A Purdue student accused of cheating can face two different consequences, and they’re challenged in two different places. The instructor can lower the grade in response to the allegation, and the instructor can also report the student to the Office of the Dean of Students, where the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) handles any disciplinary case. A conduct finding is challenged through OSRR’s appeal process. A grade penalty is challenged through Purdue’s grade appeal process, where, in academic integrity cases, the burden of proof is on the instructor.
Purdue’s Student Regulations and OSRR’s procedures are updated over time, and the versions in effect when a case arises apply. This summary follows Purdue’s current published regulations and OSRR materials.
The Grade and the Conduct Case Are Separate
Purdue’s OSRR materials state that an instructor has the right to assign a grade in response to an academic dishonesty allegation as the instructor considers appropriate. The instructor may also refer the student to the Dean of Students, which can lead to university disciplinary proceedings.
That’s why many Purdue students deal with both tracks at once: the grade question with the instructor, and the conduct question with OSRR. A student pressured to admit to something early in the process should understand that the two tracks connect, a situation covered in what to do if a professor wants you to admit to plagiarism.
Conduct Conferences and the Community Standards Board
OSRR resolves most cases through a student conduct conference with a conduct officer. According to Purdue, a student meeting one-on-one with a conduct officer isn’t facing separation from the university. If suspension or expulsion is possible, the student’s letter will say so explicitly.
More serious cases can go to a hearing before the Community Standards Board. In academic dishonesty cases, Purdue’s regulations require the board panel to include a faculty member, and a quorum requires at least four members, including at least three students and one staff or faculty member. Students are found either Responsible or Not Responsible on each regulation they’re charged with violating.
Bringing an Advisor
Purdue permits a student to have one advisor present at the student conduct conference. According to OSRR, the advisor may be anyone the student chooses, such as a friend, faculty member, parent, attorney, or clergy, but the advisor isn’t permitted to represent or speak for the student during the conference. For a broader look at what happens in these meetings, see what to expect at an academic integrity hearing.
What Can and Can’t Be Appealed
Purdue’s conduct appeals are limited. According to OSRR, students may not appeal a written warning or educational sanctions. Appeals are available when a student has been placed on disciplinary probation, probated suspension, suspension, or expulsion, and one recognized ground is that the sanctions are disproportionate to the violation. In academic dishonesty cases, Purdue’s regulations direct appeals to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.
Two features of Purdue’s appeal process stand out. A student’s sanction won’t be increased as a result of an appeal, and once the appeals officer decides, there’s no further appeal.
Challenging the Grade
A student can challenge a grade reduction for an alleged violation of course academic integrity policies through Purdue’s grade appeal process. It starts with a conversation with the instructor and can move to the department head and then the University Grade Appeals Committee. In cases associated with academic integrity, Purdue’s grade appeal materials state that the burden of proof is on the instructor to support the allegation. Grade disputes often come down to how course rules were communicated, a common issue in cases involving unauthorized collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles academic dishonesty cases at Purdue?
The instructor handles the grade, and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) handles any disciplinary case.
Can I bring an attorney to a Purdue conduct conference?
Yes. OSRR states the advisor may be anyone you choose, including an attorney, but the advisor can’t represent or speak for you.
Can a Purdue appeal make my sanction worse?
No. According to OSRR, a student’s sanction won’t be increased as a result of an appeal.
Can I appeal a written warning at Purdue?
No. OSRR states that written warnings and educational sanctions can’t be appealed.
Getting Help With a Purdue Case
Purdue’s two tracks, the grade and the conduct case, call for different strategies, and the choices a student makes early can affect both. Richard Asselta, student defense attorney who serves as an advisor to students in university academic integrity processes nationwide, can accompany Purdue students as their advisor at a conduct conference, where Purdue permits an advisor of the student’s choosing. He also helps students prepare their account, organize evidence for both the conduct case and any grade appeal, and decide whether to appeal. Call 855-338-5299 or learn more about Richard Asselta.