Bowdoin College, like other colleges, continually enforced rules that preserve academic integrity because it's essential to academic environments. This is why students who are accused of violating these regulations have an uphill battle on their hands.
As a student, it's easy to get overwhelmed with the many assignments, homework, projects, and presentations you've likely been assigned. Unfortunately, the struggle to keep up with studies is the number one culprit behind academic misconduct charges.
In this article, we'll address how Bowdoin College defines and handles cases of academic misconduct, as well as why you need a student defense attorney to represent you throughout the school's processes.
How Does Bowdoin College Define “Academic Dishonesty?”
According to Bowdoin College's Academic Honor Code, “academic dishonesty” is but not limited to:
- The receiving, giving, or use of any unauthorized assistance on any academic assignments
- Referencing and/or using sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in preparing papers, constructing reports, solving problems or carrying out other academic assignments
- Inadequate citation of sources
- Acquisition, without permission, of tests, computer files, or similar material that would give the student an unfair advantage on an assignment or examination
- Submission of academic work not a student's own original effort
- Use of the same work for multiple courses without prior knowledge of the receiving instructors
- Depriving community members of access, including computer access, to library information through intentional monopolization, mutilation, defacing, unauthorized removal of books or other materials from College libraries, or purposeful failure to return library materials on a timely basis
- Unauthorized altering of academic records (transcripts, grading sheets, Course Registration Cards)
- Fabrication of research data
Bowdoin College's Student Disciplinary Process
The Office of the Dean of Students is responsible for the administration of the student disciplinary process at Bowdoin College. Any question of interpretation or application of the student disciplinary process shall be referred to the Dean for Student Affairs for final determination.
The Office of the Dean of Students will review all claims of alleged violations by Bowdoin students of both the Academic Honor Code. After reviewing the claims, cases will either be referred to a Student Affairs staff member to be handled administratively or to the Judicial Board for a formal hearing. College disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against a student charged with a violation of a law that is also a violation of the Academic Honor Code without regard to the status of civil or criminal proceedings. The College may conduct disciplinary proceedings, including disciplinary proceedings initiated by another institution during a student's study away. This decision may not be appealed.
In Academic Code cases, the Judicial Board makes a determination of responsibility and recommends a sanction to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students may accept the Judicial Board's recommended sanction or impose a different one. The Judicial Board's determination of responsibility and the sanction imposed by the Dean of Students become final unless an appeal is initiated.
In the event that a student fails to comply with a sanction or sanctions, the College may take additional disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, withholding the student's diploma and deferring the student's degree until the student has satisfied the terms of the sanction(s). The College reserves the right to revoke a Bowdoin degree if, after a review, the College determines that the degree was awarded as a result of fraud, deceit, or academic dishonesty.
Sanctions
One or more of the following penalties may be imposed upon students found responsible for violations of academic misconduct; this is a non-exhaustive list.
- A warning letter
- A notation on the student's permanent transcript explaining the violation
- Retake of the examination, paper, or exercise involved
- Lowering of the course grade
- Failure in the course
- Probation
- Expulsion
Appeals
An accused student may appeal a panel's finding of responsibility and/or sanction(s) within 10 business days of the date of the notice of outcome solely on one or more of the following grounds: (1) procedural error that could have materially affected the determination of responsibility or sanction(s); (2) new information that was not available at the time of the hearing and that could reasonably have affected the determination of responsibility or sanction(s); excessiveness of sanction(s).
Academic Integrity Advisor
An academic misconduct violation can jeopardize the academic and professional goals you or your college student have set. If you value the investment you've made into your education and your professional future, contacting a skilled student defense attorney is a must. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped students who've acquired serious academic misconduct charges recover from these allegations, and he can do the same for you. Contact him today at 888-535-3686 for more information.
