Roles and Rights of Participants in the Academic Honor System
The following roles are assigned as applicable to eligible members of the Wake Forest student, staff, & faculty body:
- Judicial Liaison (Dr. Jack Amoureux)
- Consults with and advises faculty regarding potential cases of academic misconduct
- Determines whether reported allegations will be presented as a case of academic misconduct to be adjudicated via a hearing
- HEC Co-Chairs (Dr. Ellen Kirkman and Dr. Erica Still)
- Oversee the HEC process on behalf of the Dean of the College
- Convene and chair hearings to adjudicate cases of alleged academic misconduct
- Recruit, train, and oversee faculty & student Hearing Panelists
- HEC Hearing Panelists
- Participate in HEC hearings and their deliberations in order to reach a finding regarding the likelihood of academic misconduct and assign sanctions when appropriate.
- Academic Student Conduct Coordinator (Sarah Frederick)
- Manages the logistics and implementation of the HEC procedures at each stage
- Provides support for students
- Accused Student
- Reporting Instructor
Students alleged to have committed academic misconduct have the right to the following:
- Clear and timely communications regarding:
- the allegations being made against the student
- the nature and steps of the HEC process
- any required actions and deadlines
- the outcome of the case when applicable
- Assistance from the Academic Student Conduct Coordinator
- Opportunity to be accompanied by a Wake Forest faculty, staff, or student throughout the process in a supportive but non-participatory role
- Access to all documents included in the case file
- Opportunity to request the participation of material witnesses who have relevant information regarding the specific case
- Opportunity to present opening and closing statements in the hearing
- Opportunity to ask questions of the reporting party and witnesses
- Opportunity to be present during all parts of the hearing (which consists of the presentation of the case and the opportunity to hear from all involved parties) with the exception of the panel’s deliberation
- Opportunity to request an appeal of the panel’s decision, as outlined in the Judicial Council’s procedures
Students are expected to meet the following standards. Failure to do so may be reported as a Code of Conduct violation:
- Cooperate with the Academic Student Conduct Coordinator in all aspects of the process, including and especially: submitting materials, responding to emails, scheduling hearings, and keeping the deadlines communicated by the Academic Student Conduct Coordinator
- Maintain the privacy of all of the documents in the case file, refraining from sharing them with anyone not directly involved in the case
- Submit a written statement prior to the hearing in keeping with the deadline(s) communicated by the Academic Student Conduct Coordinator
- Answer direct questions posed during the hearing by the HEC Co-Chairs
The Reporting Instructor has the right to the following:
- Access to all documents included in the case file
- the allegations being made against the student
- the nature and steps of the HEC process
- any required actions and deadlines
- the outcome of the case when applicable
- Opportunity to be present during the entire hearing with the exception of the panel’s deliberation
- Opportunity to ask questions of witnesses
- Opportunity to present opening and closing remarks in the hearing
Instructors are expected to meet the following standards:
- Report cases or request consultation regarding suspected academic misconduct in a timely manner (typically, within two weeks of discovering the alleged misconduct)
- Complete the required form(s) and submit supporting materials as expeditiously and thoroughly as possible
- Maintain the privacy of all of the documents in the case file, refraining from sharing them with anyone not directly involved in the case
Responsibilities:
- Contribute to a communal effort to maintain academic excellence and honesty
- Reach appropriate resolutions to charges of academic misconduct through fair and deliberative consideration of relevant circumstances
- Assign appropriate consequences for instances of adjudicated academic misconductg
Expectations:
- Maintain privacy regarding all cases
- Acknowledge and avoid conflicts of interest
- Protect availability for hearings as much as possible
- Respond in a timely manner to scheduling requests
- Prepare by reviewing the case materials prior to the hearing
- Keep an open mind and check for biases (your own and others’)
- Ask questions to clarify or gain additional information
- Maintain a respectful and non-adversarial disposition throughout the process