Academic Misconduct Process at KSU

Section including information on Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Process, the Academic Misconduct Flowchart, and TurnItIn.com.

Academic Misconduct

The Academic Misconduct Resolution Flow Chart provides a visual illustration of the modes of resolution of alleged academic misconduct. The flow chart is intended to provide a brief overview of the Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity's (SCAI) misconduct resolution procedures.

VIEW Academic Misconduct Flowchart

An overview of Frequently Asked Questions by Faculty members. 

  • What Do I Do and How Do I Do It?
    • Professor detects alleged academic misconduct.
    • Professor contacts Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity (SCAI) for advice and information about student鈥檚 prior record. Phone: 470.578.3403 or email: scai@kennesaw.edu
    • Professor may conduct informal resolution meeting with student by him/herself or with the help of a facilitator.
    • Professor sets informal resolution meeting with student (this may take place at SCAI conference room, if coordinated with SCAI Department).
    • Professor or facilitator explains the structure of the meeting.
    • Professor reviews the section of the Student Code of Conduct the student has allegedly violated and explains the nature of the accusation, providing all available evidence.
    • Accused student receives opportunity to explain the situation and provide any evidence relevant to the explanation.
    • Professor should wait until the student is finished to ask clarifying questions, providing reciprocal courtesy for the student鈥檚 silence during the initial charge explanation.
    • If student denies misconduct, professor determines if the explanation is satisfactory, in which case charges may be dropped. Educational dialogue should still usually take place prior to adjourning meeting.
    • If student accepts responsibility, professor moves to educational dialogue on academic misconduct prior to discussion of sanctions.
    • Educational dialogue should address the specific allegations as well as broader issues of academic misconduct.
    • Following the dialogue, the professor states the academic sanctions deemed appropriate to the offense and explains the decision, taking the student鈥檚 cooperation in the conference into consideration as a factor in determining severity.
    • If student accepts responsibility, the professor completes the electronic academic integrity incident form. A representative from SCAI then sends a confirmation email to the student's KSU email that states the charge and resolution. The student has 5 business days after this confirmation letter is sent to contact SCAI if he or she believes that the case has not been resolved as stated.
    • Professor explains purpose of centralized records.
    • If student denies misconduct and professor remains unconvinced, the meeting is immediately concluded and the matter referred to the Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity for a formal hearing.
    Running a Successful Informal Resolution Meeting
    • Don鈥檛 take the issue any more personally than necessary. Stay professional.
    • Have a neutral third party present to witness the meeting, if possible, as a safeguard against litigious students or challenge to decision, probably either a department chair or a SCAI Department staff member.
    • Don鈥檛 allow the meeting to be derailed by irrelevant information; keep the dialogue focused.
    • Expect emotional displays. Have a box of tissues handy.
    • Be open to the possibility of a misunderstanding. Do not prejudge.
    • Be consistent in sanctioning violations from student to student, but do not apply 鈥渃ookie-cutter鈥� mentality to response.
    • Point out resources to help students avoid future such problems (tutoring labs, office hours, etc.).

General Misconduct

Student Codes of Conduct Violation - What do I do about a Disruptive student in the classroom?

A faculty member is responsible for the management of the classroom atmosphere so that all students in that class have an opportunity to participate in the learning process. Free exchange of ideas through appropriate dialogue is a necessary and important part of the learning process. Outside the classroom, other areas of the campus provide support services, which are also important to the total learning process. Sometimes a faculty or staff member may be in a situation where the conduct and behavior of a particular student(s) impedes the natural and necessary learning process, and needs to address such behavior.

All incidents of alleged violations of the KSU Student Codes of Conduct shall be reported to the Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity (SCAI). Faculty, staff, or students who are witnesses to or victims of incidents of alleged violation of the KSU Student Codes of Conduct can .

  • In situations where a student's conduct poses imminent danger to the health and safety of themselves or others, immediately contact the KSU Police at 470.578.6666 to remedy the situation.

    Upon resolution of the immediate threat, submit a 鈥淩ed Flag Report鈥� to the Behavioral Response Team. Please be aware that submitting this report is not a notification to the police department, and the report may not be able to be reviewed until the next available business day. Again, if there is an immediate cause for concern please contact Campus Police.

    BRT and/or SCAI staff will evaluate the report and advise as to the appropriate course of action in each situation.

  • If the situation is not imminently dangerous to the safety and well-being of those present, the faculty or staff member is to manage the immediate situation by addressing the misconduct and asking for it to stop. If the disruptive behavior does not stop, then require the student(s) to meet specific criteria (i.e. not speaking during the remainder of the class period, leaving the classroom or office area immediately, etc.). It is recommended the faculty or staff member follow up with the student(s) to discuss their behavior in the classroom, and expectations for future behavior, after the cause of concern is resolved.

    The faculty or staff member should submit 鈥淩ed Flag Report鈥� to the Behavioral Response Team regarding the concerning behavior and remedy taken place in the moment. BRT and/or SCAI staff will evaluate the report and determine if SCAI Misconduct Procedures are warranted.

    Please be aware that submitting this report is not a notification to the police department, and the report may not be able to be reviewed until the next available business day. Again, if there is an immediate cause for concern please contact Campus Police.

  • Concerns about a student鈥檚 health, welfare, unusual behavior, or well-being should be reported to the Behavioral Response Team using the Red Flag Report.

    After a red flag report is submitted a member of the BRT may follow up with you to address any additional questions or concerns. The BRT will review the report and determine the most appropriate response on a case by case basis given the totality of information available to the BRT at the time. Responses can vary from supportive outreach to the individual to make the person aware of resources, making a referral to an appropriate university office for further action, or continued monitoring. Any action taken by the BRT is done collaboratively and under the auspices of the appropriate office or professionals with the underlying intention of creating a culture of safety, support, and care.

    The classroom disruption flow chart provides a visual illustration to what a faculty member/instructor can do if a student鈥檚 behavior obstructs the teaching, research, administration, or learning environment of a classroom.

    Faculty/Staff Classroom Disruption flow chart

    The General Misconduct flowcharts provide a visual illustration of the opportunities of resolution for alleged violations of the Codes of Conduct (non-academic integrity). The flow chart is intended to provide a brief overview of the Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity's (SCAI) misconduct resolution procedures.

    See SCAI Misconduct Procedures

TurnItIn.com

Turnitin.com is a global educational application that focuses on improving the educational experience of students by facilitating online grading, peer reviews, and originality checks. Turnintin.com is a premier mode of preventing and monitoring plagiarism and cheating. 

Go to