Infractions and Sanctions

When a faculty member has a reasonable suspicion of a student’s lapse of academic integrity (based upon direct observation, witness (es), or documentary evidence) that faculty member must

        1.   Determine if the evidence is sufficient to warrant a finding of infraction;

        2.   Determine if further investigation is required;

        3.   Apply an appropriate sanction: This is to be at the discretion of the faculty member and can range from a warning to a reduced grade for the assignment, with attendant consequences.

The disciplinary actions are consistent with SBCCD Board Policy 5500, which lists cheating and plagiarism as behavior that subjects a student to such discipline.  Administrative Regulation 5500 details a range of possible disciplinary actions: reprimand, probation, suspension, expulsion and specific steps to follow in cases of suspension or expulsion.

In particular career-technical programs, the definitions and disciplinary procedures for academically dishonest or professionally unethical behavior are also governed by an external authority.  The standards and processes established for students in these programs are different than those described in this document.  Students in these programs will receive notification of these requirements upon admission to the program.  Instructors in these programs are still obliged to report incidences of infraction to the Vice President of Student Services.

The criterion for an appropriate sanction is that the sanction match the guidelines published (by the instructor, program, department, College, District, etc.), prior to the infraction.

In general, the sanction applied at the discretion of the instructor will be the maximum penalty imposed upon the student (s) violating the standards.  However, in consultation with the instructor, the additional sanctions of suspension or expulsion may be applied by the Dean of Student Services in cases where:

        1.   There are repeated infractions by the same student;

        2.   The help from the other student was gained through coercion or duress;

        3.   Another student’s work was accessed without the permission of that student;

        4.   The violator has threatened a witness or faculty member not to bring forth evidence in this case.