Report Academic Misconduct

Frequently Asked Questions

From The Code of Student Conduct 410.00—Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, forgery, falsification, facilitation or aiding academic dishonesty; multiple submission, theft of instructional materials or tests; unauthorized access to, manipulation of or tampering with laboratory equipment, experiments, computer programs, or animals without proper authorization; alteration of grades or files; misuse of research data in reporting results; use of personal relationships to gain grades or favors, or otherwise attempting to obtain grades or credit through fraudulent means. To learn more, please visit the Code of Student Conduct.

What steps should faculty take when they suspect an academic misconduct violation has occurred?

The following information is also available in a flowchart image

  1. Gather documentation (papers, witness statements, etc.) supporting your suspicion of academic misconduct.
  2. Review the incident with a fellow colleague, your department head, college dean and/or Dean of Students member to gain another perspective in the situation and familiarize yourself with the reporting process.
  3. Contact the student to set up a time to discuss the situation/incident.
  4. Meet with the student and discuss your perspective on what happened. Give the student an opportunity to share his/her perspective as well. You may want to consider inviting a colleague and/or Dean of Students staff member to join this meeting. It is also acceptable for the student to bring an additional support person with them, should they choose to do so.
  5. Make a determination of responsibility. If you decide that no violation of the Student Conduct Code occurred, or that there is insufficient evidence of a violation, no further action is indicated. If there is sufficient evidence of a violation, determine the appropriate sanctions. An instructor may impose sanctions from items A-F found in MSU Conduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students 430.00:
    1. Oral reprimand
    2. Written reprimand
    3. An assignment to repeat the work or an alternate assignment
    4. A lower or failing grade on the particular assignment or test
    5. A lower grade or failing grade in the course
    Or, if you believe a stronger sanction is indicated, you may refer the student to the Office of the Dean of Students.
  6. Notify the student in writing of your determination and report the violation and outcome to the Office of the Dean of Students by completing the online Academic Misconduct Reporting Form.

What happens now?

  1. If the Academic Misconduct Report shows that the present violation is the student’s second or greater incident of academic misconduct, or if you believe a sanction stronger than those listed in items A-F of section 435.00 is indicated, the student is referred to the Dean of Students.
  2. The Office of the Dean of Students determines charges in consultation with the instructor’s department. The student may either accept responsibility for the academic misconduct and agree to the proposed sanctions by signing an administrative agreement, or appeal the sanctions, resulting in a University Student Conduct Board hearing.
  3. If the student appeals the sanctions, the board or hearing officer hears the case and recommends sanctions. The Dean of Students then assigns sanctions after receiving the recommendation.
  4. The student then either accepts the sanctions assigned by the Dean of Students or appeals the sanctions, resulting in referral to the Vice President for Student Success. The Vice President for Student Success then makes the final decision on the student’s case.