The University of Oregon requires that students maintain an environment that supports its educational objectives. All University of Oregon students must adhere to standards outlined in its Student Conduct Code.
The University of Oregon's mission statement requires all members to “help individuals question critically, think logically, reason effectively, communicate clearly, act creatively, and live ethically.” Students who commit academic misconduct violate school standards and face strict punishments.
If you face an academic misconduct allegation, you may not know what to expect. In this article, we'll review the University of Oregon's disciplinary process. We'll also discuss how hiring an attorney can help you challenge an academic misconduct charge.
Academic Misconduct at the University of Oregon
In general, academic misconduct refers to an act that creates an unfair advantage for students. The University of Oregon Student Conduct Code prohibits students from participating in the following forms of academic misconduct:
- Cheating. Examples of cheating include using unauthorized materials on course work, using a study aid during an exam, or collaborating with other students without permission.
- Fabrication. Fabrication refers to skewing data, reporting inauthentic results, or making up results to alter course work.
- Multiple submissions. You cannot submit the same or substantially similar work in multiple courses without permission from your instructor.
- Plagiarism. Plagiarism means taking someone's words, ideas, or results and presenting them as your own. Failing to cite sources is an example of plagiarism.
- Unauthorized recording. Recording instructional content or intellectual property without permission is a violation of the Student Conduct Code.
You may also face a conduct violation if you help or intend to help other students engage in these types of academic misconduct.
The University of Oregon Disciplinary Process
If a faculty member accuses you of academic misconduct, they must follow disciplinary procedures in the Student Conduct Code. Their first step is to report the violation to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
If they believe you committed academic misconduct, the faculty member must also provide you with written notice of the allegation. The notice includes an overview of the misconduct and an opportunity for an initial meeting. The meeting is a non-adversarial conversation between you and the faculty member. It provides you with a chance to respond to the allegation and present your side of the story.
After the meeting, the case will move into one of three results:
- Dismiss the case. The faculty member will drop the charges and academic sanctions if they believe academic misconduct did not occur.
- Offer resolution. If the faculty member believes the violation occurred, they will offer you a chance to admit it. You will accept the charges and sanctions.
- Contest the case. If you do not agree that the violation occurred, you can challenge the result.
Faculty members must forward contested cases to the Director of the Office of Student Conduct. The Director will review the case and decide whether to move forward with formal student conduct action. In this case, they will provide you notice to your University of Oregon email address.
A Case Manager will then reach out to you to schedule an informational meeting. This meeting will include another review of the allegations and a review of the student conduct process. You can choose to accept the violation and sanctions or move forward with an administrative conference.
An administrative conference is a formal review of the academic misconduct charge. It provides you with an opportunity to discuss and respond to the allegations. During this private conference, you can present evidence and statements to a Case Manager.
The Case Manager will decide whether a violation occurred using a preponderance of evidence standard. They must find it more likely than not that you committed the violation. The Case Manager must send a decision letter within 15 days of the administrative conference. This letter includes an overview of their decision, academic and administrative sanctions, and steps for filing an appeal.
Sanctions for Academic Misconduct
If officials find you guilty of academic misconduct, you face both academic and administrative sanctions. Your Case Manager may also create an action plan to promote personal growth and repair any harm caused by your violation. Examples include attending ethics workshops or completing self-reflection projects.
Academic sanctions can include any of the following:
- A grade of “F” or “N” for the course involved
- Redo or exam or assignment
- Reduced grade on assignment or exam
- Reduced grade on the final course
- Withdrawal from the course
Administrative sanctions can have a long-term impact on your future. They include disciplinary probation, suspension, expulsion, revocation of your degree, and more. Academic misconduct can also go on your permanent student conduct records. A record of misconduct can hurt your job prospects or ability to transfer schools.
Why You Need an Attorney-Advisor
Many University of Oregon students fail to effectively defend themselves against academic misconduct allegations, and they end up paying the price. An academic misconduct violation can disrupt your academic career and jeopardize your future, so it's important to fight back against accusations.
The best thing you can do if you face an academic misconduct charge is to hire a student discipline attorney. The University of Oregon allows students to use an advisor during the disciplinary process, including the administrative conference.
An attorney can provide support throughout proceedings. They can collect evidence, formulate a defense, and prepare you for your meetings with investigators. As an expert on student discipline rules, an experienced attorney can also protect your rights. Universities don't always play by their rules. If the school makes a biased decision or fails to uphold your right to due process, your attorney can push back. An attorney can also identify grounds for an appeal and facilitate this process.
Your Student Discipline Advisor
An academic misconduct charge can threaten your academic and professional future. You don't want to fight allegations on your own. An experienced student discipline advisor gives you the best chance at getting your academic career back on track.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento has unparalleled experience defending students accused of academic misconduct. As a highly-skilled student discipline attorney, he has the knowledge and experience to achieve a positive outcome in your case. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to schedule a consultation.
