Students must be honest in all their endeavors of academic matriculation at Jackson State University. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other act of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. In cases where evidence is sufficient to establish that a student cheated or was otherwise dishonest in completing a test, paper, report, etc., the penalty will range from repeating the assignment to expulsion from the University.

Procedures:

• The instructor discusses with the student any evidence of dishonesty with tests, assignments, or other requirements and the resulting consequences (e.g., based on documented sound evidence, the instructor may require the student to repeat the assignment, complete an alternate assignment, or record a reduced grade of “F” for the assignment; based on circumstantial evidence, the Instructor may talk with the student about the importance of honesty in the academic environment).
• The student is expected to accept established consequences for acts of dishonesty and hopefully, pledge to refrain from committing any further acts of dishonesty. In the face of circumstantial evidence, it is expected that the student will show the instructor respect in discussing the matter and come to understand the importance of avoiding the appearance of dishonesty.
• If the student disagrees with an instructor’s charge of academic dishonesty and the subsequently imposed penalty, the student must make a written appeal to the department chair for relief.
• The chair, in consultation with appropriate individuals or through a committee structure, secures documentation of dishonesty, determines if the charge is valid and/or the penalty is reasonable, or if the evidence is suspect and the charge and penalty should be dropped. The chair submits a written response to the student within ten days.
• If the student disagrees with the chair’s decision, the student will submit a written appeal to the college dean within ten days.
• The dean provides the final written response within ten days, which may be done with committee input and/or in consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
• Students who commit repeated acts of dishonesty may be referred to The Division of Student Life with a recommendation for suspension from the University.

Note: In any case of alleged academic dishonesty, the disciplinary process should be initiated within ten days and handled in a professional manner.