Separable Academic Integrity Disciplinary Process

See also:

1. When a student is alleged to have committed a separable academic integrity violation, he or she meets with a Conduct Officer or an Academic Integrity Facilitator (AIF) for a Preliminary Review. This review is an opportunity for the Conduct Officer/AIF to gather information about the complaint.

2. The student is entitled to the assistance of a Campus Adviser throughout the disciplinary process. A Campus Adviser is a member of the Rutgers community who can help the accused student navigate the disciplinary system and prepare for a University Hearing or Disciplinary Conference, if necessary.

3. Once the Conduct Officer or AIF has reviewed the relevant information and completed the Preliminary Review, he or she determines whether there is sufficient information to charge the student with a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.

4. If the student is charged, he or she will answer the charge with "responsible," "not responsible," or "no contest."

5. If the student answers "responsible" or "no contest," the Conduct Officer/AIF will recommend a sanction.

6. If the student answers "not responsible," the case will be handled at a Disciplinary Conference or at a University Hearing. Either option is available for separable offenses, as long as the parties agree.

7. A Disciplinary Conference is an informal meeting with a Conduct Officer, who will consider information presented by the accused student and the complaint party and determine whether the student is responsible for the charges. If the student is found responsible, the officer will recommend a sanction.

8. A University Hearing is a more formal process, in which the University Hearing Board (a panel of students and faculty) considers information presented by both parties and determines whether the accused student is responsible for the charges. If the student is found responsible, the board will recommend a sanction.

9. In all cases where a sanction of suspension or expulsion is recommended (whether by a Conduct Officer or by the University Hearing Board), that sanction must be approved by the Chief Academic Officer or Campus Academic Integrity Designee on the student's campus.

10.  Students have the right to appeal the outcome of any proceeding. See the Academic Integrity Appeal Process for more information.