Overview of the HEC Process
- Reporting Instructor submits the reporting form for the Judicial Liaison (JL) to review
- Judicial Liaison determines if the allegation is reasonably supported by the available information, such that a hearing is warranted.
- The JL may choose to collect additional information and materials as appropriate.
- Judicial Liaison submits the report of alleged academic misconduct to the Academic Student Conduct Coordinator (ASCC)
- Academic Student Conduct Coordinator provides the student with the following information:
- Notification that the case has been brought forward
- Information about the steps of the Academic Honor Code process
- Information about support from staff (ASCC) and option for a support person
- Instructions and a deadline for completing the Student Statement
- Instructions and a deadline for requesting either an “Expedited” or a “Regular” hearing
- Academic Student Conduct Coordinator compiles all of the case materials and makes them available to the appropriate parties
- Academic Student Conduct Coordinator schedules hearing
- Student requests regarding the type of hearing (“Expedited” or “Regular”) will be granted to the extent that they are reasonable and feasible, but the HEC Co-Chairs make the final decision in unusual circumstances.
- Co-Chair, acting as the Hearing Chair, convenes the hearing and then facilitates the panel’s deliberations to determine the student’s responsibility and to assign sanctions when warranted
- Student is informed of the Outcome (the finding of “Responsible” or “Not Responsible” and any accompanying sanctions) and the process for appealing the HEC decision via a formal letter delivered to the student’s registered Wake Forest email address.
- In most cases, the student will be invited to wait until deliberations are concluded when they may receive the Outcome in person as well. Waiting is not required.
- Instructor is notified of the Outcome. In cases where the finding is “Not Responsible,” the instructor then submits the student’s earned grade for the course (according to the University Registrar’s procedures). If the finding is “Responsible,” HEC will report the sanction to the University Registrar.
Students have the right to a timely process. Therefore, the HEC will make every effort to move forward expeditiously, following the timeline below as closely as possible. Necessary changes will be communicated to the involved parties as soon as possible.
- Instructors should report cases within two (2) weeks of discovering the alleged misconduct. Allegations that fall outside of this guideline will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Judicial Liaison.
- Once a report has been made, instructors can expect to hear from the Judicial Liaison (JL) within 72 hours, at which point the JL may request additional information and/or reach a decision about whether the report will move forward as an HEC case. To the extent possible, these decisions will be made within seven (7) days of receiving the report.
- Once a case has been brought forward, the student will be notified within 72 hours. At that time, the student will be given instructions for completing the Student Statement, requesting assistance from the Student Academic Conduct Coordinator, and preparing for the hearing in general. The student will have 48 hours to acknowledge they have received the notice.
- Students will have seven (7) days from the date of the notification to submit their Student Statement and any accompanying materials.
- Hearings will typically be scheduled for seven (7) to fourteen (14) days after the student has acknowledged receipt of the notification regarding the allegation.
- The finding and any accompanying sanctions will be communicated to the student within 72 hours of the hearing’s conclusion. The student will have up to fourteen (14) days from the date when they are notified to submit a request for an appeal to the Judicial Council.