Academic Integrity Policy for Academic Dishonesty Matters

Policy Number: 4.1.1.1.2
Effective Date: August 1, 2025
Revision History: Reviewed May 26, 2016
Policy Contact: Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs/Provost

I. Purpose and Policy Statement

The following are conduct regulations related to academic integrity:

Academic Dishonesty. Examples of specific prohibited actions include but are not limited to the following:
1. Academic Misconduct: Performing, attempting to perform, or assisting another in performing any act of academic dishonesty.
2. Cheating: This act of dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, giving information to or taking information from other students during examinations. Cheating is also committed when students copy from unauthorized sources and/or represent some other person’s work as their own. Collaboration on out-of-class assignments or examinations is considered cheating if prohibited by the professor. The use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), on any assignment submitted for credit is prohibited unless specifically permitted by the course instructor.
3. Plagiarism: This category includes copying material from unpublished or published sources, including electronic resources, and submitting that material as the student’s own work. Students are responsible for identifying the proper source and for giving credit to that source anytime that they present ideas which are not their own.
4. Unauthorized Use or Possession of Materials or Resources: Students must not use or possess unauthorized materials or resources in an academic activity. This act includes, but is not limited to, use/possession of a crib or cheat sheet when not authorized to do so or use/possession of any other resources or materials during an examination, quiz, or other academic activity without the permission of the faculty member, whether access to such resources or materials is through a cell phone, other electronic device, or any other means.
5. Collusion: This act of dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, buying or selling material that can be misrepresented as a student’s own work. In addition, students who fail to report known acts of academic dishonesty on the part of others may be held responsible for collusion.
6. Previously submitted material: Students may not submit work that has been or is being concurrently submitted, in whole or in part, in another class without first having received permission to do so from all the professors involved.
7. Misrepresentation or falsification of material: This act includes, but is not limited to, misrepresenting, fabricating, or altering academic material, such as transcripts, diplomas, grades or records, professors’ or administrators’ signatures or initials. In addition, students must not take an examination or test in the name of another student or present another student’s work as their own.
8. Misrepresentation of circumstances: Students must not misrepresent personal circumstances (e.g., illness, conflicting responsibilities, etc.) to avoid meeting academic responsibilities or to gain an academic advantage.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all GGC students. All GGC faculty and staff should be aware of and comply with this policy.

III. Procedures for Resolving Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy

All violations of the Academic Integrity Policy shall be resolved via the Faculty Adjudication Process and/or the Formal Resolution (Student Conduct Board hearing through the Dean of Students Office) as outlined below.
Any member of the community may report an alleged violation. A violation may be reported to the instructor of the course in which the alleged act occurred, to the chair of the appropriate department with which the course is affiliated, or to a staff member within the Dean of Students Office. An individual who suspects a student of academic misconduct may at any time contact the Dean of Students Office to receive assistance with any aspect of the academic integrity process. All reports should be submitted electronically through the website of the Dean of Students Office.
When an instructor believes that a student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy in one of the instructor’s classes, the instructor must first contact the Dean of Students Office to report the alleged violation and determine whether to proceed with the Faculty Adjudication Process or the Formal Resolution (Student Conduct Board hearing). The instructor should also notify the chair of the appropriate department and the dean of the school of the alleged violation.

IV. Faculty Adjudication Process

The Faculty Adjudication Process should be utilized when the student does not have any prior academic integrity cases (in which the student was found responsible) and if the behavior does not warrant more than academic sanctions. If the instructor believes a student’s behavior may warrant a suspension, expulsion, or other nonacademic sanction, the case should be referred to a Formal Resolution (Student Conduct Board Hearing). Upon consultation between the faculty and the Dean of Students Office, the following process should be adhered to:
1. The instructor will complete the Faculty Adjudication Form, available on the website of the Dean of Students Office.
2. The instructor will notify the student of the need to meet to discuss the allegations via the student’s College email address.
3. The student shall then have five College business days from the time of the notification to contact the instructor to schedule a meeting. If a student withdraws from a course in which they have a pending academic integrity case or have been found responsible of an academic integrity violation, the Dean of Students or their designee should be notified, and the student may be readded to the course roster or be assigned a grade of “WF” at the discretion of the instructor.
4. The instructor shall then meet with the student. Both the student and the instructor may invite an advisor to be present during this meeting and any phase of this process; however, advisors are not permitted to speak or to participate directly in the process. During the meeting, the instructor will share the completed Faculty Adjudication Form and all other evidence with the student. The student will have the opportunity to speak and share any additional information with the instructor.
5. At the conclusion of the meeting, the instructor will make a decision regarding the alleged violation. The standard of proof shall be preponderance of evidence. One of the following actions should result from this meeting:
  1. The instructor determines that no violation of academic integrity occurred. The instructor will notify the student via their College email address that no violation occurred. The Dean of Students Office, the dean of the school, and the department chair will also be notified. The matter shall then be closed.
  2. The instructor determines that the student is responsible for the violation of academic integrity and assigns an academic sanction (refer to Sanctioning Guidelines). The student is then asked to sign the Faculty Adjudication Form. The instructor must then send the completed Faculty Adjudication Form and all other evidence/documentation to the Dean of Students Office.
  3. If the student chooses to not schedule a meeting or fails to attend a scheduled meeting, the student will be found responsible for the violation of academic integrity. The instructor must send the completed Faculty Adjudication Form and all other evidence/documentation to the Dean of Students Office.
6. Once the Faculty Adjudication Form and other evidence/documentation are received by the Dean of Students Office, the Dean of Students or their designee will send a decision letter of responsibility and sanctions to the student, the instructor, department chair, dean of the school, Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs/Provost, and Associate Provost for Student Affairs. A copy of the decision letter will also be filed in the student’s conduct record within the Dean of Students Office.
Sanctioning Guidelines for Academic Integrity Violations
1. The appropriate sanction(s) for a violation of academic integrity must be decided on a case-by-case basis as appropriate by academic discipline, teaching method, course level, academic classification, and severity of the violation The instructor may issue any of the sanctions listed below separately or in combination:
  1. Failure of the course
  2. Reduction of final course grade
  3. No credit (“0” for assignment)
  4. Reduction of points earned on the assignment
  5. Retake/replace assignment
  6. Reprimand: Stated disapproval or a warning issued to the student
  7. Referral to educational seminar/workshop.
2. The Dean of Students Office will monitor any sanction deadlines assigned and will place registration holds on any students who miss these deadlines
Appeals of Faculty Adjudication Process
1. Students wishing to appeal a decision from the Faculty Adjudication Process must file an appeal with the appropriate dean. The student will have 15 College business days from the date of the decision letter to submit the written appeal (including all supporting documentation) to the dean. An interview with the student and/or the course instructor may be a part of the dean’s decision. The dean will issue a decision letter to the student within 15 College business days of the date the appeal was submitted or refer the case to a Formal Resolution. A copy of this letter will also be sent to the instructor and the Dean of Students Office.
2. If the student wishes to appeal the dean’s decision, they may then appeal to the Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs/Provost (“Provost”) within 15 College business days of the decision. The Provost will issue a decision letter to the student or remand the case back to a Formal Resolution. The decision of the Provost is the final institutional decision.

V. Formal Resolution (Student Conduct Board Hearing)

If the instructor, dean, and Dean of Students Office establish that the case should not be resolved through the Faculty Adjudication Process, the case will be referred to a Formal Resolution (Student Conduct Board hearing).