Rutgers SHP - Policies

SCHOOL POLICY

Subject : STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Title : STUDENT DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES for Academic Integrity Violations Coding : 6.5.3
Category :
Responsible Executive : SHP Administration Responsible Office : SHP Administration
Adopted : June 2021 Amended : Last Reviewed : June 2021

I. Purpose
This policy describes the disciplinary policy of the School for academic integrity violations.
II. Accountability
The faculty and students are responsible for adherence to this policy. Program Directors, Department Chairs, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Dean monitor the policy.
III. Policy

The faculty of the School of Health Professions believe that all members of the academic community must observe and support high standards of honesty and integrity in all aspects of education, practice, and research.

SHP adheres to the University Policy 10.2.13 on Academic Integrity http://nbacademicintegrity.rutgers.edu/home/academic-integrity-policy/ for infractions related to unethical furthering of knowledge, specifically cheating, plagiarism, falsification, academic sabotage, and violation of research or professional ethics.


SHP also adheres to the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Policy on Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Disciplinary Procedures for matters related to an infraction of Federal, state or local civil or criminal laws and regulations; infractions of University or school policies or procedures; and professional and academic codes of honor or standards of behavior other than those listed under the University Policy on Academic Integrity. Examples may include sexual harassment, stealing, intimidation or bullying, including any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by an actual or perceived characteristic such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.

  • The Students Rights and Responsibilities for Academic Integrity Violations: Violations of academic integrity are divided into three categories: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Below is a description of each level but these lists are not meant to be exhaustive.
    • Level 1: violations may occur as a result of inexperience or lack of malicious intent
    • Level 2: violations include misconduct of a more serious character or misconduct that affects a major, significant, or essential portion of work done to meet course requirements, and was premeditated. Level 2 violations may have posed harm to others.
    • Level 3: violations represent the most serious breaches of conduct and may involve a serious violation of a professional code of conduct or include extreme cases of dishonesty or malicious intent.

For more information on the violation levels see the University Policy on Academic Integrity http://nbacademicintegrity.rutgers.edu/
IV. Procedures
  • Adjudication Procedure
    1. Level 1 Violations: As soon as a violation is discovered the course faculty should notify the Program Director and arrange for them both to meet with the student to resolve the matter informally within thirty days of the alleged infraction. If the violation has been confirmed, the faculty, along with the Program Director and/or Department’s academic integrity/professionalism committee, can assign an appropriate sanction. Sanctions may include but are not limited to assigning a zero to homework, exam, or paper in which the violation was found to occur. The Program Director will then outline the violation and sanction in writing and submit the letter to the Dean/Designee prior to sending to the student. This is to ensure the letter meets the RBHS criteria for disciplinary procedures and to confirm through the school database if the student has committed any previous violations. Upon Dean/designee approval, the PD/Chair sends the letter to the student outlining the violation and sanctions, as well as an attestation for the student to sign showing agreement with the sanctions. If the student disagrees with the violation and/or sanctions, and refuses to sign the attestation, the matter will be referred to the Dean. The Dean/Designee may then attempt to resolve the situation with the student or refer the matter to the school’s Hearing Body within ten (10) working days of the decision that the matter cannot or should not be resolved informally.
    2. Level 2 or 3 violations: For Level 2 or 3 infractions, the faculty, program director or Chair may initially meet with the student to establish the facts of the violation. However, these violations must be reported to the Dean in a detailed letter describing the infraction within 30 days of discovery. Students will receive notification that the incident is being forwarded to the Dean/Dean designee. Since Level 2 or 3 violations are more serious in nature than Level 1 violations, they must be adjudicated by the Dean or his/her Designee. As with contested Level 1 violations, the Dean/Designee may decide to attempt to resolve the matter with the accused or refer it to the school’s Hearing Body within 10 working days from when it was determined that the matter could not or should not be resolved informally.
    3. At the Dean’s discretion the awarding of a degree or certificate may be delayed pending the outcome of any disciplinary procedure.
    4. Written records must be kept of any action.

  • Procedures related to the SHP Hearing Body
    1. The Hearing Body shall forward to the accused and the complainant written notice of the complaint and of the time, date, and place of the hearing, which shall be held within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of a request from the Dean/Designee. The Hearing Body shall hear the complaint and make written recommendations for action to the Dean.
    2. The Hearing Body shall consist of at least three members, two of whom must be students, and at least one of whom must be a faculty member who was not directly involved in the matter under consideration. Remaining members of the committee may be faculty or students.
    3. The Chair of the Hearing Body will request submission of documents outlining the alleged violation to be received at least 5 working days prior to the hearing. Witnesses to appear at the hearing may be called by any participant and the Hearing Body may conduct as many sessions as necessary to complete its hearing procedures within forty (40) days. The Hearing Body deciding a case must not be informed of any prior violations for which the accused student may have been found responsible for until after a decision on responsibility has been made but before a sanction is assigned.
    4. The accused student may seek legal counsel and either the student or his/her legal advisors may submit any documents or evidence related to the matter at any time prior to the conclusion of the Hearing Body. Student’s legal representation shall not be permitted to appear at the proceedings but may be present outside the hearing room to consult with the student if requested by the student. However, the student may bring a non-attorney advocate during the hearing to consult privately with and to present a final statement on the student’s behalf if requested.
    5. The burden of proof shall rest with the complainant and the standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence standard, (i.e. it is more likely than not that the student committed the violation).
    6. The Chair of the Hearing Body may seek advice from the Office of General Counsel on any procedural matters to ensure that all allegations, witnesses, and if requested by the Hearing Body, the complainant, are all heard. The accused shall be allowed to be present during all testimony.
    7. Testimony, with the exception of any deliberations, during the hearing shall be recorded. Transcription by a court stenographer may be requested by the student and paid for by the student.
    8. The Hearing Body must complete their proceedings within forty working days of the commencement of the hearing and submit to the Dean, with copies to the complainant and the accused, their recommendations within seven (7) working days thereafter. The Hearing Body recommendations are supported by a majority vote and must report the total vote tally without reference to the individual votes.
    9. The student may seek the advice of faculty or students who are not involved in the matter and who do not hold an administrative position.
    10. Within five (5) working days of receipt of the Hearing Body’s recommendation, any party may submit written exceptions to the Dean.
    11. The Dean/designee must render a final decision within thirty (30) working days of the last submission by any party of written exceptions. The decision shall be rendered earlier if the accused student is expected to graduate before the expiration of this thirty working day period.
    12. Within five (5) working days of receipt of the Dean’s decision, the accused student may submit a written appeal to the RBHS Chancellor who will have thirty (30) working days to render a non-appealable decision.

  • Recommendations from the Hearing Body may include any of the following
    1. Dismissal of charges and removal of the complaint from University records
    2. Reprimand with a copy of the letter placed in the student’s file
    3. Probation-a specific period of time during which conditions may be placed on the student’s enrollment
    4. Suspension-a specific period during which the student is barred from enrollment
    5. Dismissal-the severing of the affiliation between the student and the school
    6. Temporary withholding of degree or certificate
    7. Degree or certificate revocation
    8. See University Policy 10.2.13 for additional disciplinary sanctions. https://policies.rutgers.edu/view-policies/academic-%E2%80%93-section-10

  • Withdrawal and Assignment of Grades during the Disciplinary Process
    Once a student has been notified of an alleged violation of academic integrity related to a course, the student may not drop the course until the disciplinary process is completed. Students may request permission to withdraw retroactively from the course after the disciplinary process is completed unless the sanction issued includes an F in the course. If the student wishes to withdraw from all courses while a case is pending, that request must be approved by the Dean of the school in which the student is enrolled.

    Students will not be expelled from the school prior to the completion of the disciplinary hearing procedures unless the Dean/Designee feels the continued presence of the student poses a substantial and immediate danger to the safety of other students, faculty, or staff. Additionally, students will be able to continue with didactic coursework but may be suspended from clinical work until the completion of the proceedings.

    If a faculty member must submit a final course grade before the disciplinary process for an alleged violation of academic integrity is completed, the accused student shall be given a NG grade until the disciplinary process is completed.

  • Record-Keeping
    1. All communication to the accused student shall be sent through certified mail, return receipt requested, or by another method providing confirmation of delivery, and maintained by the school for 7 years.




STUDENT DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES for Academic Integrity Violations
     Amended: