Broward College is a public community college with three campuses, multiple partnerships, and international centers throughout Florida and the world. With its numerous featured programs and career development options, students graduating from Broward College can expect a wealth of professional opportunities after graduation. Students can immerse themselves in cultural pursuits with the Study Abroad program in international locations like Germany, Vietnam, India, Italy, and England. Such a diverse curriculum attracts thousands of new students to Broward every year – but it also calls for maintaining a fair playing field and limiting academic dishonesty.
College is a time of self-exploration and gaining experience in a fast-paced and challenging environment. Every student makes mistakes, but some are costlier than others and have permanent repercussions. One example of this is academic misconduct, which negatively affects the student's progress and may cause delays in graduation depending on the severity of the infarction. Like all colleges, maintaining a fair chance for all students is of utmost importance at Broward. Students who violate the Code of Conduct face heavy repercussions that include suspension or permanent discharge. Without the help of an attorney advisor, students may not receive a fair hearing and face overly harsh repercussions for a minor infarction.
Defining Academic Misconduct at Broward College
Academic dishonesty is any action that allows a student to gain an unfair competitive advantage over their peers. According to the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, academic misconduct leads to disciplinary procedures and sanctions. Broward College students must demonstrate responsible conduct in individual and collective actions.
Actions that go against the Student Code of Conduct include:
Cheating
Multiple actions fall under the umbrella of cheating, which includes individual and group actions. Below are some examples of cheating listed in the Code of Conduct:
- Copying from another student's work and vice versa
- Using websites to retrieve answers for tests and academic exercises
- Paying another person to perform academic work for a student
- Using unauthorized materials during examinations such as calculators, phones, and tablets
- Working with multiple individuals on a take-home exam or assignment
- Selling reports, projects, or term papers to other students
Plagiarism
Whether it is an intentional or mistaken omission, giving credit to the original authors of a work, code, program, or idea is a must in any academic exercise. The forms of plagiarism included in the Code of Conduct include:
- Using quotations from a source without formatting and sourcing it properly
- Submitting a paper or academic exercise not written by the student
- Paraphrasing another person's idea without giving credit
- Plagiarism may also include self-plagiarism or submitting old assignments as new work
Providing false information
In some instances, students may provide false information to professors and the administration. One example of giving incorrect information includes claiming that a student cannot attend a class or exam due to medical issues
Forgery
Forging documents is a severe offense that may lead to expulsion. Some examples include:
- Knowingly providing the college with a false certificate
- Altering grades on an official transcript
- Forging signatures or seals
- Fabricating part or all information on a document
In addition to the violations mentioned above, Broward College also reserves the right to penalize any other action that falls within the umbrella of academic dishonesty.
How Broward College Handles Cases of Academic Misconduct
Students accused of academic misconduct may hire a legal advisor to help them navigate the hearing process. However, the student alone may address the panel, and their advisor does not participate directly in the proceedings. The student's instructor may provide different penalties than the hearing panel. Moreover, in more severe cases, the Campus Chief Student Affairs Officer may handle the issue if the student does not request a hearing. For minor infarctions headed by professors, possible sanctions include:
- Retaking a test or academic exercise
- Receiving a failing grade on the assignment/exam/quiz
- Failing the course
The chief student affairs officer or a panel handles severe infarctions, and penalties differ from those imposed by professors. Sanctions also apply to students who commit multiple infarctions as well, and include:
- Written warning: The student receives a written notice informing them of their policy violation.
- Probation: Students are under a temporary probational status and could receive harsher sanctions if they re-commit violations.
- Loss of Privileges: Students who commit infarctions may lose campus privileges temporarily.
- Fines: Students may temporarily pay for parking and library access.
- Discretionary Sanctions: The administration may ask students to perform additional assignments or miscellaneous services.
- Withdrawal Without Refund: Students must withdraw their courses without receiving a refund.
- Temporary Suspension: Placing students on interim suspension and preventing them from accessing the campus.
- Expulsion: Reserved for egregious offenses, permanent discharge from Broward College is the most severe sanction and permanently derails students' academic progress.
- Note on student record: Students receive a notation on their confidential record that lists the sanctions. Expungement of the note is only possible if the student's sanctions don't include suspension or expulsion.
Students wishing to appeal a sanctions decision must submit a written statement to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The latter decides whether to proceed with the request, reviews the evidence and documentation related to the case, and makes a final decision.
Hiring an Attorney-Advisor
College students learn how to navigate the world and build their personalities from each experience they have. An honest mistake or unsubstantiated allegation of academic dishonesty has negative long-term repercussions on student progress and can delay graduation. Without the help of an attorney advisor, students may not receive a fair hearing and are under the mercy of a panel.
Attorney Advisor Joseph D. Lento works with students nationwide to help them overcome allegations of academic misconduct. Mr. Lento's experience and thorough knowledge of college academic misconduct procedures give students the confidence they need to defend against accusations. Don't wait until a minor issue escalates to an unsurmountable sanction. If you or a loved one receive notice of academic misconduct violations at Broward College, you deserve a fair process and hearing.
Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 for a confidential discussion about your academic misconduct charge at Broward College.
