» Academic Misconduct

One of the most frustrating experiences during a university investigation is knowing you are telling the truth while feeling that no one believes you. Students and faculty members often assume that innocence speaks for itself. They believe that if th…

One of the most misunderstood phrases in university disciplinary policies is “good faith.” Students and faculty often assume that if administrators make a mistake, misunderstand the facts, or fail to follow their own procedures, the decis…

When people are accused of misconduct, they often feel enormous pressure to make the situation go away. They believe that if they simply apologize, accept responsibility, or admit wrongdoing, the investigation will end more quickly or the punishment…

When people are accused of misconduct, their first instinct is often to deny everything. They challenge every allegation, dispute every witness, and fight every factual issue, believing that admitting even a small mistake will destroy their case. Iro…

Email feels informal. It takes only seconds to write, and once you hit “Send,” it is easy to assume your message will be read only by the person you intended. In reality, emails often become some of the most important evidence in investig…

Most people assume that an investigation begins with an open mind. They picture an investigator carefully gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, weighing competing accounts, and then reaching a fair conclusion. That is certainly how investigatio…

Being accused of academic dishonesty is one of the most stressful experiences a student can face. Many students assume that cheating accusations are reserved for people who intentionally plagiarize, use unauthorized artificial intelligence, or copy a…

One of the most painful experiences a person can face is telling the truth—and watching no one believe it. Most people assume that innocence speaks for itself. They believe that if they simply explain what happened, investigators, employers, profes…