Colleges and universities all across the country tend to enforce strict policies against academic misconduct. While these regulations are vital for maintaining academic integrity, they can also sometimes result in hasty and unjust disciplinary measures that compromise a student's right to due process. If you're a student accused of academic misconduct, you could face serious repercussions, such as suspension, expulsion, and a damaged academic record—consequences that can profoundly impact your personal and professional futures.
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm brings a wealth of nationwide experience in advocating for students and their families in these challenging situations. We understand the profound impact these allegations can have and are committed to guiding students and parents through the complex landscape of academic discipline. We will work with you and for you to obtain the most favorable outcome while ensuring the school abides by its own due process rules. To schedule a consultation, call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.
Common Types of Academic Misconduct
Every school has its own set of rules and regulations regarding academic honesty, but generally speaking, their policies will demand discipline for any/all of the following forms of academic misconduct.
Cheating
The term "cheating" encompasses various forms of academic misconduct. In this context, we define cheating as any breach of school policies or instructor directives during examinations or assignments. Essentially, academic institutions and educators establish specific "guidelines" to ensure fairness in assessments and the completion of tasks. If you breach these rules to secure an undue advantage, you're cheating. Some examples might include:
- Copying another student's work
- Permitting another student to copy your work
- Submitting an assignment done by someone else as your own
- Using prohibited materials or resources to complete an assignment
- Continuing to write beyond the time limit set by the instructor
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, arguably the most prevalent form of academic misconduct, involves claiming someone else's work or ideas as your own. It is not always as blatant as outright copying; it can occur subtly, and sometimes even innocently, through a failure to give proper credit. For example, using quotes or concepts from a book in your paper without citing the source constitutes plagiarism. Alarmingly, some schools may penalize students for plagiarism, even if it was unintentional.
Incidentally, self-plagiarism is also a form of academic misconduct and can also incur penalties. This occurs when you resubmit the same work for more than one assignment without your instructor's permission.
Violation of Test Conditions
Taking an exam in an unauthorized environment, such as one where answers are easily accessible, constitutes academic misconduct. While this kind of cheating is more readily identifiable in a traditional classroom setting, the rise of remote learning—particularly during exams—has heightened the temptation to cheat by exploiting camera blind spots or using concealed cheat sheets.
Unauthorized Advance Knowledge
Obtaining advanced copies of exams or assignments without the teacher's permission—such as taking a photo of a test answer key from the teacher's desk—is considered unauthorized access to information. This act constitutes academic misconduct, as it provides you with an unfair advantage.
Bribery
Bribery in a school context doesn't always mean “paying off” someone. It refers to the act of offering anything valuable to gain an unfair academic benefit—for instance, proposing money or gifts to a teacher to change your grade, paying someone to do your assignment, or even hiring a hacker to modify your school records.
Unauthorized Assistance or Collaboration
Collaboration with other students on certain assignments or projects is often encouraged, but when it's done without a teacher's permission, it constitutes academic misconduct because your work is not exclusively your own. Similarly, giving another student help on assignments, quizzes, or exams without permission is considered unauthorized assistance.
Unauthorized Sharing of Academic Resources
Academic “assistance” apps and platforms like Chegg, Slader, and CourseHero have become common spots for students to upload and exchange previous or current coursework (e.g., assignments, exams, study notes, lab reports, term papers, etc.). Sharing such information without the school's or teacher's express permission is deemed enabling cheating, thus counting as academic misconduct. Additionally, these sites are usually off-limits for homework assistance, so using them to find or copy assignments and test responses could also lead to charges of academic misconduct.
Failure to Safeguard Your Work
Failing to protect your work from being copied is generally taken as a passive form of unauthorized sharing, and depending on the circumstances, you could be accused of academic misconduct as a result. A prime example might be completing an assignment on a public computer and leaving the document open for other students to view.
Falsifying Information
Misrepresenting or falsifying information to gain an unfair academic advantage can jeopardize your academic standing. Such misconduct may involve altering a grade on your transcripts, creating a counterfeit school ID, submitting someone else's homework as your own, or forging a professor's signature on a document.
The Disciplinary Process for Academic Misconduct Charges
Colleges and universities typically have established protocols for addressing allegations of academic misconduct. While these protocols differ slightly from school to school, the general steps are fairly universal. If you're a college/university student accused of academic misconduct, you can expect the following process:
- Accusation/Complaint: In instances of academic misconduct, an allegation is typically made by a teacher, or sometimes another student.
- Investigation: School authorities may investigate the incident, which may involve gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing relevant documents.
- Hearing: If the investigation yields evidence to support the accusation, the school authorities typically conduct a formal hearing where the student can present their defense.
- Decision-Making: After reviewing all evidence and testimonies, the school administration or disciplinary committee makes a decision regarding the student's culpability.
- Appeals Process: The student has the right to appeal the decision. The appeals process may involve a review by a higher authority within the institution or an external body, depending on the school's policies.
The Lento Law Firm Team Can Help Protect Your Academic Future
Facing academic misconduct charges can place your academic future at stake. Many instances can result in suspension or expulsion, and schools typically rely only on a preponderance of the evidence to find you guilty. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team has many years of proven experience helping students and parents nationwide defend against allegations of academic misconduct and other types of wrongdoing. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us using our online form.
