Understanding Chatham University’s Academic Misconduct Rules and the Need for a Student Defense Attorney

Integrity is of utmost importance in institutions of higher learning such as Chatham University. All members, including students, must commit to principles of academic honesty to help them achieve their educational goals fully. To uphold this commitment, Chatham University has put in place policies that safeguard and maintain academic integrity in every scholastic undertaking.

Students who violate these rules, whether knowingly or unknowingly, may face accusations of academic misconduct. These allegations are severe and could jeopardize their college careers and future professional prospects. In this article, we will explore Chatham University’s approach to addressing academic misconduct complaints and why students require legal representation when accused.

Defining Academic Misconduct

Chatham University defines academic misconduct as the unfaithful adherence to the Honor Code tenets that focus on intellectual independence, personal integrity, honesty in all dealings, and consideration for others’ rights and well-being in any academic activities at the institution.

Instructors categorize acts of academic misconduct into two types: technical and substantiated. The former category refers to acts considered purely technical without an intention to gain an unfair advantage. Examples include incorrect citing, paraphrasing, or attributing sources during an academic course or exercise.

On the other hand, substantiated acts are believed to be intended to cheat or gain undue benefits contrary to Chatham’s values on personal integrity, intellectual freedom, respect for individual rights and well-being in all scholastic endeavors at the University.

Examples of substantiated acts include writing one’s name on another individual’s work or forging signatures; submitting fraudulent transcripts; altering previously graded assignments or exams; cheating by engaging in fraud or dishonesty during coursework such as obtaining unauthorized materials or information; facilitating fabrication/false information alteration; plagiarism (copying other peoples ideas without citation); disturbing classrooms physically/digitally with negative intentions etc..

Resolving Acts of Academic Misconduct

Chatham University charges its academic community with the responsibility of reporting any witnessed or suspected violation to its Academic Integrity Officer or designated party.

The following is an order in which things occur once a student is accused of academic misconduct at Chatham:

1. The instructor schedules a meeting with the accused student after becoming aware of an alleged case of academic misconduct
2. When the meeting occurs, the accused student and instructor check acknowledge and discuss the act using the Academic Misconduct Form
3. The instructor works again with/without the Departmental Chair to meet with the student and review the Academic Misconduct Form’s act
4. The case goes into a hearing that gets scheduled based on convenience for involved parties; during this hearing various sub-committees review and deliberate over the incident
5. Once subcommittee deliberations conclude, involving your introduction, narrative, questioning by members of arbitration councils – Chatham’s Dean will confirm if sanctions are applicable but cannot make new findings (or increase sanctions if already conferred) adverse to you at this point.

Appeals

Several options are available to students who receive unsatisfactory rulings when it comes to disciplinary measures planned based on findings from their academic integrity committee hearings’. They can appeal their cases through their Vice President for Academic Affairs within five business days after receiving their committee’s final decision.

Pennsylvania’s Academic Integrity Attorney

If a violation of academic misconduct occurs, it may hamper your plans as a college student seeking career goals or pursuing educational milestones. It would help if you had legal representation during times like these—contact Todd Spodek today (our skilled student defense attorney), as he has helped countless students just like you overcome such allegations in Pennsylvania courts РCall 212-300-5196 now!