What to do if a student violates the Academic Code of Conduct

1. Assign a grade of 0 for the assignment or an F for the course.
2. Meet with the student to discuss the violation. This is important since many students indicate they do not fully understand what they have done nor the consequences of the violation.

3. Within 10 class days of assigning the grade, you must draft a letter addressed to the student. This letter must include the following:

• A specific description of the violation
• A brief narrative of the conversation with the student regarding the incident
• A description of the sanction (e.g. a 0 for an assignment or F for a final grade)
• A statement informing the student that he or she has the right to appeal the decision as outlined in the academic code of conduct
• An explanation that upon the accumulation of three violations, a hearing of the University Judicial Board (UJB) shall be convened
• Supportive evidence (i.e., copies of tests, papers, etc.).

A copy of this letter must be sent, either electronically (email) or by campus mail, to:

• The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (Tim Lintner: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

What the student can do

1. The student may accept the penalty imposed by the faculty member for violating academic integrity.

2. The student may appeal the penalty to the University Judicial Board. The student must request a hearing by the University Judicial Board (UJB) in writing. The student’s written request for a hearing should be sent by certified mail, hand-delivered or via email to the Academic Judicial Officer Tim Lintner (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Such a request must be submitted within ten class days of being made aware of a penalty for violating academic integrity (that is, receipt of the violation letter).

Sample Letter to Student

Date

Dear (Student Name):

This letter serves to inform you that you have received a/n (0 for the assignment or F for the course) for (state the specific assignment/quiz/test, etc.). In examining your (assignment/quiz/test, etc.), I noticed that (be extremely specific in describing the violation and any consequences surrounding it. For example, “section A of your assignment was taken directly from page 59 of the textbook.” Or “the tables you used were copied from an article published in 2016, accessible via a simple Google search”). I have attached supporting material to this letter (if warranted and accessible).

As per USC Aiken policy, a copy of this letter is being forwarded to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Copies will be also forwarded to your School/College Dean and Department Chair as well as your academic advisor. The accumulation of three (3) such letters will initiate a hearing by the University Judicial Board.

You have the option of accepting this penalty, or you may appeal this penalty to the University Judicial Board. Should you elect to pursue the latter option, you must submit a written request for a hearing to the Campus Judicial Officer, Dr. Tim Lintner (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), within 10 class days of your receipt of this letter.

Sincerely,

(your name)