Procedures

Honor Code Violations and Resolutions

violation range	possible resolutions
Repeated or willful failure to correctly or appropriately identify sources: Failure to acknowledge sources in an accepted citation format (i.e. through footnotes, parenthetical author-page references, etc.) Basic attempts (i.e. in-text references, quotation marks, etc.) have been made to distinguish outside sources from the student’s work	Requiring the student to redo the assignment and correct her mistakes Lowered grade on the assignment
Plagiarism of secondary components of the assignment: Plagiarized content supports the primary purpose or theme of the assignment Considered without this content, assignment would be weakened, but primary requirements would still be fulfilled	Lowered grade on the assignment Failure on the assignment
Plagiarism of primary components of the assignment: Plagiarized content constitutes the primary purpose or theme of the assignment Considered without this content, submitted work would not satisfy basic requirements of the assignment	Failure on the assignment Mandatory cap on the final grade in the course

 

Upon receiving the proposed resolution, the student normally has five business days to consider and seek advice on whether to accept the resolution.  If the student does not accept the proposed resolution, the faculty member should refer the case back to the Administrative Coordinator for assignment to a hearing panel.  If the student accepts the proposed resolution, the student should sign the Resolution Report and return it to the faculty member. The faculty member should then forward a copy of the Report and the full text of all supplementary materials, including but not limited to the full texts of the plagiarized assignment and all identified sources of plagiarism, to the Case Coordinating Team via the Dean of Students Office (344 Green Hall) for final approval by Honor Code Council. 

The Report will be reviewed by the Chief Justice and Honor Code Administrative Coordinator.  They will review the proposed resolution for consistency with the outcomes of similar cases.  Normally they will review a proposed resolution within three days of its receipt in the Office of Residential Life.  They will communicate their decision to the student and to the faculty member within one business day of its review.  Sanctions will be effective upon the approval of the proposal.  If the proposed sanction(s) are not approved, there are two options for moving forward.  The case may be referred to a hearing panel.  Alternatively, the Chief Justice and Administrative Coordinator may suggest an amendment(s) to the proposed sanction and send the amended Report back to the faculty member and the student; normally, the faculty and the student have five business days to accept the amended Resolution Report.  If both parties do not agree to the amended Resolution Report, the case must we referred to a hearing panel if the charge is to be pursued.  Faculty and students should be careful to preserve all relevant materials until the final outcome of a case has been determined.

Honor Code Council Hearing Process

Notification of Hearing/Submission of Case-Related Materials

In cases referred for a hearing, the charged student and the individual bringing the charge will be notified of the time and location of the hearing at least five business days in advance, time permitting.

All written materials to be introduced at the hearing by the individual bringing the charge are to be submitted to the clerk five business days after submission of the charge.  A copy of the materials submitted by the individual bringing the charge will then be made available to the charged student.  She is to submit her written materials within the next five days.  A copy of all the materials for the hearing will then be made available to all hearing panel members.

Late materials will be accepted at the discretion of the hearing panel on the day of the hearing if they were not available prior to the submission deadline. 

Materials from third parties must include the name (and title, when appropriate) of the author, and explicit permission to share with the panel.  Anonymous materials are not accepted. 

Failure to adhere to any of the timelines established here does not constitute grounds for dismissal of charges.

Cooperation of All Parties

Both the individual bringing the charge and the charged student will be expected to cooperate fully with the Case Coordinating Team. Similarly, all parties with knowledge pertaining to a case will be expected to cooperate fully in the examination and, if requested, appear at the hearing. Honesty is expected from all members who participate. Dishonesty in a hearing may be grounds for a separate Honor Code violation charge.

Hearing Panels

A hearing panel will be composed of the Chief Justice and three voting Honor Code Council members: one student, one faculty member, and the Dean of Students or her designee. The Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice will preside.

Either the charged student or the individual bringing the charge may request that a member of a Honor Code Council hearing panel be disqualified when she can demonstrate a significant conflict of interest. The Case Coordinating Team has the final authority to determine the composition of hearing panels.

Any member of Honor Code Council may recuse herself or himself due to conflict of interest. When the Chief Justice recuses herself, the Deputy Chief Justice will preside over the hearing. When the Dean of Students recuses herself, her designee will participate in the hearing. If needed, former members of Honor Code Council may serve on hearing panels if all current members are disqualified.

A Hearing Review Panel will be composed of the Provost or Provost’s designee (normally either the Dean of Faculty Affairs or the Dean of Academic Affairs), one faculty member of Honor Code Council and one student member of Honor Code Council. A faculty member of Honor Code Council is eligible to serve on a Hearing Review Panel if he/she has served one semester on Honor Code Council. A student member of Honor Code Council is eligible to serve on a Hearing Review Panel if she has served one year on Honor Code Council. The Case Coordinating Team has the final authority to determine the composition of a Hearing Review Panel.

Hearing Procedures

Formal rules of evidence and procedure shall not apply to hearings. Hearing panels shall make decisions regarding procedural or evidentiary questions arising during hearings. Normally, hearings will be conducted in person at the College, but they may be conducted by phone or internet under certain circumstances as determined by the Case Coordinating Team. The Case Coordinating Team will determine the method by which a hearing will be conducted. All hearings will be conducted in private. Neither the charged student nor the individual bringing the charge may have attorneys present at hearings.

When a charge involves more than one student, the Case Coordinating Team will determine if the hearings concerning the charged students will be conducted separately or together. In the event that a student is simultaneously charged with two distinct Honor Code violations, the Case Coordinating Team may consolidate the hearings.  In the event that the charged students' hearings are conducted separately, the panel will be the same for both/all cases when circumstances permit. 

Attendance

The charged student, the individual bringing the charge, and all witnesses will be expected to be present, in person or by phone/internet, at the scheduled hearing. Failure of the charged student to appear at a hearing after proper notice may subject her to further charges. Should a charged student fail to appear, the hearing will proceed and penalties may be imposed as if the charged student were present. Honor Code Council proceedings will take precedence over all non-academic activities. The Case Coordinating Team has final authority over who can attend all hearings.

Timing

Normally, all cases must be resolved prior to the beginning of the next academic year [2]. Charges against a student must be resolved before she will be eligible to participate in international study/exchange programs. If a student is charged while participating in a Wellesley College international study program, the Case Coordinating Team, in consultation with the Dean of Students, will determine whether to conduct a hearing by phone/internet or defer it until the student’s return. Failure to adhere to any of the scheduling guidelines set out here does not constitute grounds for dismissal of charges.

Record

All Honor Code Council hearings will be audio-recorded. Only parties present at the hearing may listen to the recording in the Dean of Students' office when considering an appeal.  No copies or transcriptions may be made of the recording.  The recording will also be available for consideration by the Hearing Review Panel. Recordings of the hearing will be the property of Wellesley College and will be kept until the conclusion of the process by final decision on appeal or the expiration of any appeal period.  All materials are kept throughout the appeal period.  After this period has passed, materials are destroyed with the exception of the charge letter, decision letter, and one copy of the supplementary materials.  At the end of the academic year in which the appeal period concludes, the supplementary materials will be destroyed, and the charge and decision letters will be filed in the Class Deans' office.

Witnesses

The charged student and the individual bringing the charge may bring witnesses to present information relevant to the case. Witnesses will receive a copy of Honor Code Council procedures, which prohibit retaliation, intimidation, or harassment. Witnesses must submit a brief statement to the Case Coordinating Team before the hearing summarizing their knowledge of the alleged Honor Code violation. That statement will be included in materials available to a panel prior to the hearing.  The charged student may also ask one character witness to submit a written statement to be distributed to the hearing panel. Oral character statements may not be presented at the hearing.

The charged student, the individual bringing the charge, and the members of the hearing panel will address relevant questions to the witnesses. Parties have the right to question witnesses at the hearing. However, parties are prohibited from questioning each other; the Chief Justice will ensure that parties have the opportunity to raise all questions and issues pertinent to the charge. The Chief Justice will have the authority to rule questions irrelevant or out of order. Witnesses will remain in the hearing room only while presenting information and answering questions.

Independent Expertise

If a case involves a technical matter that falls outside the expertise of the hearing panel, the members may consult with the appropriate source of information. These consultants will not attend hearings unless this is determined to be necessary by the Case Coordinating Team.

Basis of Decision

Following the conclusion of the Honor Code Council hearing, the panel will meet in a closed session to determine, by majority vote, whether an Honor Code violation has occurred. In reaching its determination, the hearing panel will evaluate only information introduced during the hearing. The panel will not consider any prior Honor Code Council violation when determining whether the violation occurred. The determination that a violation has occurred will be based on information sufficient to convince a majority of the panel that more likely than not the violation occurred.

Sanctions

Sanctions will be imposed in accordance with the severity of the violation. All sanctions will be decided by majority vote. The panel will consider any prior Honor Code violations when determining sanctions.

 All Honor Code findings, as determined by a full hearing or by the faculty student resolution process, will be assigned by the hearing panel a Tier designation. This designation reflects the severity of the violation as determined by the hearing panel and serves as the basis of a sanction.  Subsequent violations in the same category (academic/social) will result in a Tier of the same or higher level as the previous violation.

Tiers

Tier 0 is defined as a non-reportable (by the Administrative Coordinator when doing honor code checks, by the student on applications) Honor Code Matter. This category includes matters as follows:

• It is reserved for first time, minor offenses including but not limited to:
  • Residential Life/Housing infringements and unintentional plagiarism;
  • An academic violation constituting no more than 10% of the final grade for the course;  
  • A violation that does not pose risk to self, other students or community.

Tier 1 is defined as a reportable Honor Code Violation. This category includes first and second offenses constituted of:

• Minor but noteworthy (by virtue of extent and substance) academic violations
• Academic violation constituting no more than 15% of the final grade in the course
• Does not pose risk to self, other students or community

Tier 2 is defined as a reportable Honor Code Violation. This category includes first, second, and third offenses constituted of:

• Academic violations constituting of no more than 25% of the final grade in the course
• Does not pose serious or immediate risk to self, other students, or community
• Willful intent to deceive
• Cases that could be punishable by law including but not limited to:
  • Theft, fraud, harassment

Tier 3 is defined as the most severe reportable Honor Code Violation. All Suspensions, Dismissals, and Expulsions are included in this category, however not all violations assigned this tier will receive those sanctions.

• Academic violations constituting of greater than 25% of the final grade in the course
• Poses serious or immediate risk to self, other students, or community
• Multiple repeated and/or willful offenses
• Willful intent to deceive including but not limited to:
  • Intentionally submitting another’s work as one’s own
  • Violation of the terms of self-scheduled exams

Sanctions for Academic Honor Code Violations

Sanctions that may be imposed by a hearing panel for academic Honor Code violations will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• Failure on an assignment - Failure will be given on the assignment for which the student was found to be in violation of the Honor Code.
• Failure on an assignment, with a cap on the final grade in a course - Failure will be given on the assignment for which the student was found to be in violation of the Honor Code, and a cap will be placed on the final grade for the course.
• Failure in a course - Failure will be given in the course for which a student was found to be in violation of the Honor Code.
• Loss of privilege - The student will be denied specified privileges for a designated period of time. These may include, but will not be limited to, computer account privileges, participation in international study or an exchange program, self-scheduled exams, credit/non course status, or attendance in college programs or activities (e.g., sporting events, intramurals, performances, graduation exercises).
• Educational projects/initiatives - The student may be required to rewrite an assignment, take another examination, complete a project or a written assignment, attend an educational program, or seek assistance from the Pforzheimer Learning and Teaching Center (PLTC) or other college resources.
• Mental health/medical assessment and/or treatment - A hearing panel may recommend that a student seek a mental health/medical assessment from the Student Health Service, the Stone Center Counseling Service, or another appropriate professional or engage or continue in treatment with an appropriate health professional.
• Suspension - The student may be involuntarily suspended from the College for a specified period of time, which may include the current semester and such additional semesters as deemed appropriate by the hearing panel [3]. Parents or guardians will be notified [4]. Readmission as a student in good standing will be coordinated through the Office of the Dean of Students and will be contingent upon satisfaction of any conditions stated in the original suspension sanction.  The suspension will appear on the student’s official transcript. During the period of suspension, the student may not be given credit for courses taken at other institutions.  The comprehensive fee will not be returned by the College.
• Dismissal - The student may be involuntarily dismissed from the College [5]. Parents or guardians will be notified [6]. Readmission will be coordinated through the Office of the Dean of Students, and will not be guaranteed. At a minimum, readmission will be contingent upon satisfaction of all conditions stated in the original dismissal sanction. The dismissal will be noted on the student’s official transcript. The comprehensive fee will not be returned by the College.
• Expulsion - The student may be expelled and permanently removed from the College without possibility of readmission or reinstatement [7]. Parents or guardians will be notified [8]. The expulsion will be noted on the student’s official transcript. The comprehensive fee will not be returned by the College.

Sanctions for Nonacademic Honor Code Violations

Sanctions for nonacademic violations will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• Warning - The student will receive a formal, written admonition stating the certainty of a more severe disciplinary sanction for subsequent violations. Warnings may be imposed for a designated period of time. In a case in which a student’s warning is related to her residence status, parents or guardians will be notified.
• Exclusion - The student may be excluded from access to or use of specified College activities and premises.
• No contact order - The student may be prohibited from communicating with a named individual(s).
• Community service - The student may be required to provide on or off campus community service for a prescribed number of hours.
• Educational projects/initiatives - The student may be required to complete a project or a written assignment, attend an educational program, or seek assistance from College resources.
• Residence hall suspension - The student will be separated from the residence halls for a defined period of time, after which the student will be eligible to return. Conditions for return may be specified. Parents or guardians will be notified [9].
• Residence hall expulsion - The student will be permanently separated from the residence halls. Parents or guardians will be notified [10].
• Loss of privilege - See description under Sanctions for Academic Honor Code Violations, above.
• Mental health/medical assessment and/or treatment - See description under Sanctions for Academic Honor Code Violations, above.
• Suspension – See description under Sanctions for Academic Honor Code violations, above.
• Dismissal - See description under Sanctions for Academic Honor Code Violations, above.
• Expulsion - See description under Sanctions for Academic Honor Code Violations, above.

Notification of Decision

Normally, within two business days of the close of deliberations, the hearing panel will provide a written statement of its decision to the Case Coordinating Team. The team will provide written notification of the decision to the charged student and the individual bringing the charge. Both parties will be informed of their rights to appeal based upon grounds stated in Honor Code Council procedures. Failure to meet these time guidelines will not invalidate a decision or constitute grounds for an appeal.

In cases where Campus Police brings forth a charge on behalf of a Wellesley College student, the Chief Justice will usually send a copy of the decision letter to the student who originally reported the incident to Campus Police. The Case Coordinating Team, in consultation with the Dean of Students, reserves the right to release or not release the letter to any other involved parties.

Appeals

Grounds

The student found responsible for violating the Honor Code or the individual bringing the charge will have the right to appeal on one or more of the following grounds:

• discovery of significant factual material not available at the time of the hearing
• significant error in the procedural process
   

Timing

The deadline to file an appeal will be ten business days after each party has been notified of the outcome of the Honor Code Council hearing. Either party considering an appeal will be required to meet with the Administrative Coordinator. Either party may listen to the hearing recording, in the presence of the clerk, in order to prepare her/his appeal.

Process

To formally file an appeal, the individual will submit to the Case Coordinating Team a written statement enumerating the grounds, including any additional information. Once an appeal has been formally filed, it cannot be withdrawn. The Case Coordinating Team will forward the appellant’s materials along with all written materials and the recording from the initial hearing to the Hearing Review Panel within ten days in which school is in session from the date the appeal is filed. The Case Coordinating Team may also submit materials related to the procedures followed before and during the initial hearing, if it deems such information relevant.  The appellant will have the right to review and respond to such materials.  Normally, sanctions will be stayed pending the outcome of an appeal, except when interim restrictions have been imposed by the Dean of Students.

Normally, appeals will be considered within ten business days in which school is in session from the date the materials are forwarded. When the college is not in regular session, the appeal will be considered in the beginning of the following semester.

The Hearing Review Panel will consider the recording and papers used at the hearing, in addition to the new information submitted. No testimony will be heard.

Upon consideration, the Hearing Review Panel may deny the appeal or remand the case for a full rehearing by a new panel [11]. If the appeal is denied, the original decision stands. The decision by the Hearing Review Panel will be final. The student found in violation of the Honor Code and the individual bringing the charge will be given written notification of the Hearing Review Panel’s decision.

Abuses of Honor Code Council System

Abuses of Honor Code Council system may constitute a separate Honor Code violation. They include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• breaches of privacy of hearing proceedings
• failure to obey the summons of the Case Coordinating Team
• falsification, distortion, or misrepresentation of information before an Honor Code Council hearing
• disruption or interference with the orderly conduct of an Honor Code Council hearing
• deliberate initiation of an Honor Code Council hearing without cause
• attempting to influence an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the Honor Code system
• attempting to influence the impartiality of any member affiliated with the Honor Code  system prior to, and/or during the course of, Honor Code proceedings
• harassment (verbal or physical) and/or intimidation of any member affiliated with the Honor Code  system, or any party associated with a case before, during, or after Honor Code proceedings
• failure to comply with a sanction(s) imposed by a hearing panel

 

Administrative Notification

Honor Code Council findings will be confidential except for the following:

The student’s class dean will be informed by the Administrative Coordinator of the nature of all charges and findings so that s/he can be available to advise the student on academics and help her remain connected to the community.

The Advisor to International Students and Scholars will be notified by the Administrative Coordinator if an international student receives an Honor Code violation charge or sanction that may affect her immigration status.

When a sanction warrants, a college department, individual, or committee, including but not limited to a student life department director (if the sanction pertains to that particular student life area), and the registrar (when a grade change or transcript notation is sanctioned) will be notified by the Administrative Coordinator of a sanction that they must assist in implementing.

The chairs of the fellowship, internship, and the Health Professions Advisory Committee as well as the pre-law advisor may submit to the Administrative Coordinator the names of students or graduates who have applied for a Wellesley program, for Wellesley funding, or for support from Wellesley in an application process. The Administrative Coordinator will identify applicants who were found responsible for a Tier 1 or above violation of the Honor Code. The Administrative Coordinator will not disclose the specific sanction, but will disclose whether the violation was academic or non-academic. Notification will not occur for honor code matters categorized as Tier 0.

A designated officer of Phi Beta Kappa may submit to the Administrative Coordinator the names of candidates for election. The Administrative Coordinator will identify candidates who were charged with a violation of the Honor Code and who received a sanction that would make them ineligible to meet the Chapter’s national standards. The Administrative Coordinator will disclose the specific sanction, in order to insure that the candidate has met the “good character” requirement of the organization’s constitution.

The home institution of a student from another college participating in a Wellesley program will be notified by the Administrative Coordinator if the student is found in violation of the Honor Code.

Transcript Notification

Findings of suspension, dismissal, and expulsion will be noted on the student's transcript.  

Reports to the Community

The outcomes of all Honor Code Council hearings will be reported to the Student Senate and Academic Council annually. The confidentiality of the proceedings will be ensured, and the identities of any parties associated with the hearings will not be revealed.

Revisions to Honor Code System Procedures

In consultation with Honor Code Council, the Case Coordinating Team will review annually and revise the Honor Code system procedures as needed. Any changes will be effective at the beginning of the next academic year.

 

Endnotes:

1. In the event the Case Coordinating Team is unable to come to consensus about the means of resolution, they will consult the Dean of Students.

2. Hearings may be scheduled in June, after finals. Students may live in campus housing as they await their hearings. To the extent possible, any remaining cases after June will be heard during the week before the start of the fall semester. Students may travel to attend a hearing in person or participate by phone/internet. Funds will be available for students with demonstrated financial need who wish to attend a hearing in person and cannot afford travel expenses.

3. This sanction may affect an international scholar's immigration status. The student will be advised to consult the Director of Slater International Center, Advisor to International Students and Scholars.

4. Exceptions to this include Davis Scholars and emancipated minors.

5. This sanction may affect an international scholar's immigration status. The student will be advised to consult the Director of Slater International Center, Advisor to International Students and Scholars.

6. Exceptions to this include Davis Scholars and emancipated minors.

7. This sanction may affect an international scholar's immigration status. The student will be advised to consult the Director of Slater International Center, Advisor to International Students and Scholars.

8. Exceptions to this include Davis Scholars and emancipated minors.

9. Exceptions to this include Davis Scholars and emancipated minors.

10. Exceptions to this include Davis Scholars and emancipated minors.

11. Hearing panel members for a remanded case will have no prior knowledge of the case. The outcome of the hearing will be based only on information put forward in the new hearing. If a student is found in violation of the Honor Code, the sanction will be determined anew as well, and may be either lesser or more severe than the original sanction.