SSR Academic Article 7 and 4

What are the 3 Academic Hearing Boards

1. University Academic Grievance Hearing Board

2.University Academic Integrity Hearing Board

3.University Academic Appeal Board

University Academic Grievance Hearing Board

Cases involving student academic complaints alleging violations or student academic rights (the Rights and Responsibilities listed in Article 2)

University Academic Integrity Hearing Board

-Academic complaints brought by a student to contest a charge of academic misconduct or the severity of the penalty grade imposed by an instructor

-Academic disciplinary hearing involving academic misconduct

What can the University Academic integrity hearing board do?

They may accept or reject the recommended sanction of the college, or may impose a lesser sanction than recommended by the college

University Academic Appeal Board authority

The university academic appeal board shall have appellate jurisdiction over:

-Decisions by the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board

-Decisions by the University Academic Grievance Hearing Board

Article 7, 2 is?

Academic Hearing Board Structure

Article 4, 1 is?

Adjudication of Academic Cases Complaints (aka Grievance Cases)

Good faith Judgement

The assumption given to professors that their grading, class structure, and teaching style is based on a standard of academic integrity

Burden of proof

the obligation to prove one's assertion

Voice (Limited Voice) + example

The ability to speak during a hearing in accordance with the permissions of the hearing board advisor.

ex: we can give the closing but we cannot answer questions for the student

Preponderance of evidence

Under the preponderance standard, the burden of proof is met when the party with the burden convinces the fact finder that there is a greater than 50% chance that

the claim is true.

- We are not proving 100% that something did or did not happen; we are trying to show the

most likely thing to happen

Complaint (Academic Cases)

-An allegation by a student that a faculty or staff member violated their academic rights; or

-An allegation by a member of the University community that a student engaged in academic misconduct.

Complaint (non academic)

- An allegation that a student has violated a University regulation, ordinance, or policy;

- An allegation filed by a student that a member of the University community violated their rights;

Complaints are now defined as

as Both against faculty and against students.

a complaint or grievance means...

A student thinks their rights have been violated

A student may present a complaint to the hearing boards in the case of:

- Alleging a violation of any of the academic rights of students

- Challenging an academic evaluation on the grounds that the evaluation was based entirely or in part upon factors other than a good faith judgment of the student's academic

performance, including compliance with applicable professional standards

- Contesting a penalty grade or other disciplinary sanctions

- Allege academic dishonesty, violation of professional standards, or falsification of academic or admissions records ("academic misconduct")

Who bears the Burden or Proof?

- Where an instructor has rendered a judgment regarding a student's academic performance, that judgment is presumed to be made in good faith and the grievant bears the burden of proving the contrary

- However, when it comes to an allegation of academic misconduct (ADRs) the instructor or

committee bears the burden of proof.

- (the complaints)

When is a complaint filed? (steps of resolution)

1. If problems arise in the relationship between instructor and student, they should attempt to resolve

them in informal, direct discussions.

2. If the problem remains unresolved, they should consult the unit administrator.

3. If the problem remains unresolved, the student may file a request for a grievance hearing.

- A grievance hearing will not be scheduled until a good-faith effort to resolve the issue informally has been made.

How to file a complaint (grievance)?

The student must submit a written, signed statement to the dean of students

Grievance complaint to dean of students contain the following:

- Student's name and PID

- Student's local address, phone number, and email address

- A detailed explanation of the facts underlying the grievance

- The name of the instructor against whom the grievance is being filed and (where appropriate) the title and number of the courses

-The date the problem arose

-The redress sought to rectify the grievance

OSSA complaints

OSSA's website now features an academic complaint form for students to file a complaint. The written statement will supplement the online form

when must you file complaints?

not later than the middle of the semester (including summer semester) following the one in which the problem that is the basis for the complaint first occurred; only extraordinary circumstances allow otherwise

Witnesses regulations

Witnesses must be members of the University community, unless the hearing board determines that they have direct knowledge of the matter at issue.

- Witnesses may be present in the hearing only when testifying.

- Witnesses will testify during the opening statements

Hearing procedures (Dean of students responsibility)

At least 5 days prior to the hearing, the dean of students shall provide the parties with written notice of the hearing.

This notice shall include:

- The names of the parties

- A copy of the request for a complaint/ grievance heating the responses to It

- The date, time, and place of the hearing

Hearing procedures (The parties responsibilities)

At least 3 days before the heating, the parties shall provide the Dean of Students with the names of their witnesses (if any) and advisor (if any)

As the advisors in the hearings we?

- You should advise your students of this and have them submit your name to the Dean of Students as soon as possible

- The advisor/attorney may be present throughout the hearing but has no voice in the hearing unless the chair of the hearing board grants the attorney or advisor a

limited voice

During the Hearing, each party shall have an opportunity to:

- Make an opening statement

- Present evidence

- Question witnesses

- Ask questions of the opposing party

- Present a rebuttal

- Present a closing statement

After both parties have presented their cases the hearing body shall...

determine whether each allegation has been supported by a preponderance of the evidence

After both parties have presented their cases the chair of the hearing board shall...

forward copies of the report to the Dean of Students who then forwards it to the parties and the appropriate unit administrator within 3 days of the hearing

When would a Academic Disciplinary hearing happen?

In cases in which a complaint is filed against an undergraduate student for academic misconduct such as Cheating, Plagiarism, etc

For an Academic Disciplinary the dean of students must...

- Promptly notify the student in writing that he or she has been accused of academic misconduct

- Will inform the student if his or her right to contest the allegation before the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board as part of the academic disciplinary hearing process

Academic Disciplinary Hearings (Student Process)

How many class days does a student have to request an academic grievance hearing to contest an allegation of academic misconduct or a penalty grade?

Ten (10) class days

What type of hearing board hears cases where a student contests an allegation of academic misconduct or a penalty grade?

The University Academic Integrity Hearing Board

Does a student need to file a complaint letter or form to request an academic grievance hearing for academic misconduct?

No, a complaint letter or form is not required.

If the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board decides a student did not commit academic misconduct, what happens to their sanctions?

The student will not face any additional sanctions based on that charge

What happens to a student's penalty grade if they are found not guilty of academic misconduct?

The penalty grade is removed.

What happens if a student is found not guilty after appealing a suspension for academic misconduct?

The suspension does not occur, and the penalty grade is removed.

When does the student's dean request an academic disciplinary hearing?

When there is a complaint involving a violation of academic misconduct.

Who meets with the student to review the academic disciplinary process when a dean requests a hearing?

The Dean of Students.

What is the purpose of the Dean of Students meeting with the student?

To review the academic disciplinary process, discuss the allegations, and ask the student to choose who will conduct the hearing.

What are the two options a student has for who conducts their academic disciplinary hearing?

1. Dean of Students, or

2. University Academic Integrity Hearing Board.

What happens if the student chooses to have a hearing with the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board?

The Dean of Students forwards the complaint to the chair of the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board.

What happens if the student chooses a hearing with the Dean of Students?

The Dean of Students proceeds with the hearing