Adjudication Process
Once the violation is reported to the Office of the VPAA, the
person charged will be notified in writing of the charge. The
student will be notified of the nature of the charge and will
be provided an opportunity for a hearing either before a designated
hearing officer of the College or before the College Judicial
Board. The type of hearing will be determined by the VPAA. In
most cases, a hearing officer will be assigned by the VPAA and
a disciplinary conference scheduled. However, cases will be
sent to the College Judicial Board when a past history of similar
charges exists or where the violation is egregious (e.g., the
stealing of an exam). In such cases, the penalty for a guilty
finding could include suspension or expulsion from the College.
A Judicial Board hearing is required under the provisions of
the College Code of Conduct.
Final Grades – When a student is suspected of academic
dishonesty and the case is not adjudicated prior to the official
submission of final grades to the Registrar’s Office, a
"Z" grade will be assigned by the instructor for the
course involved, using a "Z" grade form.
The following describes the individual hearing processes for
violations of academic integrity:
Disciplinary Conference – The procedures and procedural
protections provided in this Catalog and the Student Handbook
will apply. Both the complainant and the person charged will
have an opportunity to appear before the hearing officer.
Judicial Board – The procedures and procedural protections
provided for in the Catalog and Student Handbook will apply.
Charge letters will clearly indicate there is no option regarding
the type of hearing. In certain cases where the mental or physical
health of the person charged may be seriously affected by the
public proceedings of the Judicial Board, a request for adjudication
by private proceedings of the Judicial Board may be made in
writing to the VPAA. The decision to grant such a request lies
solely with the VPAA. All information pertaining to the case
will be made available to the Judicial Board for review by the
VPAA’s Office. (Note: In a Judicial Board proceeding, the
complainant must appear to present the complaint. Only under
the most unusual of circumstances would a notarized statement
of complaint be allowed to serve in the place of the complainant.)
Sanctions – In the case of a guilty finding after a disciplinary
conference, penalties may range from an official warning or
receipt of a failing grade on the suspicious paper or project,
to a failure for the course. A student may also be penalized
by being placed on disciplinary probation .The Judicial Board
may impose the same penalties, suspension for a specified period,
or expulsion from the College.
Appeal Procedures – Persons found guilty of violations
of academic integrity may appeal the decision either of a hearing
officer or the College Judicial Board to the VPAA, if certain
circumstances exist. In the case where an appeal is filed, the
imposition of the sanction may be delayed upon the written request
in the appeal letter for such action The decision on the delay
is solely at the discretion of the VPAA.
The following procedures apply to appeals:
- Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Office of the
Vice President for Academic Affairs within seven (7) business
days from the date of the letter of finding Failure to appeal
within the allotted time will render the original decision final
and conclusive.
- Appeals shall be decided only upon the record of the original
proceeding and upon the written letter of appeal. Reversals
of decisions will occur only as follows:
- if sanctions are found to be grossly disproportionate to
the offense,
- if specific procedural errors or errors in interpretations
of College regulations were substantial, or
- if new and significant evidence becomes available which
could not have been discovered by a properly conducted investigation
prior to or during the original hearing.
Retention of Records – The case files of any person found
guilty of any charges will be retained as a disciplinary record
for five years after graduation or termination from Ramapo in
the Offices of the Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs and
Student Affairs. Such records may be retained for longer periods
of time or permanently, if so specified in the letter of finding.
If the person charged is found innocent, records of disciplinary
charges in the case will be voided. |
