The Office of Student Academic Affairs (SAA) leads the LSA Academic Judiciary Committee and oversees the academic judiciary processes in the college. SAA promotes and maintains a high degree of academic integrity in the college and maintains LSA's Academic Integrity Website.

SAA recommends the following best practices to prevent academic integrity violations:

• Set clear expectations

  • Inform your students of course requirements and your grading policies in your syllabus. [See sample Syllabus Statements.] Include the standards of scholarship and conduct to be observed on assignments, the consequences that can result from academic misconduct, and the positive results of academic integrity on the university community and your field or profession. 

  • Explain what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it, and encourage open discussion and inquiry about LSA’s and your own expectations for academic integrity. 

  • Ensure that rules regarding collaboration, group work, and peer editing are clearly spelled out, especially when students are encouraged to work together.

• Use exam and assignment formats that discourage academic misconduct. Produce alternate versions of an exam and monitor all examinations. (CRLT Publication: Promoting academic integrity in the classroom)

• Offer alternating seating during exams. Work with your department, the college, and the Registrar’s classroom scheduling office to minimize crowded examination conditions. 

• Exemplify standards of academic integrity yourself. Be available to all students who may be struggling with coursework or an assignment.

Academic misconduct is any action or attempted action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage for oneself or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other member or members of the academic community. Examples include cheating, plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration, falsification of data, records, or documents, and aiding and abetting dishonesty. 

If you suspect academic misconduct, you have two choices for how to handle it:

Option 1: Instructor Resolution: 

Resolve the matter directly with the student and report the incident to the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education (Office of Student Academic Affairs) (Instructor Resolution Form).

An instructor resolution is appropriate when 

• • the incident is not egregious and does not warrant consequence greater than a zero on the assignment, though the student may be required to do additional, remedial work (e.g., rewrite a paper). 

  • Instructors have the authority to make decisions related to academic evaluation (e.g. reduction in grade, additional work), but only the college may issue a disciplinary action.

Option 2: SAA Resolution: 

File a complaint of academic misconduct to the Office of Student Academic Affairs (SAA Resolution), who will then adjudicate the case (Report of Suspected Misconduct Form). 

SAA Resolution is appropriate when

• the sanction may result in the student(s) failing the course, 

• the student has a previous finding of responsibility, or 

• the student is suspected of falsifying/misrepresenting academic documents.

Read more about both options: Procedures for Resolving Violations of Academic Integrity

Sometimes, students act in ways that seriously disrupt the classroom. Some points to keep in mind:

• Trained colleagues, including mental health professionals, are available to assist instructors in responding to students.

• The Office of Student Academic Affairs can help connect the student with available resources and assist you with classroom management strategies. 

• If at any point you, as an instructor, feel threatened, or there is a safety concern in your classroom, the Division of Public Safety & Security can be contacted (734.763.1131) to provide support. (Emergency: 911).

Many campus offices work together to find appropriate outcomes when classroom instructors face difficult cases. While protecting the instructional process, every effort is made to ensure that students are treated fairly and with compassion.

Who you can talk to:

Student Academic Affairs: They can facilitate the appropriate response if a student is disruptive and assist in finding a suitable outcome.

• 1213 Angell Hall

• 734.764.7297

• lsa.saa.office@umich.edu

Dean of Students: The Dean of Students Office manages critical incidents and emergencies across the university. Students, parents, faculty, and staff can contact DOS about a student struggling with a challenge or unmet need.

• 300 Michigan Union

• 734.764.7420

• deanofstudents@umich.edu

• Submit a CARE Report

UHC - Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): CAPS offers short-term personal counseling, educational, and skill-building services to students, including crisis intervention, brief personal counseling, and short-term psychotherapy.

• 3100 Michigan Union

• 734.764.8312

• https://uhc.umich.edu/counseling-psychological-services

Office of Student Conflict Resolution: OSCR offers a spectrum of conflict resolution pathways that are educationally focused, student-driven, community-owned, and restorative in nature, and adaptable to meet the needs of individuals experiencing conflict. 

• 100 Student Activities Building (SAB)

• 734.936.6308

• oscr@umich.edu

U-M Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS): DPSS can respond at any time when someone is threatened and provide consultations on how to approach situations of concern. 

• 1239 Kipke Drive

• Emergency: 911

• Dispatch: 734.763.1131

• Text: 377911 

• public.safety@umich.edu

Student Life Office of the Ombuds: The Student Life Office of the Ombuds is a place where student questions, complaints, and concerns about the functioning of the university can be discussed confidently in a safe environment. 

• 3100 Michigan Union 

• 734.763.3545

• umstudentombuds@umich.edu

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching: CRLT offers resources for managing challenging classroom conversations (e.g. guidelines for planning and facilitating discussions on conversational topics) as well as incivility in the classroom. 

• 1071 Palmer Commons

• 734.764.0505

• crlt@umich.edu

Relevant Resources from CRLT

• Disrespect and Disruption in the Classroom 

• Handling Controversial Topics in Discussion

• Students in Distress