Student Role in Academic Conduct

So You've Been Referred. What's Next?

My professor told me to call (or go to) Student Conduct and Integrity—what should I do, and what can I expect?
Although your professor told you to call or go directly to Student Conduct and Integrity, that's not how the process works. Student Conduct and Integrity receives over 1,000 reports of misconduct annually, and we cannot see everyone immediately. The end of each quarter is a time that is particularly impacted; we may receive dozens of reports in one week, sometimes even in one day. It takes time to review a case before we can meet with the student. Our office will contact you by e-mail when it is time for you to make an appointment.
How are students reported to Student Conduct and Integrity?
The reporting party (usually an instructor) submits a written statement to Student Conduct and Integrity using our online reporting system and uploads any documents or other evidence related to the suspected misconduct. Student Conduct and Integrity reviews the report to determine whether it describes conduct that may be a violation of University standards. If it does, which is usually the case, Student Conduct and Integrity creates a disciplinary file and notifies the student by email that he/she needs to call our office to schedule a meeting with Student Conduct and Integrity to discuss the matter.
What if your professor has told you to come to/call Student Conduct and Integrity, but Student Conduct and Integrity has not yet received the report?
Because Student Conduct and Integrity has not received the report, we have no information about why you were referred and are therefore unable to discuss the case with you. If you call Student Conduct and Integrity for information, all we can do is explain the disciplinary process to you. Once we receive the report, the case will be assigned to a Student Conduct Specialist and you will be notified and directed to schedule an appointment with that person.
How will you know if you have been reported to Student Conduct and Integrity?
Student Conduct and Integrity will send you an email directing you to schedule an appointment with a Student Conduct Specialist. Prior to your scheduled meeting, you are encouraged to review the disciplinary process, which is outlined elsewhere on our web site. Before you call our office, please note the name of the Student Conduct Specialist who has been assigned to your case. That person's name will be the person whose name is at the bottom of your email.
What should you do after receiving an email notice that a report has been made to Student Conduct and Integrity?
You should call Student Conduct and Integrity at 530-752-1128 to schedule a meeting with the Student Conduct Specialist who has been assigned to your case. You will need to call during our regular business hours, which are 9-12 and 1-4 Monday through Thursday and 9-12 on Fridays.
What happens if I don't call to schedule a meeting by the deadline in the email?
If you do not respond, holds will be placed on your registration and transcripts. These will prevent you from adding or dropping classes, and from registering for classes the following quarter. If you are a senior nearing graduation, holds will also be placed on your graduation, diploma and transcripts. These holds will not removed until you respond and participates in the disciplinary process.

If you are out of town (on leave, summer break, or studying abroad) and cannot be back in Davis for a meeting by the deadline, you should still call or email Student Conduct and Integrity to explain the situation and request a phone appointment with the assigned Student Conduct Specialist. An in-person meeting may be required later, but you can at least have an initial discussion by phone. Ignoring an email from Student Conduct and Integrity will result in holds being placed on your student records.
Can the student have a friend or parent attend the first disciplinary meeting with him or her?
Yes. If you want to bring a friend or family member to the meeting for moral support, just let the receptionist know when you come in for your appointment. You are not required to say anything during this meeting but if you do wish to respond to the charges, you are required to speak for yourself and must speak truthfully.
What happens at the first meeting between the student and Student Conduct and Integrity?
The Student Conduct Specialist will meet with you in a one-on-one meeting, and will first explain the disciplinary process and answer any questions you have about it. Then the Student Conduct Specialist will inform you of the allegations, generally by reading the report that was submitted by the reporting party, and reviewing any additional information/evidence that was submitted. At this point, you are given the opportunity to respond and to tell the Student Conduct Specialist what you know about the situation. Although the reporting party will not be at this meeting, the Student Conduct Specialist will communicate what you say to the reporting party. The purpose of the first meeting is to see if you and the Student Conduct Specialist can reach agreement regarding what happened, and to discuss possible options for resolving the matter. As stated above, you may choose not to comment on the allegations but if you do provide information, you are expected to be honest.
What kinds of information might be submitted in support of a report to Student Conduct and Integrity?
In addition to information from witnesses (eye-witness testimony), the reporting party may submit other evidence such as tests, notes, term papers, assignments, and incident reports.
At the first meeting, does the Student Conduct Specialist decide whether you violated the rules?
No. The Student Conduct Specialist communicates what the allegations are to you, and then afterwards communicates what you have to say about the allegations to the reporting party. If you make statements that are inconsistent with what eye-witness observers have reported or are contradicted by information/evidence that has been submitted by the Reporting Party, the Student Conduct Specialist may challenge you if he/she thinks you are not being truthful. However, the Student Conduct Specialist does not have the right to simply make a decision as to whether you violated the Code of Academic Conduct.
What happens to my grade while my Student Conduct and Integrity case is pending?
No grade will be assigned to the work in question while the matter is pending, and if the issue is not resolved by the end of the quarter, a grade of "Y" will be recorded for the course. The "Y" is simply a signal to the Registrar's Office that you had a case pending with Student Conduct and Integrity at the time that grades were due, and the Y grade won't factor into your GPA. Once your case is resolved, the "Y will be changed to a regular letter grade.
Will I fail the class because I admitted to academic misconduct on one piece of work? What if I deny that I cheated/plagiarized and the case goes to a Formal Hearing and I'm found in violation at that?
Under a new Academic Senate rule that went into effect as of Fall Quarter 2018, if a student admits to academic misconduct or is found in violation of academic misconduct at a formal hearing, the instructor may assign a grade of zero or "F" to that specific piece of work OR may fail the student for the entire course. This means that a student who cheats on a homework assignment worth only 5% of the grade could fail the class if caught. If there is no violation, the student receives credit for the work they submitted.
How does getting in trouble with Student Conduct and Integrity affect me if I'm on Academic Probation?
Being on Academic Probation will not effect the outcome of a disciplinary referral. Likewise, the outcome of a disciplinary referral – even if the student is "in violation" and receives a sanction – will not effect a student's AP. If the student is in academic trouble, however, Student Conduct and Integrity may refer the student for academic advising or counseling, or may assign an educational task such as having the student meet with someone in the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers to improve his/her writing or study skills.

What could negatively effect a student on AP is the zero they would likely receive for a particular piece of work if it is established that academic misconduct occurred with respect to that piece of work. That zero would lower their grade in the course, and that could effect the student's standing with respect to their AP.

If your question hasn't been answered here, check out our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS page.

Introduction

Student conduct at UC Davis is governed by the UC Davis Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline, which contains our Code of Academic Conduct. The Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline provides the standards that students are expected to uphold and the process that the University follows when those standards may have been violated.

The UC Davis Code of Academic Conduct, adopted in 1976, builds upon an earlier, student "Honor Spirit". This spirit directs students to behave honestly, fairly, and with respect for others in all their academic endeavors. Our Code is considered a "modified honor code" because it assigns responsibility for maintaining academic integrity to students, faculty, and the administration, and each of these groups has specific responsibilities with respect to this endeavor.

Student Conduct and Integrity represents the administration, and is delegated to administer the student discipline system, promote academic integrity and enforce standards of conduct that aim to create a learning environment that is fair and equitable for all students.

The student members of the Student Conduct and Integrity Board work with Student Conduct and Integrity to uphold academic integrity and to promote responsible conduct. Although addressing misconduct and serving on formal hearing panels are difficult tasks for students, research shows that the attitude of student peers — and whether they condemn or condone cheating — are crucial in creating a campus climate that supports academic integrity. This is why Student Conduct and Integrity Board service and outreach efforts are so important.

The Role of Students under our Code of Academic Conduct

The Code of Academic Conduct makes it clear that students are equal partners with faculty and Student Conduct and Integrity in upholding academic integrity on our campus. Under the Code, student responsibilities include:

Behaving honestly, fairly, and with integrity in all their academic work.
Desisting from behaviors that are disruptive or unfair.
Taking group as well as individual responsibility for academic integrity.
Reporting any academic misconduct they see or learn about to their instructor, TA or Student Conduct and Integrity.
Ensuring that they understand ethical standards for academic work, including the rules regarding plagiarism: how to quote and cite material they use from sources and how to paraphrase correctly. Students must also be aware of class rules about whether they are permitted to work with others on graded coursework, and if so, to what extent. If students have questions about the rules or standards that apply in their course, it is their responsibility to contact their faculty or Student Conduct and Integrity. Ignorance of the rules is not considered a valid excuse.

Student Conduct and Integrity Services for Students

Student Conduct and Integrity administers the student disciplinary system with respect for the rights and welfare of the accused students, the reporting parties, and the UC Davis community as a whole. Discipline procedures protect students' right to due process, equal treatment, and privacy. Student Conduct and Integrity maintains confidential, centralized records of conduct cases so that violations are handled consistently and so that repeat offenders are sanctioned accordingly.
Student Conduct and Integrity offers students the opportunity to resolve reports of suspected misconduct through an informal process of discussion and agreement that facilitates student learning. If agreement cannot be reached, a fact-finding hearing is scheduled before the student-faculty Student Conduct and Integrity Board. After hearing evidence, the Student Conduct and Integrity Board determines whether it is more likely than not a violation occurred. Student Conduct and Integrity tries to provide trained student advisors to both parties if a formal hearing is necessary.
Student Conduct and Integrity uses procedures and sanctions designed to enhance the ethical, intellectual, and emotional growth and development of students. Students who breach the Code of Academic Conduct are encouraged to seek assistance or training through resources such as the Student Academic Success Center in order to avoid similar problems in the future. Students may also be referred for counseling through Student Health and Counseling Services or the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Intervention Services.
Student Conduct and Integrity provides students with educational materials (including this website) to promote academic integrity and responsible conduct. Student Conduct and Integrity publishes the Code of Academic Conduct and the UC Davis Policies on Student Conduct and Discipline to inform students of their responsibilities and rights.
Student Conduct and Integrity helps to support and maintain academic excellence and and a civil campus environment by enforcing student conduct standards and administering the student disciplinary system.
Student Conduct and Integrity provides leadership opportunities for students to take an active role in promoting integrity and responsible conduct through the Student Conduct and Integrity Board.
Student Conduct and Integrity provides non-clinical case management services to assist students in distress.
Student Conduct and Integrity provides consultation, information, advice, and assistance to students regarding their rights and student grievance processes.

Why Should Students Care About Academic Integrity?

Academic integrity is critical to the learning process.
Cheating and plagiarism give an unfair advantage to those who take dishonest shortcuts.
Honest work builds knowledge, skills, and self-esteem.
Cheating undermines the quality of education for everyone, and thus reduces the real value of a UC Davis education.
Cheating harms the reputation of UC Davis and diminishes the credibility of a degree from UC Davis.

What Can Students Do To Promote Academic Integrity?

Students should make sure they know campus standards for academic integrity, and that they understand the expectations for ethical behavior in each course by reading the syllabus. If they have any questions about the rules regarding proper citation or working with other students, they should contact the instructor, the Academic Success Center (SASC) or Student Conduct and Integrity.
Students need to recognize, and to reinforce in other students, the fact that academic integrity enhances the quality of education (teaching as well as learning), and is critical to the learning process. Students need to understand that honest work builds skills, knowledge, and self- esteem, while cheating and plagiarism create mistrust and resentment in our academic community.
Students should speak out and take action if they see violations of our Code of Academic Conduct because research shows that students cheat more when they believe that their peers accept or condone cheating. UC Davis students should hold their peers accountable for their behavior and refuse to tolerate dishonesty and unfairness.