Referrals

Referrals generally fall into TWO CATEGORIES: academic and/or behavioral. Academic misconduct referrals are directly linked to "x" of the disciplinary offenses listed in the MTSU disciplinary policy . All behavioral referrals will be linked to the remainder of the offenses listed.

All referrals require DOCUMENTATION. Documentation should include the student's full name, M number, phone number, and the relevant details describing the behavior in question. The documentation must also include the name and current contact information for the person referring the student for discipline. A person may use the forms found on this website to refer a student or an email or word document containing the same information.

All referrals do not end up becoming DISCIPLINARY CASES. Some referrals are information only, describe behaviors that are not rules violations, involve persons who are not students, etc. A referral means that the matter will be reviewed and may result in a disciplinary case being opened against a student. The Office of Judicial Affairs does NOT open cases against faculty members or professional staff members unless those people are also students at the institution. We also do not open cases against non-students.

Academic Misconduct Referrals -- click here for form

• Referral must include a copy of the academic work in question as well as any supporting evidence to substantiate the claim of misbehavior.
• Plagiarism referrals must include a copy of the sources suspected of being used improperly.
• Cheating referrals must include a copy of the academic exercise in question and the information used to cheat.
• Facilitation referrals must include a copy of the academic exercise in question and the proof or hypothesis of how the student assisted another student to commit academic misconduct.
• If the referral is from a faculty member, then that faculty member may assign a grade penalty of their choice given that the student will be found responsible. However, if the student is found not responsible, the faculty member must reassess the grade and provide a grade based solely on the merit of the academic exercise and not on the premise that the student committed academic misconduct.
• If the referral comes at the end of an academic semester, the faculty member may award a penalized grade with the understanding that if the student is found not responsible for committing academic misconduct, they will be required to submit a grade change for that student.
• Grade penalties are the sole discretion of the faculty member. The Office of Judicial Affairs does not recommend or issue grade penalties.
• If a student is found responsible for committing academic misconduct, they are awarded a disciplinary sanction and the grade penalty the professor issues. The Office of Judicial Affairs is generally unable to share the disciplinary sanction with the faculty member due to FERPA restrictions. There are exceptions to this restriction that may be applicable in certain cases.
• If a student REFUTES a charge of academic misconduct, then the case is referred to the University Discipline Committee for resolution. The faculty member will be called as a witness for the university to explain the circumstances surrounding the referral. This hearing will be coordinated by the Office of Judicial Affairs.
• When a case is resolved, a member of the Judicial Affairs staff will email the referring faculty member to inform them that the case is resolved and that the grade will either stand or require reassessment.
• If the referral is from someone other than a faculty member, they will not be privy to the outcome of the referral, but they may be called to serve as a witness to explain the circumstances surrounding the referral.
• Academic Misconduct Memo from Faculty
  

Behavioral Misconduct Referrals -- click here for form

• Referral must include a detailed description of the behavior in question.
• Referral should include the dates, locations, and times of the behavior to the extent that those things are known or available.
• Referral must include examples of specific behavior: for example, it is not sufficient to say "student x was acting strange."; It is sufficient to say "student x stood up in class, clucked like a chicken, screamed profanities at the instructor, and stomped out of the classroom.";
• Referral should include information about what remedial action has been taken by the person making the referral, if any.
• Due to FERPA restrictions, the outcome of a disciplinary case will not be disclosed to the referring party or public unless this release is permitted under the exceptions contained in the legislation.