At Palomar College, academic honesty is fundamental to upholding the scholarly community. To ensure students reach their educational goals, Palomar College has put academic dishonesty policies and procedures in place.
Students who do not act with integrity in academic matters or refuse to follow the college's rules on academic conduct will face repercussions. A determination of academic misconduct on a student's college record can jeopardize that student's future, making applying to other institutions, graduate schools, or seeking employment more difficult.
If you are a student at Palomar College and have been accused of academic misconduct, know that you have a lot at stake. You need a strong advocate in your corner, and contacting an experienced student defense attorney-advisor for help will be the best decision you can make to help you through this difficult time.
Academic Misconduct at Palomar College
At Palomar College, the academic dishonesty process rests largely with faculty members. The school has an academic honesty policy that guides faculty on how to handle incidents, as well as the Standards of Student Conduct policy and Student Discipline Procedures to supplement the faculty process.
Examples of Academic Dishonesty at Palomar Collage
- Copying, paraphrasing, or summarizing another's work without giving appropriate credit to the source and/or representing the product as one's own work
- Obtaining or trying to obtain credit for academic work through dishonest means
- Using unauthorized study aids (such as a graphing calculator when an instructor has prohibited it)
- Consulting material or using electronic devices not authorized by an instructor during an exam
- Submitting the same essay or work to two different classes without explicit permission from the instructors
- Allowing another person to do one's work and submitting it for credit
- Presenting data in a piece of work that was not gathered in accordance with guidelines defining the appropriate methods for collecting or generating data
- Failing to include a substantially accurate account of the method by which data were generated or collected
- Providing material or information to another person knowing that these materials may be used improperly
The Disciplinary Process for Academic Misconduct at Palomar College
Faculty at Palomar College have the authority to launch the academic dishonesty process if they suspect a student has committed misconduct in their course. The faculty member may take the following actions if they feel the alleged violation is serious enough to warrant a failing grade in the course.
Faculty Member Confronts the Student
A faculty member first confronts a student about the wrongdoing, and if the student admits to it, the faculty member can determine the consequence. If the student denies wrongdoing, the faculty member refers the matter to the department chair.
Department Chair's Decision
The department chair meets with the accused student as soon as possible to discuss the alleged wrongdoing. Students can bring any faculty member or another person (such as an advisor) with them to this meeting. If the department chair also believes the student has committed wrongdoing, the student can either reject or accept the findings.
If the student accepts the department chair's decision, the matter goes back to the faculty member who instigated the case, and this faculty member determines the consequence. If the student rejects the department chair's decision, the faculty member may still award a failing grade in the course.
The department chair may also agree with the student and not the faculty member. If the faculty member accepts the department chair's decision, the matter is resolved. If the faculty member rejects the decision, they can determine a consequence and may award a failing grade in the course.
In either situation, students can challenge a failing grade by initiating the Faculty Senate Grade Dispute Process.
What's at Stake for Academic Dishonesty at Palomar College?
Faculty members at Palomar College have full jurisdiction over administering academic sanctions when students are found responsible for committing academic dishonesty. These sanctions are typically assigning a failing grade to the work involved with the dishonesty or assigning a failing grade in the course.
If other sanctions are applicable, professors may impose them, but they must notify the Office of Student Affairs. Professors can also impose the following:
- Verbal reprimand
- Written reprimand
- Removal from class
To impose suspension or expulsion, the Director of Student Affairs must notify the accused student and set a date for a disciplinary hearing. The hearing takes place ten days after receiving notice of the proposed suspension or expulsion. Students have a chance to respond to accusations against them and must also prepare a signed written statement of the incident and evidence for the hearing. The Director of Student Affairs presides over the hearing and determines if the student is responsible or not.
How to Appeal a Suspension or Expulsion Decision
Palomar College students may appeal a decision of suspension or expulsion against them by submitting a written request to the Director of Student Affairs five days after the hearing decision. An appeal hearing takes place within 14 days of the request in front of the disciplinary appeals panel. The panel consists of five faculty members, students, or staff.
At the appeal hearing, students may have an advisor represent them. Students (or their representatives) can give opening statements, call witnesses, and present evidence. Within five days of the hearing, the panel makes a decision. Students may appeal this decision with the Vice President for Student Services, whose decision is final.
Seeking Assistance from an Academic Integrity Attorney-Advisor
If you are facing an accusation of academic misconduct at Palomar College, it may not go as far as a hearing. But an attorney-advisor can still accompany you to your meeting with your department chair and coach you on how to conduct yourself and present your argument. If the matter does go to a hearing, you will want an advocate by your side as well.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped countless college students across the country defend themselves against academic dishonesty accusations from their schools. To protect the future of your education, contact the Lento Law Firm today by calling 888-535-3686.
