Item 9

Faculty Association	December 6, 2001 Denied on December 6, 2001

ITEM #9

FA 01-37:

Submitted by the Academic Standards Committee.

Proposed Amendment to Student Misconduct Sections of Student Handbook

REFER TO: STUDENT HANDBOOK 2001-2002, PAGE 26

Recommendation:
(3) Appealing a grade penalty for academic misconduct: (See Academic Integrity Code, for definitions)

~~(a)~~	The student first appeals to the faculty member involved. The student must make the appeal in writing within five (5) school days* from the time she/he is informed of the penalty.
~~(b)~~	~~A written response from the faculty member involved must be made within ten school days.~~*
(a)	A faculty member who believes that there may have been an incident of academic misconduct must:
	•	*inform the student(s) in writing, within five school days of making a determination that an incident of academic misconduct has occurred**
	•	*provide the student(s) with the opportunity to respond in writing within five school days, before taking any action**
(b)	After (a), the faculty member may do one or more of the following:
	•	refer the student(s) to the appropriate support service
	•	provide an oral or written reprimand
	•	assign a grade of F or a reduction in grade on the specific project
	•	assign a grade of F or a reduction in grade for the course
	•	if the faculty member deems the offense so serious as to warrant academic probation, suspension or dismissal, he or she may refer the charges with such a recommendation to the chairperson of the academic unit in which the student is enrolled
	•	decide that no further action is needed
The student(s) may bring any concerns related to the above sanctions to the attention of the academic department chairperson in writing, within ten school days*, with a copy to the faculty member involved.

~~If there is no resolution..~~
~~(c)~~	The student should appeal in writing to the academic department chairperson involved within ten (10) school days* after receiving a response from the faculty member. A copy of this appeal must be sent to any involved faculty
(c)	When a recommendation for probation, suspension or dismissal is brought to the attention of the academic department chairperson, he or she shall respond in writing within ten school days*, and may refer the case to the relevant dean or director. This recommendation shall be copied to the relevant student(s) and the faculty member.
~~(d)~~	A written response from the chairperson to the student and any involved faculty must be made within twenty (20) school days.*
(d)	When the recommendation in ( c ) is appealed to the attention of the dean or director, by either an administrator or a student, he or she shall:
	•	have the charges carefully reviewed, within five school days*
	•	within a further five school days* after completion of this review, notify the student, and all other relevant parties, of the dean or director's decision in writing, while also providing the student with an opportunity to respond, reminding the student of his/her right to appeal to the University Appeals Committee, and referencing the process for such an appeal, as outlined in the Student Handbook.
~~If there is no resolution...~~
~~(e)~~	The student should appeal in writing to the dean of the college through which the course is offered within ten (10) school days* after receiving a response from the chairperson. A copy of this appeal must be sent to any involved faculty member.
~~(f)~~	A written response from the dean to the student and any involved faculty must be made within twenty (20) school days.*

If ~~this response~~ the decision of the Dean is viewed as unsatisfactory by ~~any parties involved~~ the chairperson, the faculty member or the student...
(e)	~~(g)~~ A written appeal may be made within ten (10) school days* to the University Appeals Committee, the structure of which is defined in the University of North Florida Constitution. All involved parties also must receive a copy of this request for appeal.
	•	The Presiding Officer of the University Appeals Committee will promptly review the appeal, determine whether a hearing is warranted and advise all involved parties within five (5) school days* of the review.
	•	In the event a hearing is warranted, the appealing party is entitled to a prompt hearing before the University Appeals Committee. This Committee meets Fall and Spring terms only.
	•	The University will mail written notice to affected parties (and in the case of alleged academic misconduct, explanation of the specific charges being brought against the student) at least seven (7) calendar days in advance of the hearing, including date, time and location. This notice will be mailed to University officials involved in the appeal by campus mail or by personal delivery on campus. The student's notice will be mailed to the official address listed in the UNF Office of Records and Registration.
	•	Once a hearing date is scheduled and communicated, it may not be rescheduled by either involved party unless there is a documented emergency. If either the appealing party or the College Representative should fail to appear at the scheduled hearing, the hearing may proceed in his/her absence. A hearing must be rescheduled if at anytime the Committee fails to reach quorum.
	•	The hearing normally will be closed and confidential. An open hearing may be held, at the discretion of the presiding officer, if requested by the appealing party in her/his correspondence initiating the Appeals Committee hearing.
	•	Both the appealing party and the College Representative are entitled to inspect all documentary evidence which will be presented during the hearing.
	•	Each involved party may bring an advisor of her/his choice to be present at the hearing. The advisor only has the right to talk to the advisee and may not question or cross-examine witnesses or members of the panel. The Office of the Ombudsman is available to assist students with appeal procedures and act as an advisor if requested.
	•	Each involved party will be allowed equal time to present evidence (not to exceed 30 minutes each). o Each involved party is entitled to hear and question witnesses.
	•	Each involved party may present physical evidence on her/his own behalf. This evidence must be in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs within 72 hours in advance of the scheduled hearing. All evidence will be available for review by either party at least 24 hours before the hearing.
	•	The burden of proof in these matters rests on the appealing party.
	•	The decision made by the Appeals Committee shall be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing.
(f)	~~(h)~~ The recommendation made by the Appeals Committee will be forwarded to the Academic Vice President in writing within ten (10) school days* following the hearing. The recommendation will be based on a majority vote by the Committee.
(g)	~~(i)~~ The decision of the Academic Vice President or designee will be forwarded to all involved parties in writing within twenty (20) school days* of the hearing.
(h)	~~(j)~~ Any parties involved may appeal the decision in writing to the President or designee within five (5) school days* after receipt of the written decision. At the conclusion of the appeals process, the written decision of the President shall be final, and will be forwarded to all involved parties.
(4)All other academic appeals (except those relating to admission to the University) are to be made as follows:
(a)	If a faculty member is involved, then the student must first make a written appeal to the involved faculty member within one (1) year from the time she/he is informed of the decision in question. If applicable, the student must also complete a Request for Waiver of University Policy or Extension of Deadline form.

If there is no resolution... Follow steps 3(b) - (g) with the same timelines for recommendations and decisions* ~~outlined in 3(b)-(g)~~*
(b)	If no faculty member is involved, then the student must complete a Request for Waiver of University Policy or Extension of Deadline form within one (1) year from the time s/he is informed of the decision in question.
(c)	A University decision concerning the petition must be made within thirty (30) school days* from the time the form is received and the student will be sent notification of that decision within an additional ten (10) school days.*
(d)	If the student has not received a response within forty-five (45) school days* or the response is not acceptable to the student then:
(e)	Follow steps outlined in 3 (e).

* "School days" are defined as days when classes are in session, except Saturdays.