Faculty Resources

Franklin & Marshall's mission asserts that we will build intellect, creativity and character in our students. Our student conduct practices are built around that goal, and holding students accountable for learning and living with integrity in their academic lives is crucial in that endeavor. Below are resources to help you understand our processes, promote honor, prevent cheating and respond to incidents of academic misconduct. If you have ideas or resources you would like to share, please reach out.

Handy Links

Academic Misconduct Policy

Academic Misconduct Reporting Form 

Faculty Center resources (prevention and detection of academic misconduct)

Behavior Concerns Beyond Cheating (students of concern, aggressive behavior, etc.)

What should you know about reporting a case?

What happens when I report an incident of academic misconduct?

Your report is sent to the Dean of Students Office, where it is reviewed. A staff member will reach out to you to discuss the details and discuss the options for resolving the case. There are a variety of formal and informal ways to educate students and hold them accountable, and your consultation is valued in the process.

Are all students suspended for academic misconduct?

When behavior is repetitive or deliberate, the stakes can be high. Ideally, our response process invites a student to reflect on what happened to determine how much they understand about good scholarly work and assess what other factors may have impacted their choices. Usually it is only when a student demonstrates that they are unready, unable or unwilling to do the work required to be a student in good standing when we consider a separation.

What typically happens to a student who has been caught cheating?

Outcomes are customized depending on the type of cheating and the student's understanding of what happened and steps necessary to prevent future incidents and repair harm that was done. Disciplinary outcomes could include a Warning, Reprimand, Disciplinary Probation, Suspension or Expulsion.

What does a conduct meeting or hearing look like?

Students are invited to a meeting with an administrator, and often student and/or faculty representatives come to listen and share insights from their perspective. The student has a chance to explain what happened related to the behavior reported. Time is spent understanding the details of the incident and also the context in which the incident occurred (the whole student experience). An administrative decision is made about whether a policy violation occurred (yes/no) and what resources or response could help support the student's growth and also support the community or individuals who were impacted.

What should I say to my student?

If you have discovered something troubling, please let your student know what you found and tell them that you "asked the dean of students to take a look." Do your best not to place judgment or imply threats. This is a process meant to help them learn. Our office has some resources and templates you may find helpful if you're not sure how to start the conversation or outreach. Please don't promise any particular outcome, except to say that they should expect that they will be heard and cared about. As an example, you may discover misconduct and assume that it is quite small, but you may not realize that the student has been warned about the same violation multiple times before. 

If the cheating is quite minor, is it okay if I just talk to the student myself to avoid the disciplinary action?

Informal conversations are one of the ways we resolve some misconduct cases. If you have talked to a student about something small, just let the dean of students know, in case there is more to the story than you realize and to make a record of the intervention in case the student repeats the violation in the future.

I'm very worried about my student's well being in this process. What should I do?

We should always be mindful of students' well being. There are excellent resources to help you support your students through DipCares. You can also let the dean of students know so that they can provide supports through the conduct process.

If there is a meeting with the student to resolve the case, should I come?

If you feel that you can come and support the student's learning, help them reflect on impact and contribute to the process, please feel welcome! It's not mandatory, and in some cases, if you are feeling a sting of disappointment or frustration, and you don't think you can join as a partner, you may wish to opt out. In cases where understanding a violation (for instance cheating on a highly complicated STEM assignment or material from an assignment that an outsider might not easily understand), if you choose not to attend, you may want to provide assistance to the hearing team prior to the meeting. 

How is a student's grade impacted if they are found responsible for academic misconduct?

Decisions about grades are at the discretion of the faculty member. First, look to your syllabus. Do you have a stated policy for your class? You can always consult with the dean of students to hear about prior similar cases and options that make the best sense for you and your students.

Whom should I contact with questions?

Want to know more? Just contact the Dean of Students Office at 717.358.4000.