04:03:02:00 Academic and Classroom Misconduct

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to create a policy addressing academic and classroom misconduct and the appeal process at Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC).

Scope:

DSCC students are expected to maintain proper academic and classroom behavior.

Policy:

Classroom Misconduct: The instructor has ultimate control over classroom behavior and may eject from the classroom any student engaged in disruptive conduct. The instructor shall report the incident to the Dean of Student Services and the Division Dean. The Dean of Student Services, or his/her designee, will meet with the instructor and the Dean to determine the appropriate action before the next class period. If there is a disagreement as to readmission, the student will be excluded from the classroom pending a hearing. If there is agreement for readmission, the student will be readmitted subject to disciplinary action.

When it is determined that the student should not be readmitted, or where is disagreement, the Dean of Student Services will arrange a hearing. The hearing should be done before the Dean of Arts and Sciences; The Dean of Career, Technical and Distance Education, or the Dean of Nursing; the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success, the Dean of Student Services or designee; and the SGA President or Vice President. The purpose of the hearing will be to determine whether the student will be readmitted to the classroom. The hearing must be conducted within five (5) class days.

When a student is readmitted and circumstances warrant, the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success may initiate formal disciplinary charges as set forth in the section entitled “Disciplinary Procedures” of the DSCC Catalog and Student Handbook. An appeal is available to the President of the College.

Academic Misconduct: Plagiarism, cheating, fabrications and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly, through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition, students guilty of academic misconduct are subject to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the college disciplinary procedures. Disciplinary sanctions will be imposed only through the appropriate college student disciplinary processes.

Proceedings concerning academic misconduct may be initiated by a faculty member or student as provided:

  1. Request a hearing: A faculty member who has good cause to believe that a student has engaged in academic misconduct in connection with a course taught by the faculty member or an examination proctored by the faculty member, or his or her designee, may request a hearing of the allegation of academic misconduct by contacting the Dean of Arts and Sciences; the Dean of Career, Technical and Distance Education or the Dean of Nursing.
    1. A student found responsible for academic misconduct by the Dean of Arts and Sciences; the Dean of Career, Technical and Distance Education or the Dean of Nursing may be awarded a grade of “F” for the course, assignment, or examination at issue, and is also subject to additional disciplinary sanctions outlined in the DSCC Catalog and Student Handbook.
    2. The Dean of Arts and Sciences; of Career, Technical and Distance Education or the Dean of Nursing will recommend sanctions to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success who will make the final decision concerning sanctions.
  2. Summary Discipline: A faculty member who has good cause to believe that a student engaged in academic misconduct in connection with a course taught by the faculty member or an examination proctored by the faculty member, or his/her designee, may choose to exercise Summary Discipline as outlined below.
    1. A student’s grade in the course or the assignment or examination affected by the alleged academic misconduct may be lowered to any extent, including a grade of “F”.
    2. When a faculty member exercised Summary Discipline, the faculty member shall notify the Dean of Arts and Sciences; the Dean of Career, Technical and Distance Education or the Dean of Nursing of the action. The Dean of Arts and Sciences; the Dean of Career, Technical and Distance Education or the Dean of Nursing shall notify the student in writing of the faculty member’s exercise of Summary Discipline and advise the student of his or her right to appeal the Summary Discipline to the Student Affairs Committee.

Student Appeal of Summary Discipline: A student may appeal an exercise of Summary Discipline by a faculty member to the Student Affairs Committee. To initiate an appeal of Summary Discipline, the student must contact the Dean of Student Services or Vice President Academic Affairs and Student Success within five (5) class days of receipt of notification of summary action.

  • A student who is found responsible for academic misconduct will not be permitted to withdraw from the course to avoid Summary Discipline.
  • A student who is found responsible for academic misconduct may be subject to additional educational sanctions imposed by Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.

Multiple Acts of Academic Misconduct: A student who receives more than one “F” as a result of Summary Discipline may be summoned to appear before the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success. for the College and may be subject to additional disciplinary sanctions as described in the DSCC Catalog and Student Handbook.

Student Affairs Committee: This DSCC standing committee is charged with regulating and administering the affairs of the student body which are co-curricular with the instructional area. Specifically, the Committee shall be responsible for the following six primary areas:

  1. Establishing and revising the guidelines within the “Student Handbook contained in the college catalog.” These standards include guidelines for the Student Government Association (SGA), student conduct, organizations, group activities, automobile registration and parking, health and safety, and the social program.
  2. Planning and coordinating all student co-curricular activities such as intramural sports, dances, concerts, lyceum programs, clubs and organizations, and social activities.
  3. Establishing and reviewing policy for all student publications and meeting as required if problems arise concerning stories, editorials, pictures, or advertisements in any official college publication. The editors of these publications will be invited to attend these meetings when appropriate.
  4. Selecting and bringing to the DSCC campus groups and individuals who will provide to the student body and members of the community a high level of cultural, educational and entertaining experiences.
  5. Accepting and reviewing nominations and making recommendations based on established criteria for the recipients of Who’s Who Among Students in Community and Junior Colleges Award.
  6. Reviewing charges and recommending judgments relative to the student whose behavior on and off campus is considered harmful to the College. Specifically, this Committee shall handle matters pertaining to students who violate guidelines and rules found in the Student Services section of the College Catalog. Discipline cases will be referred to this committee by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success. when it appears that disciplinary action may be warranted. The Student Affairs Committee will make recommendations through the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success. for final approval.

The Committee shall recommend the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success. all major changes which pertain to and affect the activities of all DSCC students.

The Student Affairs Committee will consist of:

  • At least three faculty members with one from the Performing Arts area.
  • At least one student designated by the Dean of Student Services
  • Student Activities Coordinator
  • Assistant Dean of Student Services
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success., ex officio
  • Dean of Student Services, ex officio
  • Director of Financial Aid, ex officio
  • President, ex officio
  • The chairperson of the committee will be elected by committee members.

Student Affairs Committee Hearing: There must be a quorum to hear appeals unless a student voluntarily and knowingly waives the right to a quorum. The Committee shall limit its consideration of the appeal to the issues put forth in the written appeal and may not consider issues outside of the scope of the written appeal. In addition, the Committee, at its discretion, may ask both sides to make an oral presentation before the Committee. The appellee (or student) shall have no right to appear before the Committee without being requested to do so by the Committee.

The Dean of Student Services shall prepare a summary of the proceeding before the original hearing body that may be considered by the Student Affairs Committee. The appealing student shall have a right to review the summary and submit a response challenging any statements in the summary.  At the request of the Chair of the Student Affairs Committee, the Dean of Student Services or his or her designee may attend a hearing of the Student Affairs Committee to answer any questions concerning procedure at the original hearing.

Except as stated and as required to explain the basis of new evidence, an appeal shall be limited to review of the record of the initial hearing and/or supporting documents for one or more of the following purposes:

  1. To determine whether the original hearing was conducted fairly in light of the charges and evidence presented and in conformity with prescribed procedures giving the accused student a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present a rebuttal of those allegations.
  2. To determine whether the sanction(s) imposed were appropriate for the violations of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities which the student or organization was found to have committed.
  3. To consider new evidence sufficient to alter a decision or other relevant facts not brought out in the original hearing if such evidence and/or facts were not known to the person appealing at the time of the original hearing.

The Student Affairs Committee, after granting the petition for appeal, shall recommend one of the following to the Vice President for the College who will make the final decision:

  1. Uphold the decision of the hearing body, including any sanction(s);
  2. Uphold the decision of the hearing body, but impose a lesser sanction;
  3. Remand the case to the hearing body for further consideration on the specific issue(s); or
  4. Reverse the decision of the hearing body.

A student may petition the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success for review of the appropriateness of any determination of the hearing body which has been affirmed or sustained by the Dean of Student Services, include those sustained with modification by the Student Affairs Committee, within five (5) working days of notice of the decision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.

Committee Hearings shall be conducted in the following manner:

  1. Hearing shall be conducted in private in order to protect the confidential nature of the proceedings. In hearing involving more than one accused student, the Dean of Student Services at his or her discretion, may permit the hearings concerning each student to be conducted separately.
  2. The complainant and the accused have the right to be assisted by any advisor they choose, at their own expense. The advisor may be an attorney. The accused is responsible for presenting his/her own case, and advisors are not permitted to speak or to participate directly in any hearing before a judicial body.
  3. DSCC, the accused and the Student Affairs Committee shall have the privilege of presenting witnesses, subject to the right of questioning by the Committee.
  4. Pertinent records, exhibits and written statements may be accepted as evidence for consideration by the Committee at the discretion of the chairperson.

There shall be a written recording of the hearing before a Student Affairs Committee. The record shall be the property of the College.

Hearings shall proceed in the following order:

  1. Reading of the alleged violation(s);
  2. The student’s denial or admission of the alleged violation(s);
  3. Presentation of evidence by the faculty member and questions by the student charged and/or the Committee;
  4. Presentation of evidence by the student charged and questions by the faculty member and/or the Student Affairs Committee; and
  5. Closing statements by both parties.

After the hearing, the Committee shall determine by majority vote whether the student is or is not guilty of the violation for which the student is charged.

  1. The Committee’s determination shall be made on the basis of whether it is “more likely than not” that the accused student committed the violation.
  2. The Committee will submit its decision to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success. who will make the final decision and notify the student in writing of the decision within five (5) days of the Committee’s decision. Every attempt will be made to verbally notify the student of the decision prior to the five-day period.
  3. No student may be found to have violated the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities solely because the student failed to appear before the Student Affairs Committee.
  4. In all cases, the evidence in support of the charges shall be presented and considered.

Compliance:

All DSCC faculty, staff and students are expected to adhere to this policy.

Definitions:

Cheating: Includes, but is not limited to:

  • use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations;
  • Use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests or examinations;
  • Dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying other assignments;
  • The acquisition, without permission, of test or other academic material before such material is revealed or distributed by the instructor;
  • The misrepresentation of papers, reports, assignments, or other materials as the product of a student’s sole independent effort, for the purpose of affecting the student’s grade, credit, or status in the College;
  • Failing to abide by the instructors of the proctor concerning test-taking procedures; examples include, but are not limited to, talking, laughing, failure to take a seat assignment, failing to adhere to starting and stopping times, or other disruptive activity;
  • Influencing, or attempting to influence, any College official, faculty member, graduate student or employee possessing academic grading and/or evaluation authority or responsibility for maintenance of academic records, through the use of bribery, threats, or any other means or coercion in order to affect a student’s grade or evaluation;
  • Any forgery, alteration, unauthorized possession, or misuse of College documents pertaining to academic records, including, but not limited to, late or retroactive DSCC Change of Registration or DSCC Withdrawal forms. Alteration or misuse of College documents pertaining to academic records by means of computer resources or other equipment is also included within this definition of “cheating”.

Plagiarism: Includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full or clear acknowledgement.  It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

Academic Misconduct: Includes, but is not limited to, all acts of cheating and plagiarism.

Disruptive Conduct: Conduct which may include, but is not limited to, intentional interference with the normal classroom procedure or presentation of the instructor or other student(s), and/or interference with other student’s right to pursue coursework.

Fabrication: Unauthorized falsification or invention of any invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

Student: Any person who is admitted and/or registered for student at DSCC for any academic period. This shall include any period of time following admission and/or registration, but proceeding the start of classes for any academic period. It will also include any period which follows the end of an academic period through the last day for registration for the succeeding academic period, and during any period while the student is under suspension from the institution. Finally, “student” shall also include any person subject to a period of suspension or removal from campus as a sanction which results from a finding of a violation of the regulations governing student conduct.

Revision History:

Policy written September 2011; approved by Administrative Council on 09/30/2011. Policy revised October 2016; approved by Administrative Council on 02/23/2023.