Academic Honor Board

The Academic Honor Board (AHB) fortifies the College's commitment to academic integrity. A faculty committee with student representation reviews and adjudicates alleged violations of the honor code, ensuring consistency in interpretation, swift and impartial review of alleged infractions, and fair and equitable sanctions for confirmed violations. The AHB also serves as a resource for students, faculty, and administrators when questions concerning the interpretation of the academic honor code arise, regardless of whether an infraction is believed to have occurred. The AHB is distinct both in composition and purpose from the Honor Code Council, which is a student disciplinary board tasked with reviewing alleged violations of the honor code relating to social conduct.

Membership

The dean of studies ex officio, who shall serve as chair of the AHB.
Three additional faculty members appointed by the dean of faculty, one each from the three academic divisions of the College (humanities, science and mathematics, and social sciences).
One student recommended by the Honor Code Council and appointed by the dean of studies.

Tenure

The three faculty members shall serve staggered three-year terms, with at least two continuing members each academic year. The student may serve until graduation.

Responsibilities

Interpret the honor code in an advisory capacity for students, faculty, staff and administrators seeking clarification.
Establish and publicize clear procedures for adjudicating alleged violations of the honor code.
Receive all complaints concerning alleged academic violations of the honor code.
Review promptly all reported complaints, ensuring that a fair, consistent and confidential process is followed.
Recommend or decide on appropriate sanctions when the AHB determines that a violation of the honor code has occurred. No disciplinary action may be taken by a faculty or staff member concerning an alleged violation without prior consultation with the AHB.
Present an annual report to the faculty summarizing all cases heard and their resolution. The names of the parties involved in the cases shall be omitted to protect confidentiality.

Reporting of complaints and the Adjudication Process

Any community member who suspects a violation of the academic honor code should promptly submit a report to the AHB. Reports should contain a complete description of the incident and the identity of the alleged violator(s). Supporting material, if available, should be submitted to the dean of studies.

Submit a violation reports in . Faculty members will find the report form under “Other Administrative Functions.” Students will find the report form under “Requests & Applications.”

The information submitted on this form will be used by the Academic Honor Board to determine whether a hearing is warranted.

A. Filing a Complaint

Any community member who suspects a violation of the Academic Honor Code should promptly submit a report to the Academic Honor Board using .

B. Notification of Charges

The AHB will provide a written notification to the student accused of violating the academic honor code (hereafter the “respondent”). The notification will specify the alleged violation and the identity of the person filing the complaint (hereafter the “complainant”). The student must respond in writing to the charge within the time frame given in the notification.
The College’s primary means of communicating with students is through their ��Ƶemail accounts; students are responsible for reading and responding to all official emails sent by the College.

C. Investigation of Charges

The AHB will review the complaint and any supporting material within two weeks and determine if sufficient grounds exist for adjudication.
If the board determines there is insufficient evidence, the charges will be dismissed and the complainant and respondent will be so notified.
If the board determines there is sufficient evidence, the dean of studies will communicate with the complainant and the respondent and proceed as follows:
1. If the respondent accepts responsibility for the alleged violation and it is a first violation, the AHB will offer the option of an individual meeting with the dean of studies or a hearing before the full AHB to finalize adjudication.
2. If the respondent denies the alleged violation or if it is a repeat violation, the dean of studies will schedule a hearing with the full AHB.

D. Procedure During the Hearing

Hearings require the presence of the dean of studies, who serves as chairperson, at least two other members of the AHB, and the accused student. The respondent may request the presence of the appropriate academic dean or academic advisor, but this person may speak only with the respondent during the hearing. Additionally, the AHB may require the complainant and/or additional witnesses to appear at the hearing. The AHB may also correspond with the complainant or witnesses outside the hearing.
The chair will summarize the alleged academic honor code violation.
The respondent will respond to the allegations.
The complainant and/or witnesses (if present) will offer their account of the incident.
The respondent may offer a rebuttal to the statements of the complainant and/or witnesses.
AHB members may question the respondent, the complainant and/or any witnesses.
The complainant and/or witnesses will have the opportunity to make final statements.
The respondent will have the opportunity to make a final statement.

E. Resolution of Complaints

The AHB shall meet in closed session immediately after the end of the hearing to deliberate and render its decision.
The dean of studies shall communicate the AHB’s decision in writing to both the respondent and the complainant. The decision shall be communicated within two business days from the conclusion of the hearing.
The AHB will resolve the complaint in one of the following three ways:
1. No violation — A decision that the respondent did not violate the honor code.
2. Warning — A decision that the preponderance of evidence does not clearly confirm a violation but the facts of the case raise sufficient concern.
3. Violation — A decision that the accused student did violate the honor code as charged and is subject to sanctions.

F. Sanctions

Violations of the academic honor code are among the most serious offenses that a student may commit at ��ƵCollege. The AHB shall invoke penalties at its discretion, up to and including suspension or dismissal from the College. The number and nature of violations shall be taken into account in the deliberations of the AHB.
If a complaint filed with the AHB involves a student’s work is associated with a course, the student may not take any action(s), for example, withdraw from a course or elect the ungraded option, until the complaint is fully adjudicated.
For first violations: The AHB will consult with the faculty member in whose class the violation occurred concerning the choice of sanction, but the final decision as to which option is selected rests with the faculty member. The AHB will recommend one of the following sanctions depending on the nature and level of the first violation:
1. An F (failing grade) for the specific exam, paper or other assignment; the student may elect to withdraw from the course by the appropriate deadline, and thus lose credit for the course.
2. Expulsion from the course with a W (withdrawal) recorded on the student’s transcript.
3. Expulsion from the course with an F (failing grade) recorded on the student’s transcript.
For subsequent violations: The AHB will consult with the faculty member in whose class the most recent violation occurred, but the final decision regarding sanctions rests with the AHB. The sanctions that the AHB may impose include:
1. An F (failing grade) in the course with no opportunity to withdraw from the course or to elect the ungraded option.
2. Suspension from the College.
3. Required withdrawal from the College.
If a complaint submitted involves behavior that is not related to a student’s work in a course (e.g., marking, defacing or destroying library materials), the AHB will render the final decision and impose sanctions, if appropriate.

G. Appeals

Appeals of AHB decisions must be addressed in writing to the Office of the Dean of Faculty within five business days of the issuance of the AHB decision.
The letter must state one or both of the following grounds for the appeal:
1. Violation of fair process.
2. Availability of new evidence not presented at the hearing.
Sanctions imposed by the AHB will not be implemented until after the appeal is resolved.
The Office of the Dean of Faculty will notify the student in writing of the outcome of the appeal. If the appeal is denied, the sanctions imposed by the AHB will be implemented, and the College will consider the case closed.

Policies Governing the AHB

The AHB shall conduct all business with utmost regard for ensuring fairness at every stage of the adjudication process.
Members of the AHB who feel they have a conflict of interest involving a case shall recuse themselves.
The AHB may require the cooperation of any member of the ��Ƶcommunity in furnishing testimony or evidence directly related to the adjudication of a case.
Ordinarily, the AHB shall hear a case within two weeks of receiving a complaint. Complaints received when the AHB cannot convene a majority of its members along with the respondent (for example, during winter or summer break) may be held in abeyance until such time as the AHB may be able to convene a majority of its members along with the respondent, either on campus or by videoconference.
If the respondent fails to appear for a scheduled hearing without prior notification, the AHB may proceed with the available information and render a decision. The College will not necessarily drop charges of misconduct because an accused student leaves the College for any reason.
Hearings will be held in closed session.
Hearings will be recorded. Recordings will be used by the AHB during its deliberations and by the Office of the Dean of Faculty should an appeal be filed.
The AHB will render decisions based on the standard of “fair preponderance.” That is, in cases where the respondent denies violating the honor code and where no conclusive evidence of a violation is present, the AHB should decide — based on the available evidence and testimony — if it is more likely than not that the alleged violation occurred.
The dean of studies will maintain a written summary of all hearings, which will be included with the respective case file. Case files will be archived for seven years following a student's graduation or withdrawal from ��ƵCollege and destroyed thereafter.
Disciplinary action taken against a student beyond the first violation of cases related to academic integrity may be reported to outside institutions and agencies; cases related to late or long-overdue library materials will not be reported regardless of the level of violation.
Disciplinary action taken against a student beyond the first violation may be reported to outside institutions and agencies.

B. Rights of Students Charged with Honor Code Violations

Written notification of charges, including the identity of the complainant (if the complainant is a student, the complainant has the right to keep their identity confidential).
Presumption of innocence until found in violation by the AHB.
Resolution of charges according to established, announced and published AHB policies and procedures.
At least 72 hours’ notice of the time and place of a hearing, and the right to ask for an extension under extreme circumstances.
The right to ask questions during their AHB hearings (or meeting with the Dean of Studies if they choose to take responsibility). Students may request to see supporting materials during their meeting or hearing and will be granted this opportunity unless the privacy of another party would be compromised.
Assistance before, during, and after the hearing from the appropriate academic dean or faculty advisor.
Right to produce supporting evidence or witnesses.
Right to appeal the AHB ruling to the Office of the Dean of Faculty.
Written notification of the results of hearings and appeals.
Confidentiality regarding the outcome of the hearing and any subsequent appeal. This right of confidentiality is qualified only by the complainant’s right to be informed of the AHB’s ruling on whether a violation did or did not occur (but not necessarily the sanctions imposed, if any) and qualifications specified in Section V, A: “Policies Governing the AHB” in the section above.

Contact us

Office of Academic Deans

The Office of Academic Deans assists students with course selection and major declaration, addresses issues related to credit shortages or overloads, consults about leaves, monitors academic progress and nominates students for honors and awards.

academic-deans@mtholyoke.edu
413-538-3610
3rd floor, Mary Lyon Hall

Heather Bayne

Office Manager and Assistant to the Dean of Studies

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