Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: Update current academic integrity procedures regarding the roles and expectations for students, faculty, staff, and administration and address violations of academic integrity.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending chapter 504-26 WAC.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28B.30.150.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-07-088 on March 16, 2007.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 8, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 8, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 8, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: May 4, 2007.

Ralph T. Jenks

Director, Procedures,

Records, and Forms

and University Rules Coordinator

OTS-9613.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-23-159, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06)

WAC 504-26-010   Definitions.   (1) The term "accused student" means any student accused of violating the standards of conduct for students (this chapter).

     (2) The term "appellate board" means any person or persons authorized by the vice-president for student affairs to consider an appeal from a student conduct board's determination as to whether a student has violated the standards of conduct for students or from the sanctions imposed by the student conduct officer.

     (3) The term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to:

     (a) Use of ((any)) unauthorized ((assistance)) materials in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations, or giving or receiving unauthorized assistance by any means, including talking, copying information from another student, using electronic devices, or taking an examination for another student.

     (b) Use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments.

     (c) Acquisition((, without permission,)) or possession of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university faculty or staff when acquired without the permission of the university faculty or staff member.

     (d) Fabrication, which is the intentional invention or counterfeiting of information in the course of an academic activity. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Counterfeiting data, research results, information, or procedures with inadequate foundation in fact;

     (ii) Counterfeiting a record of internship or practicum experiences;

     (iii) Submitting a false excuse for absence or tardiness or a false explanation for failing to complete a class requirement or scheduled examination at the appointed date and time.

     (e) Engaging in any behavior for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class discussion.

     (f) ((Research)) Scientific misconduct. Falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, or other forms of dishonesty in scientific and scholarly research are prohibited. Complaints and inquiries involving cases of ((research)) scientific misconduct are managed according to the university's policy for responding to allegations of scientific misconduct. A finding of ((research)) scientific misconduct is subject to sanctions by the office of student conduct. The policy for responding to allegations of scientific misconduct may be reviewed by contacting the vice-provost for research.

     (g) Unauthorized collaboration on assignments.

     (h) Intentionally obtaining unauthorized knowledge of examination materials.

     (i) Plagiarism. Presenting the information, ideas, or phrasing of another person as the student's own work without proper acknowledgment of the source. This includes submitting a commercially prepared paper or research project or submitting for academic credit any work done by someone else. The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

     (j) Unauthorized multiple submission of the same work.

     (k) Sabotage of others' work.

     (l) Tampering with or falsifying records.

     (4) The term "complainant" means any person who submits a charge alleging that a student violated the standards of conduct for students.

     (5) The term "faculty member" for purposes of this chapter, means any person hired by the university to conduct classroom or teaching activities or who is otherwise considered by the university to be a member of its faculty.

     (6) The term "gender identity" means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to the person at birth.

     (7) The term "may" is used in the permissive sense.

     (8) The term "member of the university community" includes any person who is a student, faculty member, university official, or any other person employed by the university. A person's status in a particular situation is determined by the vice-president for student affairs.

     (9) The term "organization" means any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for university recognition.

     (10) ((The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

     (11))) The term "policy" means the written regulations of the university as found in, but not limited to, the standards of conduct for students, residence life handbook, the university web page and computer use policy, and graduate/undergraduate catalogs.

     (((12))) (11) The term "shall" is used in the imperative sense.

     (((13))) (12) The term "student" includes all persons taking courses at the university, either full-time or part-time, pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional studies. Persons who withdraw after allegedly violating the standards of conduct for students, who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but who have a continuing relationship with the university (including suspended students) or who have been notified of their acceptance for admission are considered "students" as are persons who are living in university residence halls, although not enrolled in this institution.

     (((14))) (13) The term "student conduct officer" means a university official authorized by the vice-president for student affairs to manage conduct complaints including the imposition of sanctions upon any student(s) found to have violated the standards of conduct for students.

     (((15))) (14) The term "university" means all locations of Washington State University.

     (((16))) (15) The term "university conduct board" means those persons who, collectively, have been authorized by the vice-president for student affairs to determine whether a student has violated the standards of conduct for students and to impose sanctions when a rules violation has been committed.

     (16) The term "academic integrity hearing board" means those teaching faculty who, collectively, have been authorized by the university or college to review an instructor's determination that a student violated university academic integrity policies and whether or not the outcome proposed by the instructor is in keeping with the instructor's published policies.

     (17) The term "university official" includes any person employed by the university, performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities.

     (18) The term "university premises" includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used, or controlled by the university (including adjacent streets and sidewalks).

     (19) The vice-president for student affairs is that person designated by the university president to be responsible for the administration of the standards of conduct for students.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-010, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-201, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

     (1) ((Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty such as:

     (a) Unauthorized collaborations on assignments;

     (b) Facilitation of dishonesty, including not challenging academic dishonesty;

     (c) Obtaining unauthorized knowledge of exam materials;

     (d) Unauthorized multiple submission of the same work; and

     (e) Sabotage of others' work.)) Academic integrity violations including, but not limited to, cheating as defined in WAC 504-26-010.

     (2) Knowingly furnishing false information to any university official, faculty member, or office.

     (3) Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any university document((,)) or record, or instrument of identification whether issued by the university or other state or federal agency.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-202, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-203, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-210, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

     (a) When a responsible instructor finds that a violation of academic integrity has occurred, the instructor shall assemble((s)) the evidence and ((assigns a grade, or takes other appropriate action, considering the academic nature of the violation)), upon reasonable notice to the student of the date, time, and nature of the allegations, meet with the student suspected of violating academic integrity policies. If the student admits violating academic integrity policies, the instructor assigns an outcome in keeping with published course policies and notifies the office of student conduct in writing of the allegations, the student's admission, and the sanctions imposed.

     (((2) The instructor shall notify the office of student conduct of the violation.)) (b) If the instructor is unable to meet with the student or if the accused student disputes the allegation(s) and/or the outcome proposed by the instructor, the instructor shall make a determination as to whether the student did or did not violate the academic integrity policy. If the instructor finds that the student was in violation, the instructor shall provide the student and the office of student conduct with a written determination, the evidence relied upon, and the sanctions imposed. The student has twenty-one days to request review of the instructor's determination and/or sanction(s) to the academic integrity hearing board.

     (2) Review.

     (a) Upon timely request for review by a student who has been found by his or her instructor to have violated the academic integrity policy, the academic integrity hearing board shall make a separate and independent determination of whether or not the student is responsible for violating the academic integrity policy and/or whether or not the outcome proposed by the instructor is in keeping with the instructor's published course policies.

     (b) The academic integrity hearing board is empowered to provide an appropriate remedy for a student including arranging a withdrawal from the course, having the student's work evaluated, or changing a grade where it finds that:

     (i) The student is not responsible for violating academic integrity policies; or

     (ii) The outcome imposed by the instructor violates the instructor's published policies.

     (c) Students who appear before the academic integrity board shall have the same rights to notice and to conduct a defense as enumerated in WAC 504-26-403 except:

     (i) Notice of hearing and written orders shall be sent to the address provided by the student in the student's request for review; and

     (ii) The written decision of the academic integrity hearing board is the university's final order. There is no appeal from findings of responsibility or outcomes assigned by university or college academic integrity hearing boards.

     (3) If the reported violation is ((a)) the student's first offense ((for the student)), the office of student conduct ((sends a warning letter to the student informing him or her that a conduct file has been created. The office of student conduct takes no additional action unless the violation is serious enough to warrant further action or the student denies the allegation(s) and requests a hearing)) ordinarily requires the student to attend a workshop separate from, and in addition to, any academic outcomes imposed by the instructor. A hold is placed on the student's record preventing registration or graduation until completion of the workshop.

     (4) ((If the student has a prior academic integrity violation, the case is handled according to the normal conduct procedures. Hearing officers for academic integrity matters are teaching faculty trained as university conduct board members. Serious or multiple violations which may result in suspension or expulsion are referred to a university conduct board.)) If the reported violation is the student's second offense, the student is ordinarily required to appear before a university conduct board with a recommendation that the student be dismissed from the university.

     (5) ((A student wishing to appeal a grade assigned by the instructor must follow academic regulation 104 in the university catalog. To view the catalog, go to the registrar's office web site at: http://www.registrar.wsu.edu.)) If the instructor or academic integrity hearing board determines that the act of academic dishonesty for which the student is found responsible is particularly egregious in light of all attendant circumstances, the instructor or academic integrity hearing board may direct that the student's case be heard by the university conduct board with a recommendation for dismissal from the university even if it is the student's first offense.

     (6) Because instructors and departments have a legitimate educational interest in the outcomes, reports of academic integrity hearing board and/or conduct board hearings shall be reported to the responsible instructor and the chair or dean.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-404, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

     (a) Warning. A notice in writing to the student that the student is violating or has violated institutional regulations.

     (b) Probation. Formal action placing conditions upon the student's continued attendance at the university. Probation is for a designated period of time and warns the student that suspension or expulsion may be imposed if the student is found to violate any institutional regulation(s) or fails to complete his or her conditions of probation during the probationary period. A student on probation is not eligible to run for or hold an office in any student group or organization; she or he is not eligible for certain jobs on campus, including but not limited to resident advisor or orientation counselor, and she or he is not eligible to serve on the university conduct board.

     (c) Loss of privileges. Denial of specified privileges for a designated period of time.

     (d) Restitution. Compensation for loss, damage, or injury. This may take the form of appropriate service and/or monetary or material replacement.

     (e) Education. The university may require the student to complete an educational project designed to create an awareness of the student's misconduct.

     (f) Community service. Imposition of service hours (not to exceed eighty hours per student or per member of an organization).

     (g) Residence hall suspension. Separation of the student from the residence halls for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified.

     (h) Residence hall expulsion. Permanent separation of the student from the residence halls.

     (i) University suspension. Separation of the student from the university for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified. More than two violations of the standards of conduct for students involving alcohol or drugs may result in a suspension of one or more semesters.

     (j) University expulsion. Permanent separation of the student from the university.

     (k) Revocation of admission and/or degree. Admission to or a degree awarded from the university may be revoked for fraud, misrepresentation, or other violation of university standards in obtaining the degree, or for other serious violations committed by a student prior to graduation.

     (l) Withholding degree. The university may withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the completion of the process set forth in this student conduct code, including the completion of all sanctions imposed, if any.

     (m) Trespass. A student may be restricted from university property based on his or her misconduct.

     (n) Loss of recognition. A student organization's recognition may be withheld permanently or for a specific period of time. A fraternity or sorority may be prohibited from housing freshmen. Loss of recognition is defined as withholding university services or administrative approval from a student organization. Services and approval to be withdrawn include, but are not limited to, intramural sports (although individual members may participate), information technology services, university facility use and rental, campus involvement office organizational activities, and office of Greek life advising.

     (o) Hold on transcript and/or registration. This is a temporary measure restricting release of a student's transcript or access to registration. Upon satisfactory completion of the conditions of the sanction, the hold is released.

     (p) No contact order. A prohibition of direct or indirect physical, verbal, and/or written contact with another individual or group.

     (2) More than one of the sanctions listed above may be imposed for any single violation.

     (3) Other than university expulsion or revocation or withholding of a degree, disciplinary sanctions are not made part of the student's permanent academic record, but shall become part of the student's disciplinary record.

     (4) In cases heard by university conduct boards, sanctions are determined by that board. The student conduct officer has the authority to assign sanctions in conduct officer hearings or cases in which the accused student takes responsibility for violations of the standards of conduct for students.

     (5) Academic integrity violations.

     (a) No credit need be given for work that is not a student's own. Thus, in academic integrity violations, the responsible instructor has the authority to assign a grade and/or educational sanction in accordance with the expectations set forth in the relevant course syllabus. The instructor's choices may include, but are not limited to, assigning a grade of "F" for the assignment and/or assigning an educational sanction such as extra or replacement assignments, quizzes, or tests, or assigning a grade of "F" for the course.

     (b) Instructors do not have authority to suspend or dismiss a student from the university.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-405, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

     (a) The university president or designee, of his or her own initiative, may direct that an appeals board be convened to review a conduct board decision without notice to the parties. However, the appeals board may not take any action less favorable to the accused student(s), unless notice and an opportunity to explain the matter is first given to the accused student(s).

     (b) The accused and the office of student conduct may explain their views of the matter to the appeals board in writing.

     (c) The appeals board shall make any inquiries necessary to ascertain whether the proceeding must be converted to a formal adjudicative hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW).

     (2) Except as required to explain the basis of new information, an appeal is limited to a review of the verbatim record of the university conduct board hearing and supporting documents for one or more of the following purposes:

     (a) To determine whether the university conduct board hearing was conducted fairly in light of the charges and information presented, and in conformity with prescribed procedures giving the complaining party a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present information that the standards of conduct for students were violated, and giving the accused student a reasonable opportunity to prepare and to present a response to those allegations. Deviations from designated procedures are not a basis for sustaining an appeal unless significant prejudice results.

     (b) To determine whether the decision reached regarding the accused student was based on substantial information, that is, whether there were facts in the case that, if believed by the fact finder, were sufficient to establish that a violation of the standards of conduct for students occurred.

     (c) To determine whether the sanction(s) imposed were appropriate for the violation of the standards of conduct for students which the student was found to have committed.

     (d) To consider new information, sufficient to alter a decision, or other relevant facts not brought out in the original hearing, because such information and/or facts were not known to the person appealing at the time of the original student conduct board hearing.

     (3) The university appeals board shall review the record and any briefing filed by the parties and make one of the following determinations:

     (a) Affirm, reverse or modify the conduct board's decision;

     (b) Affirm, reverse, or modify the sanctions imposed by the conduct board.

     (4) The appeal board's decision is entered within twenty calendar days from the date of the appeal letter. By the close of the next business day following entry of the order, the decision is provided to the accused student(s) by personal delivery or deposited into the United States mail addressed to the last known address of the accused student(s). It is the student's responsibility to maintain a correct and updated address with the registrar. The university appeal board's decision letter is the final order and shall advise the student or student organization that judicial review may be available.

     (5) The appeals board decision is effective as soon as the order is signed. A petition to delay the date that the order becomes effective (a "petition for stay") may be directed to the chair of the appeals board within ten days of the date the order was delivered to the student or placed in the U.S. mail. The chair shall have authority to decide whether to grant or deny the request.

     (6) There is no further review beyond that of the findings of responsibility or outcomes assigned by university or college academic integrity hearing boards.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. 06-23-159, § 504-26-407, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06.]

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