Responsibility of Faculty and Staff

• Faculty and staff shall exercise caution in the preparation, duplication, and security of examinations.

• Faculty shall take reasonable steps consistent with the physical conditions of the classroom to reduce the possibility of cheating on examinations.

Procedures

If a faculty member believes the policy on academic honesty has been violated, the following procedures shall be followed:

1. The faculty member may choose to discuss the incident and/or the process to be followed with a department chair.
2. Discuss the incident with the student.

3. Responsive options:

   • If the student admits violating the policy on academic honesty, or if the student is unavailable to discuss the incident with the faculty member, the faculty member may decide the penalty, which may include failure of the examination, assignment, or course. The faculty member will submit the student's name, a written description of the alleged violation, and the penalty to the academic dean and to the student. If the student admits violating the policy, he or she will acknowledge admission in writing to the academic dean.

   • If the student denies violating the policy on academic honesty and the faculty member is not persuaded of the student's innocence, the faculty member will decide on the penalty, which may include failure of the examination, assignment, or course. The faculty member will submit the student's name, a written description of the alleged violation, and the penalty to the academic dean and to the student.

   • If the student is not enrolled in the class in which the alleged violation occurred (e.g. the student sold his or her paper from last term, or took a test for another student), the academic dean will discuss the incident with the student and take appropriate action.

4. In addition, the academic dean may investigate any matter involving academic honesty when he or she has additional information about previous violations concerning the student involved. The Administrative Hearing procedures will be used and other penalties may be levied.

5. If an alleged violation took place in a class taught by the academic dean, then the academic vice president and dean of faculty will appoint a department chair (other than the chair of the department in which the academic dean taught) to assume the academic dean's role.

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Policy reviewed August 2008 by academic dean.

Rationale

• Colby-Sawyer College is committed to high standards of academic honesty. Such standards are central to the process of intellectual inquiry, the development of individual character, and the maintenance of a civilized community.

• The integrity of academic life depends on cooperation among students, faculty, and staff.

Values

• Community
• Connectedness
• Excellence
• Responsibility