Common Questions

It is expected that faculty will refer students suspected of violating Academic Standards to the Academic Standards Office.  The process is designed to protect the faculty member from false accusations of bias and to allow a student the opportunity to respond to allegations. Keep in mind that this requirement should not be confused with the professor’s autonomy to determine what situations are simple grading issues, and which are actual attempts at academic dishonesty. If you are unsure, please contact our office to consult a staff member.  Also, refrain from submitting a grade for the assignment or the course until after the case ends. 

Faculty members should submit a referral via our online referral portal.  Faculty should also include the syllabus for the course, and all materials relevant to the case that they deem necessary to show that an alleged violation took place.  These materials can include Safe Assign reports, copies of documents the student is alleged to have used in their materials, photos, witness statements, or other information they deem relevant. If a document referenced in your referral form is missing, our staff will contact you to ask if you plan to include it but will not ask about information you fail to reference or provide.  Keep in mind the student is allowed access to all the material you submit in a referral to prepare a response to your referral.   Please note a failure to do so may result in your case being dismissed against the student. For additional information, please reference the “Academic Standards Referral” section of the website. 

Sanctions vary due to the nature of the violation. As of August 2024, the institution has implemented a university wide sanctioning matrix. This can be found in the Academic Standards section of this website.  

• Suspension or permanent dismissal from Mason may be assigned for first violations depending on the circumstances and nature of the violation, or if a student has a previous finding of ‘In Violation’ of the Academic Standards (previously the Office of Academic Integrity). 

• Typical educational sanctions include Writing Center visits or a module that provides additional education to students about Mason’s Academic Standards. 
• In order to assist office staff in assigning the appropriate level designation to the allegation you are referring, please include the nature of the assignment as well as how much it impacts the grade (i.e. how many points total vs how many points is the assignment worth)

• Every student will have their case heard through the Academic Standards process. If the student disputes the charge(s), their case will be heard in accordance with the Academic Standards Office policies as spelled out in Academic Standards code. 

•  If the case requires an in-person hearing, it is scheduled around the student’s class schedule. To observe a timely process, referring parties are asked to be present at the hearing. If you are unable to appear via Zoom, we can arrange for you to phone in. If you are unable to appear at all, please note that we may have to proceed with the supporting information you have provided, especially in cases where the process is preventing a student from graduating or proceeding forward in their course of study.  

• The panel or administrative hearing officer will consider all written documentation and all oral presentations from both parties. They will then deliberate in private and decide the outcome based on the facts of the case. 

No. All matters involving Academic Standards and violations of the Academic Standards Code must be submitted to the Academic Standards Office. Handling such matters without allowing the students to defend themselves against allegations violates university policy. If legal action were to be taken, you would not be protected by the Office of University Counsel