who cheat or to other students who may have witnessed the cheating. Although prevention is the most effective strategy to combat cheating, once it happens, you are advised to intervene assertively, consistently, yet discreetly.

Q. How prevalent is cheating?

A. Unfortunately, cheating is quite common. National surveys monitoring the frequency of cheating on college campuses report that 50 to 75% of all college students cheat sometime during their college experience. Although the problem surfaces on all college campuses, it appears to be most prevalent at larger universities and in larger classrooms where there is the appearance of anonymity. The frequency of cheating appears to be lowest at institutions with well-functioning honor codes or in classes where instructors make a special effort to communicate high expectations regarding academic integrity.

Q. What can I do to prevent cheating in my classroom?

A. As is referenced above, the most effective strategy to combat cheating is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Expectations regarding academic integrity should be reviewed regularly with students during the quarter. This should begin with a prominent statement in the course syllabus, followed by regular announcements preceding exams and major assignments. Many resources are available for faculty on campus and on the web, including an excellent Web site maintained by the University of Washington's Faculty Resource on Grading. In addition, individual consultation for instructors is available through the Office of the Provost - Special Assistant at (206) 543-5708.

Q. How confidential is the conduct intervention process?

A. Confidentiality is an important component of the conduct intervention system. Information generated through this process can be shared only with the student, the University personnel involved in the Institution's conduct processes and the instructor who initiates the charge against the student. Others may not have access to this information without the written consent of the student. In addition, disciplinary action taken against a student does not become a part of the student's academic record, e.g., academic transcript. Although instructor interventions are considered to be informal and not subject to the same restrictions as formal interventions, the principles of confidentiality should be applied and maintained consistently. These include confronting students privately rather than in public, consulting with colleagues and academic administrators on a need-to-know basis only, and using communication mechanisms that protect the confidentialiy of students' information.

Q. What sanctions does the University employ to combat cheating?

A. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, first-time violators may receive an official warning, a reprimand or be placed on disciplinary probation for up to the duration of their career at the University. These actions allow the institution to maintain official records so that repeat violators can be more easily identified and dealt with accordingly. Students found responsible for second violations are usually suspended from the University for a specified period of time or expelled permanently.

Q. How effective are judicial interventions?

A. Generally, formal judicial interventions are quite effective. Once students have been found responsible for violating the University's academic integrity guidelines they are unlikely to repeat the offense. In part this is a result of being apprised that students who are found responsible for repeat violations are separated from the University.