A Note from your Advisor
Let's have a chat about Academic Misconduct.
with Josh Taylor
It’s March 5th and you’ve just received a notification from your Professor--
“I am alleging that you have engaged in academic misconduct by:
- Plagiarism
- Cheating or Assisting to Cheat
- Misrepresentation
- Unauthorized Access to or Alteration of Academic Records
- Unauthorized Possession of Academic Material
What does this mean? What should(n’t) you do?
If you find yourself in this situation it means that your instructor is alleging you of engaging in academic misconduct. The first step in the academic misconduct process at NMSU is for an instructor to report an alleged violation with supporting evidence to the Student Conduct and Community Development Office. Once notified, you should also receive a notice for an informal meeting with either your instructor or an Academic Conduct Officer (ACO) from the SCCD Office. During the informal meeting, you will be made aware of the allegations, proposed sanctions, and an opportunity to share your side of what happened. After the informal meeting you will have two options as a student: A) Accept responsibility and the proposed sanctions; or B) Request a hearing to contest findings or sanction. The hearing panel consists of three individuals (one academic administrator, one faculty member, and one student). Students are also allowed to have a student advisor who can provide guidance and/or support to you throughout the academic misconduct procedure.
If you find yourself being accused of academic misconduct you should not panic. Prepare for an informal meeting and bring any supporting evidence that might help clear your name. As an accused student, you have a right to due process and to explain yourself.
Understanding academic integrity at NMSU is crucial for your success and completion of your degree program. Academic integrity is an essential expectation for academic honesty at NMSU and an expectation that is expected to carry on with you past graduation.
