This policy applies to all students enrolled at Mid Michigan College. It can be used by any instructor who has evidence or believes that evidence exists to show that a student has committed an act of academic misconduct. Academic misconduct is defined as any activity that compromises academic integrity or subverts the educational process. It includes, but is not limited to, the following.
- Violation of rules contained in the course syllabus.
- Violation of College rules regarding the use of academic facilities, including labs and testing centers.
- Using or providing unauthorized information, materials, or devices during exams.
- Using or providing unauthorized assistance in labs, on fieldwork, or on a course assignment.
- Falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in creating or reporting laboratory or research results.
- Falsification, fabrication, or dishonesty in creating any assignment.
- Alteration or attempts to alter grades or other academic records or forms.
All members of the Mid Michigan College community are ethically bound to report suspected cases of academic misconduct. Academic misconduct should first be reported to the instructor. If the complaint is received by an individual other than the instructor, the complaint should be forwarded to the instructor as soon as possible. The process for filing a complaint of academic misconduct is detailed below. During this process, the burden of proof is on the instructor making the charge.
Filing an Academic Misconduct Complaint
An instructor has original jurisdiction over any instances of academic misconduct that occur in a course that the instructor is teaching. If the instructor is aware of an alleged act of academic misconduct, the first step should be to investigate the matter as thoroughly as possible.
If the facts of the incident are not disputed by the student, the instructor may elect to resolve the matter at that level by levying a sanction no greater than an F for the course. If the incident is in dispute, or if the instructor believes sanctions greater than a failing grade should be considered, or if the instructor believes the case should be formally documented, then the instructor should submit an Academic Misconduct Report.
The report must be filed within 14 days of verifying the act of misconduct. Concluding that an act of misconduct has occurred should be based on a preponderance of information standard. If the student chooses to dispute the charge of academic misconduct, they must file an appeal within 14 days of being informed of the misconduct or being assigned a penalty, whichever occurs last.
An investigator, usually the Academic Dean responsible for the course in question, will be assigned to the case by the Provost. The investigator will complete the following process.
Informal Resolution
- When possible, the investigator will attempt to reach an informal resolution to the grievance by mediating communications between the involved parties. If both parties agree to the informal resolution, the process ends here. If an informal resolution is not reached within 30 days of the filing of the complaint, the investigator will inform the Provost, who will initiate the formal/administrative resolution process.
Formal/Administrative Resolution
- The Provost will investigate or appoint an investigator to interview the involved parties, examine any documentation provided by the parties, and interview any witnesses suggested by the parties. Using a preponderance of evidence standard, the Provost will make a determination within 30 days of the start of the formal resolution process, or if the facts are unclear, may refer the case to an Appeals Committee. If no referral is made, the process ends here.
Appeals
- Within 14 days of the appeal referral, the Provost will appoint an Appeals Committee made up of at least three instructors. If possible, at least one instructor selected should be from the academic discipline in question, and at least one instructor should be from outside the discipline. The appeals committee will hold a hearing within 30 days of its formation, during which both the student and the instructor who assigned the grade will be allowed time to state their case. No one other than the student or the instructor may speak at this hearing, but written accounts from witnesses will be accepted if notarized or verified by the investigator assigned to the appeal. If the student or the instructor who assigned the grade is not available for a face-to-face hearing, technology such as Skype, Zoom, or a conference call may be used. At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee will consider the evidence presented and will vote to both accept the appeal and assign a new grade or deny the appeal. The results of this decision will be reported in writing to the student, the instructor who assigned the grade, the affected Dean, and the Provost. The decision of the committee is final and may not be appealed further.