My Instructor Says I Cheated, What Happens Now?

When an instructor believes that a student has cheated, they have two options:

• Refer the violation allegation directly to the Honor Council.
• Handle it autonomously by meeting with the student and then reporting the violation and assigned sanction to the Aggie Honor System Office.

If a student has a prior report of an academic misconduct violation, it is automatically referred through the Honor Council when the instructor tries to submit the report in the online system. Most cases of academic misconduct are handled autonomously.

Honor Council Referral

If the allegation has been referred to the Honor Council, you will be contacted by a Case Manager from the Aggie Honor System Office to set up a meeting to explain the details of the process. Generally, the first step will be an investigation. This will be followed by an Honor Council Hearing. Occasionally, the Honor Council Investigation Team will find that there is not enough evidence for the case to proceed to an Honor Council Hearing. More information on investigations and hearings can be found at aggiehonor.tamu.edu/students/investigation.aspx and aggiehonor.tamu.edu/students/hearing.aspx

Autonomously Handled Allegations

If an instructor has chosen to handle a case autonomously, then he/she will try to contact you by email and/or meet with you about the alleged violation. Upon contact and discussion with the instructor, you will have two options:

• Close the case by acknowledging the violation and accepting the sanction (this can be done in the online system at the time the instructor is filing the violation or afterward through an email to the AHSO Case Manager assigned to the case).
• Defer your decision until you have had a chance to meet with an AHSO Case Manager to better understand your options for appeal

Q-Drops and Withdrawals

You may not Q-drop or withdraw from a course in which you have a pending allegation or finding of academic misconduct. If the paperwork has already gone through to Q-drop or withdraw from a class before an academic misconduct violation comes to light, the course will be reinstated on your transcript and designated grade sanctions applied.

Meeting with the AHSO Case Manager

The Case Manager will initiate contact by sending you an email to set up a time to meet once the violation report is received from the instructor in the Aggie Honor System Office. The Case Manager will initially notify you using your official TAMU email address.

When you meet with the Case Manager, you will learn what options you have, in the event that you disagree with the allegation or sanction being assigned. Usually, you will also be able to look at the evidence from the instructor and the basis of the violation. The case manger will also be able to answer any questions you have about the sanction, such as what is involved in taking the AHSO Academic Integrity Development Program or being on Honor Violation Probation.

During this discussion, you may better understand the allegation and decide that you did commit unintentional academic misconduct and are more comfortable accepting the violation and sanction. Or you may feel that a mistake has been made and the violation is in error or sanction overly harsh. In this situation, the Case Manager will explain the Appeal process. You can also refer to the information at aggiehonor.tamu.edu/students/appeals.aspx

When to Contact Us

Some instructors, especially those with experience at other institutions, may be unfamiliar with the details of the procedures here at Texas A&M for handling alleged violations of academic integrity.

If an instructor is attempting to assign a sanction or penalty for academic misconduct without intending to report it through the Aggie Honor System Office or says you are going to be suspended because of academic misconduct, please notify the Aggie Honor System Office immediately to get updated, accurate information about due process.

Contact us if an instructor directs you to quit attending class as this can create problems if you decide to pursue an appeal.