Honor System FAQs
Please consult the VCU Rules & Procedures, specifically the VCU Honor System, for the full text and explanation of the VCU Honor System; the FAQ's serve as a quick reference, not a replacement for the policy.
What is the Office of Judicial Affairs & Academic Integrity?
The Office of Judicial Affairs & Academic Integrity supports the educational mission of the University by educating students about appropriate behavior and fostering a community supporting academic success. This office adjudicates violations of University policies as outlined in the VCU Rules & Procedures and the VCU Honor System.
What is the VCU Honor System?
The VCU Honor System is based on the foundation that Virginia Commonwealth University recognizes that honesty, truth, and integrity are values central to its mission as an institution of higher education. In a community devoted to learning, a foundation of honor must exist if that community is to thrive with respect and harmony. Therefore, members of the academic community are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity.
What constitutes a violation of the Honor System?
The categories of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, any deliberate and dishonest act that results in, or could result in, a student receiving an unfair advantage in an academic matter:
- Plagiarism
- Cheating
- Lying
- Stealing
- Facilitation
See the VCU Honor System for examples of these infractions.
How can student's learn more about properly representing words, ideas, facts, opinions, theories, illustrations, tables or any part of another's work within my own and properly acknowledging sources?
Consider taking advantage of some or all of the following options:
- Consult with your professor or instructor regarding your specific concern or question
- Enroll in UNIV 101 — the VCU Honor System will be discussed and reviewed
- Enroll in ENG 200
- Utilize the University Writing Center
- Review items with your thesis or dissertation advisor
How will the Office of Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity contact the student regarding an alleged violation?
Notification will sent via US Certified Mail to the address on record with the University, and via VCU e-mail. E-mail is considered an official method for communication at VCU because it conveys information in a convenient and timely manner. Addresses and contact numbers should be given to the office when contacted.
How is a violation adjudicated?
If a member of the VCU Community identifies a possible violation, an initial description of the possible violation must be filed, in writing, to the Office of Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity, within 30 calendar days of discovery (when the accuser possesses sufficient proof of a possible violation). The Academic Integrity Officer will investigate the alleged infraction; the investigation may include, but is not limited to, meeting with and taking statements from the accuser and the accused, seeking information from other students, faculty, or staff, reviewing the accused's transcript, exams, papers, and other relevant material, and conducting other actions as appropriate.
What are the sanctions that may be imposed?
The recommended sanction for a student's first violation is an 'F' for an assigned course grade. Although the Honor System can consider and assign other sanctions, the recommended sanction for a subsequent determination of an honors violation is suspension for at least three semesters.
Any student found guilty of an Honor System violation shall be subject to one or more of the following sanctions:
- Honor Probation
- Other Relevant Sanctions
- Assignment of Grade on a Test/Paper/Assignment
- Assignment of Course Grade
- Suspension (Transcript notation)
- Expulsion (Transcript notation)
- Revocation (Transcript notation)
See the VCU Honor System for definitions and descriptions of these sanctions.
Can the finding and/or the sanction be appealed?
The accused and the accuser have the right to request that the determination of the Academic Integrity Officer be appealed to the Honor Council. If the accused is determined by an Honor Council hearing to have violated the Honor System, the accused may request, within five days of receipt of notification that the case be sent to the University Appeal Board.
What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA,1974) affords students the right to consent to disclosure of their educational records or the personally identifiable information contained in their education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. A student can authorize, in writing, to have a designated person access confidential academic information. The parent or guardian can also show evidence via a tax return that the student is their dependent for the most recent tax year.
Will the student's parents or guardians be notified of a violation?
A student's parent or guardian will not be notified of an alleged violation of the VCU Honor System. A student can authorize their parent or guardian to have access to view confidential information, allowing the Office of Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity to respond specifically to a parent's or guardian's inquiries.
What records are maintained and for how long?
All records of Honor System violations and sanctions assessed not involving suspension or expulsion shall be kept at least until the completion of the academic program in which the student is enrolled at the time of the violation or three academic years following the violation, whichever is longer. A transcript notation that is assigned by the Honor System will remain on the student's transcript. No earlier than five years from the date the sanction was assessed, a student may request removal of transcript notations except those for suspension, expulsion and revocation. All records of violations and sanctions involving suspension, expulsion or revocation shall be maintained permanently by the Provost and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, or designee.