Procedures for Investigating Concerns

Academic integrity policy violations are forwarded to the Academic Integrity Subcommittee by faculty through the concern form. The Subcommittee determines whether a violation of college policy has occurred, based on a preponderance of evidence (i.e., whether it is more likely than not that a violation occurred). Students typically do not receive a grade in the course while a concern is being investigated. While the Subcommittee is investigating a matter of concern, the student may not drop the relevant course or take it S/Cr/NC unless the Subcommittee finds them not responsible, in which case those privileges are restored retroactively.

If an integrity-related concern is received about a student, then the Academic Integrity Subcommittee first performs a preliminary review of the matter to assess whether the matter falls within the scope of the Academic Integrity policy. If so, the Subcommittee proceeds with an investigation. This investigation includes gathering of relevant information from other sources (which may include the instructor, other students, Moodle logs, and/or other sources of information that may be relevant to the particular matter). The Subcommittee typically also meets with the student as part of the investigation, asking questions to better understand what transpired in the situation. The questions may touch on the time and place in which the student performed the work, any external resources that the student used, and specific questions about the submitted work itself. The student will be contacted to arrange this meeting, which is typically scheduled for 30 minutes.

Consequences

If no violation is found to have occurred, then there is no sanction. The submitted work is returned to the faculty member for grading without penalty, and the matter is closed without being logged as part of the student’s academic record.

If a violation is found to have occurred, then the Subcommittee also determines the sanctions. This typically includes a grading penalty in the course in which the violation occurred, as well as additional sanctions assigned as follows:

  1. Censure and Warning: Written notification that the student’s behavior is unacceptable and that continuation or repetition of such conduct may result in more severe disciplinary action. Censure and Warning is the typical college-level consequence for a student who is found responsible for a first violation of the Academic Integrity policy, except in particularly egregious cases.

    Note: In all cases of a finding of responsibility for a violation of the standards of academic integrity at Carleton resulting in censure and warning, the Academic Integrity Subcommittee seeks to convey clearly that the result of a repeated violation of college integrity policies are typically significantly more consequential than for a first violation. Furthermore, these consequences may have different effects on students in different circumstances. (For example, international students are urged to seek counsel from the Director of International Student Life at Carleton about the potential consequences of a suspension.)

  2. Suspension: Termination of a student’s enrollment at the College for a specified period of  time. This may also include restricting access to campus or College events during the suspension. A two-term suspension is the typical consequence for a student who is found responsible for a second violation of the Academic Integrity policy, or for a particularly egregious first violation.
  3. Expulsion: Permanent termination of enrollment, including no further access to campus or any College events without written approval from the College. Dismissal is the typical consequence for a student who is found responsible for a third violation of the Academic Integrity policy, or for particularly egregious first or second violations.

Additional Information

More information is available in the College’s Academic Integrity policy.

College policy requires instructors to forward concerns about academic integrity to the Academic Integrity Subcommittee for two reasons: first, to ensure consistency across classes, and, second, to remove the instructor from being forced into a fact-finding or consequence-imposing role. We know that many students will go on to take additional later courses with the same instructor, and or declare a major in that same field and perhaps have the instructor as an advisor. The Subcommittee is charged with the responsibility of making decisions in part to allow students and their instructors to maintain a good relationship in the current course, and in all future interactions.