The University of Minnesota uses a term most schools don’t: scholastic dishonesty. When a faculty member believes a student engaged in it, the faculty member speaks with the student, decides whether it is more likely than not that the student was dishonest, assigns a sanction, and reports the case to the Office for Community Standards. Most cases end there, through an informal resolution. A student who doesn’t accept that resolution can take the case to a hearing, and Minnesota’s procedures allow students to be accompanied or represented by an advisor of their choice, including an attorney.
Minnesota’s Student Conduct Code is a Board of Regents policy, with procedures that can be revised over time; the version in effect when a case arises applies. This overview covers the Twin Cities campus. Other University of Minnesota campuses, such as Morris and Duluth, have their own hearing bodies and procedures.
The Faculty Member’s Role
Under the University of Minnesota’s approach, the faculty member is the first decision-maker. The faculty member should speak with the student, decide whether it is more likely than not that scholastic dishonesty occurred, assign a sanction, and submit a report to the Office for Community Standards (OCS). Minnesota’s procedures state that instructors and colleges are obligated to report every case of scholastic dishonesty to OCS, which serves as the central repository for those reports.
Many of these cases now begin with technology, from AI detection results to learning-platform logs like the ones explained in what “Stopped Viewing the Canvas Quiz-Taking Page” means.
Informal and Formal Resolution
According to OCS, in most scholastic dishonesty cases, the reporting faculty member determines the informal resolution. If the student doesn’t accept it, the case moves to a formal hearing before the Campus Committee on Student Behavior (CCSB), which is made up of volunteer faculty, staff, and students, or before another hearing panel within a specific college. Minnesota’s procedures allow a student to accept an informal resolution even after the hearing process has begun, up until shortly before the hearing.
You Can’t Withdraw to Avoid the Grade
Minnesota’s rules close off one common move. If the instructor determines that a grade of F or N should be given because of scholastic dishonesty, the student can’t withdraw from the course to avoid it. If the student withdrew before the dishonesty was discovered or decided, and the instructor or hearing body later determines the F or N should stand, the student is re-registered for the course and the grade is entered on the transcript. Student athletes should also consider eligibility effects, covered in what happens when a student athlete faces academic misconduct charges.
Advisors, Including Attorneys
Minnesota’s procedures state that a fundamentally fair hearing process usually allows students to be accompanied or represented by an advisor of their choice, including an attorney. If the student’s advisor is an attorney, the university appoints an attorney, through its Office of the General Counsel, to present the university’s side.
Appeals
The final step is a written appeal, which OCS states is reviewed by the Provost’s designee. Records of academic misconduct are kept in the college office and in OCS, and Minnesota notes that the student conduct process is private.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is scholastic dishonesty at the University of Minnesota?
Minnesota’s term for academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism and cheating, defined in the Board of Regents Student Conduct Code.
Can I withdraw from a course to avoid an F for scholastic dishonesty at Minnesota?
No. Minnesota’s rules state a student can’t withdraw to avoid an F or N for scholastic dishonesty, and a student who already withdrew may be re-registered for the course.
Can I bring an attorney to a University of Minnesota conduct hearing?
Yes. Minnesota’s procedures allow students to be accompanied or represented by an advisor of their choice, including an attorney. The university then appoints an attorney to present its side.
Who hears scholastic dishonesty cases at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities?
The Campus Committee on Student Behavior, made up of faculty, staff, and students, or another hearing panel within a specific college.
Getting Help With a University of Minnesota Case
Richard Asselta is a student defense attorney who serves as an advisor to students in university academic integrity processes nationwide, including at the University of Minnesota, where students may bring an advisor of their choice. He helps students decide whether to accept an informal resolution, prepare for a Campus Committee on Student Behavior hearing, organize their evidence, and build a written appeal. Call 855-338-5299 or learn more about Richard Asselta.