Office of the Provost

Reporting Academic and Scholarly Misconduct 

The University of Connecticut recognizes that instructors play a crucial role in upholding the standards of Academic, Scholarly and Professional Integrity expected from our UConn community members. Instructors may encounter concerns that reveal academic, scholarly, or professional misconduct, which can result from continued poor scholarship or intentional acts that violate policy. 

Regardless of the circumstance, it is the expectation of all UConn community members to report academic, scholarly, or professional misconduct when they encounter concerns within academic work from students or faculty. The University defines academic and scholarly misconduct through four categories: Cheating, Plagiarizing, Misrepresenting, and Non-Compliance. These categories encompass a variety of actions or behaviors that violate the policy of Academic, Scholarly, and Professional Integrity and Misconduct (ASPIM). It is vital and expected of faculty to report concerns of academic or scholarly misconduct that may be occurring in their course, research, or any other academic endeavor at the University. 

How to report an incident of academic or scholarly misconduct?  

Reporting academic, scholarly, or professional misconduct is essential to maintaining the integrity of our academic community. Faculty can report incidents using the online reporting form. This form will guide you through the following sections: 

1. Reporter Information: This section typically asks for details about the person submitting the report. It may include fields for your name, contact information, and your role at the university (e.g., faculty, staff, student). The form allows for anonymous reporting, but providing your information can help with follow-up. 

1. Incident Information: This section gathers details about the misconduct. You might be asked to provide: 

1. Date and Time: When the incident occurred. 

1. Location: Where the incident took place (e.g., specific course or research). 

1. Type of Misconduct: Categories such as cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, or non-compliance. 

1. Description: A detailed account of what happened. Be as specific as possible, including any relevant context or evidence. 

1. Involved Parties: Here, you list the individuals involved in the incident. This can include: 

1. Respondent (Accused Student): The person(s) alleged to have committed the misconduct. 

1. Witnesses: Anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information. 

1. Supporting Documentation: This section allows you to upload any evidence that supports your report. This can include emails, screenshots, assignments, or any other relevant documents. 

1. Submission: Finally, you will have the option to review your report before submitting it. Make sure all information is accurate and complete. Once submitted, the report will be reviewed by the appropriate university office. 

If you have questions about reporting an incident of academic, scholarly, or professional misconduct, feel free to set up a consultation appointment with the appropriate office. An office representative can meet with you virtually or in person to discuss your concern and provide guidance on how to manage it. 

• Office of Community Standards: (860) 486-8402, community@uconn.edu  

• The Graduate School: (860) 486-3617, gradschool@uconn.edu  

Why is it important to report incidents of academic and scholarly misconduct for students? 

Faculty and community members are expected to report concerns they encounter to ensure that a student, whether undergraduate or graduate, receives due process when alleged of violating the ASPIM Policy or professional School Policies. Processes overseen by the Office of Community Standards (OCS), The Graduate School, the Law School, the Medical School, the Dental School, and the Pharm D program ensure that accusations are managed fairly and consistently among university processes and policies. This also ensures that the University or the faculty member does not face any legal liability for failing to provide a student with due process. 

 

Additionally, reporting allows the University to maintain a record of a student across the University. While many course instructors may find it sufficient to address the issue in their own course and not report the incident, it has other ramifications that a faculty member may not be aware of. These include: 

 

1. Ongoing Concerns: The behavior being addressed in an instructor’s course may not be the only incident in which the student is using the same actions or behaviors. OCS, the Graduate School, and the professional schools keep track of all concerns reported and can address students who are repeating actions or behaviors that violate the academic or scholarly policies through an educational lens. 

 

1. Consistency in Process: Reporting ensures that you are providing a student with a consistent process at the University. It allows students to exercise their right to request a hearing and contest allegations of violations of the ASPIM or their Professional Schools policies.  

 

1. Consistency in Accountability: Reporting further ensures that students found in violation are held accountable appropriately. While the instructor controls the academic consequence, it may be necessary for the University to consider additional sanctions or dismissal. These decisions are not taken lightly by UConn offices that manage the processes but typically involve students who have a severe violation of the policy or have had several violations of the policy based on the same behavior. Reporting allows the University to address individuals consistently based on the incident and the student’s record at the institution. This will enable the University to implement educational measures that address the root of the academic or scholarly misconduct concern.  

 

Part of the process of reporting allows the University to identify concerns with individuals as well as ongoing concerns impacting our academic communities. Reporting data collected from ongoing reports allows the University to identify recurring incidents of behavior or actions. The University can then implement solutions to address these trends and provide guidance to faculty in managing issues that stem from new academic and scholarly misconduct. 

 

By reporting concerns, you help UConn maintain its commitment to fostering an intellectual community with the highest ethical standards. It encourages ethical behaviors, including truthfulness, fairness, and respect among our students and the next generation of researchers as teachers, mentors, supervisors, and successful stewards of grant funds. 

 

We hope that you have found the following informational useful and that you were able to take the following away.  

 

Educational Impact: Reporting misconduct helps maintain the integrity of the educational environment, ensuring that all students are evaluated fairly and based on their own work. 

  

Support for Faculty: Reporting misconduct can provide support for faculty members. By involving the appropriate university offices, faculty can receive guidance and assistance in handling these situations. 

  

Preventative Measures: Reporting can help the university identify patterns of misconduct and implement preventative measures, such as educational programs or workshops aimed at promoting academic and scholarly integrity. 

  

Community Trust: Maintaining a culture of integrity builds trust within the university community. When misconduct is taken seriously, it reinforces the value of honesty and ethical behavior. 

  

Long-term Consequences: Addressing misconduct early can prevent more serious issues down the line. Students who understand the consequences of their actions are less likely to engage in unethical behavior in the future, both academically and professionally.