Clinical Science
Honor Violation by Special Students
Honor Code Violations by Special Students Enrolled in Graduate School Courses:
Non-matriculated, non-degree students who are approved to take selected courses (including certificate program offerings) at the Health Sciences Center are enrolled as “special students.” Most courses taken by special students are Graduate School courses taught by Graduate Faculty. Special students taking Graduate School courses are expected to adhere to the honor code and should be informed of that expectation at the beginning of each course or upon entry into a certificate program. The procedures following a violation of the honor code by a special student are different than those involving a regular student in a professional or graduate degree program. The following protocol is recommended in order to provide special students with an appropriate measure of due process.
An alleged violation by a special student is first reported to or by the course instructor(s) and then to the Program Director or department head that sponsors the course(s). (In cases involving the interdisciplinary basic sciences Core Course, violations will be reported to the Dean or Associate Dean of the Graduate School.) Normally, disciplinary action should not be taken against the alleged violator until the Program Director and designated faculty have concluded their review. However, if the alleged violation threatens the welfare or safety of others or is against the law, appropriate action should be taken immediately.
The course director(s) and Program Director (or Dean / Associate Dean in Core Course cases) will review the information submitted concerning the alleged violation in a timely fashion (normally within two weeks). The alleged violator will be confronted with the accusation. If the alleged violator admits having violated the honor code, the case may be referred immediately to the Program Director (or Dean in Core Course cases) for review, consultation with course instructor(s) and other program faculty (if needed), and action. If there is no admission of wrong doing, the case will be referred to the Program Director and a Program Director-designated “honor code committee” for a hearing – normally within thirty days of the infraction being reported. (In Core Course cases, the Dean / Associate Dean may designate the course directors as an ad hoc honor code committee; in School of Nursing cases, the School of Nursing Student Honor and Conduct Committee could provide a hearing.) Legal counsel will not be present for either the student or the program parties. The hearing will adhere to the following minimum guidelines:
- Notice to all concerned parties at least one week before the hearing
- An opportunity provided for the student accused of the violation to be heard and to question the person(s) alleging the violation.
- A confidential record of the proceedings.
After considering the findings and recommendations of the honor code committee, the Program Director (Graduate School Dean in Core Course cases) will make a decision on the case in a timely manner (normally within one week) and will communicate the decision to the student, Graduate School Dean, and appropriate faculty members. If the student admits guilt or is found guilty of a violation, disciplinary actions can include a failing grade on the course exam or assignment in which cheating occurred, a failing grade for the course, prohibition against enrolling in other program or Graduate School courses, and dismissal from a certificate program.
August 28, 2003