How Conferences Work

After discovery of an incident, the next step is for the instructor and the student to discuss the incident. Unless there are compelling reasons to bypass, the University strongly recommends this meeting, which is called an Academic Integrity Conference.

There are two reasons for holding an AI Conference:

  1. Education – The instructor explains to the student the nature of the violation. This is a learning opportunity for the student undertaken with the hope that the student will never violate the AI Code again.
  2. Fair Process – The student has an opportunity to explain his or her actions to the instructor and to either accept responsibility for the violation or request a panel hearing.

Requesting a Conference
Timely resolution of AI incidents is in the best interest of students and instructors. The conference should be held within 7 days of this request. It is suggested that instructors email the student the filled out Incident Report, so the student can prepare for the conference.

If a student fails to respond to an instructor’s request to conference, the instructor should forward the case to Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (see Report an Incident). The instructor should note the reason why the Conference was not held on the Incident Report form. For example, “student ignored requests,” “no time for conference before break,” “discussed issue with student previously,” or “student refuses to meet.”

Students have the right to opt-out of an AI Conference with the instructor and vice-versa. In this case, the instructor forwards the case to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution for follow-up (see Report an Incident). Again, the 7-day time frame is used to move the case forward to resolution. If the student fails to respond to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution’s request for response, the case will be forwarded to a hearing panel which is the maximum process right afforded to students. 

During the Conference

  • At the beginning of the conference, the student is asked to review the rights printed on the Student Response side of the Incident Report form.
  • Discuss the incident and why it violated the AI Code. Discuss the proposed sanction.
  • The student is asked to mark whether they accept responsibility or request a hearing and to sign the form. The student may pause the conference for up to two (2) business days to consider how to respond to the allegation. The student may choose to end the conference without completing the form. If the student chooses to not complete the form, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution for follow up.
    • Note: If the student fails to respond to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution’s request for response, the case will be forwarded to a hearing panel which is the maximum process right afforded to students. 

After the Conference
Instructor electronically submits the Incident Report and all relevant documents (see Report an Incident). The Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution will then process the case. *Documentation should be submitted in a PDF format only*

  • If it is a first violation and the student accepts responsibility, the final step is for the student to complete the RAISE Academic Integrity Tutorial and meet with the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity to sign the Formal Notice of First Academic Integrity Violation.
  • If the accused student either requests a hearing; does not respond to request for Student Response by both the instructor or the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution; or the violation is a second or third violation, the case will be forwarded to a hearing panel. If an instructor proposes a sanction of suspension or expulsion, then a hearing must be held even if the student accepts responsibility for the violation.