Student Academic Integrity - Students

Procedures & Deadlines

If you are suspected of an academic integrity violation, you must be actively involved to ensure the process is fair and accurate. Please review the procedures overview flowchart to get a big picture of the process. Below is a description of the procedure steps from the student's point of view, including deadlines as per Policy 216. "Business days" are defined as days when the university offices are open (not closed due to weather, holidays, etc.).

1. Your instructor thinks you may be involved in an academic integrity violation.
   
   
2. Your instructor emails you at your @tntech.edu email address to set up a meeting to discuss the potential violation.
   • That meeting must take place within five business days after your instructor emails you.
   • Whether or not you violated academic integrity, you need to meet with your instructor.
   • See Meeting with Your Instructor for more details about that meeting. 
     
     
3. After the meeting, if your instructor no longer thinks you were involved in an academic integrity violation, the process is over. Your instructor should email you to tell you this decision.
   • However, if your instructor still thinks you were involved in an academic integrity violation and wants to take points off your assignment or class grade, they file an Academic Integrity Violation Charging Document with the university. They submit this charging document within seven business days after emailing you in step 2 above. 
     
     
4. The AIO (Academic Integrity Officer) emails a copy of the charging document to you at your @tntech.edu email address once it is completed.
   • This is when you know that you are officially being charged with an academic integrity violation, and you learn what the recommended penalties are.
   • Try not to panic because the process is not over, and you have options.
     
     
5. The AIO emails you at your @tntech.edu email address and asks you to schedule a meeting with her.
   
   
6. Within five business days after the charging document is sent to your email, you need to meet with the AIO.
   • This meeting helps you understand the policy, violation charge, and appeal process.
   • If you do not meet with the AIO, you cannot appeal the charge, and the recommended penalties go into effect.  See Policy 216 (section VI.I.1.) for additional implications. You receive an email from the AIO confirming the penalties and implications. The process is over.
     
     
7. After meeting with the AIO, you have two options:
   • Option 1: Do not appeal the violation or the penalty. Therefore, the recommended penalty goes into effect. See Policy 216 (section VI.I.3.) for additional implications. You receive an email from the AIO confirming the penalties and implications. The process is over.
   • Option 2: Appeal the violation and/or the penalty by emailing the Academic Integrity Violation Charge Appeal Form to AIO@tntech.edu within five business days after your AIO meeting. If you want to appeal but do not email the appeal form within five business days after your AIO meeting without extenuating circumstances, you default to Option 1 above and do not appeal. See How to Appeal for more information about appealing.
   • Note: If you appeal, and your Academic Integrity Violation Charging Document has a recommended University-level Penalty of Academic Integrity Suspension or Academic Integrity Expulsion, you have the right to request a Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA) hearing as per Policy 112.
     • If you do not want a UAPA hearing, you must opt out of this type of hearing on the Academic Integrity Violation Charge Appeal Form and proceed to step 8 below.
     • If you want a UAPA hearing, you must opt in to this type of hearing on the Academic Integrity Violation Charge Appeal Form. If you opt in, the Tennessee Tech process ends, and the UAPA process begins. See How to Appeal for more information on a UAPA hearing.
       
       
8. The AIO emails you at your @tntech.edu email address to set up an appeal hearing within eight business days after receiving your appeal form.
   
   
9. Within two business days after the hearing, you receive an email from the AIO confirming the outcome of the appeal hearing, including any penalties and implications. The process is over.