504-26-409 << 504-26-415 >> 504-26-420

WAC 504-26-415

Procedure for Academic Integrity Violations.(1) Initial Hearing.(A) When a Responsible Instructor Believes That an Academic Integrity Violation Has Occurred, the Instructor Must Make Reasonable Attempts to Meet with the Student Suspected of Committing an Academic Integrity Violation to Allow the Student to Respond to the Allegations.(B) After the Meeting Or Reasonable Attempts to Meet Occur, the Instructor Must Make a Decision As to Whether It Is More Likely Than Not That the Respondent Is Responsible for an Academic Integrity Violation As Defined in Wac 504-26-202. If the Instructor Finds That the Respondent Is Responsible for an Academic Integrity Violation, the Instructor Must Provide the Respondent and Ccs with a Written Decision, the Evidence Relied Upon, and the Academic Sanctions Assigned.(C) Decisions Made by the Instructor Become Final 21 Calendar Days After the Date the Decision Is Sent to the Respondent, Unless an Appeal Is Submitted.(2) Appeal.(A) the Respondent Can Appeal the Instructor's Decision by Submitting an Appeal to Ccs Within 20 Calendar Days of the Date of Decision. Upon Timely Submission of Appeal, the Academic Integrity Hearing Board Conducts a Limited Review.(B) Scope of Review. Appeal of an Instructor's Academic Integrity Decision Is Limited to a Review of the Record to Determine Whether:(I) the Instructor Meeting Was Conducted Fairly in Light of the Charges and Information Presented, and in Conformity with Prescribed Procedures; Deviations From Designated Procedures Are Not a Basis for Sustaining an Appeal Unless Procedural Error Affected the Outcome of the Matter.(Ii) the Decision Reached Was Based on Substantial Information, I.E., Whether There Were Facts in the Case That, If Believed by the Fact Finder, Were Sufficient to Establish That a Violation of the Standards of Conduct Occurred;(Iii) the Academic Sanction Assigned by the Instructor Was in Alignment with the Published Course Policies And/Or Syllabus Statement(S).(C) Actions. After Reviewing the Record and Any Information Provided by the Parties, the Academic Integrity Hearing Board May Take the Following Actions:(I) Affirm, Reverse, Or Modify the Initial Decision, Or Any Part of the Decision;(Ii) Affirm, Reverse, Or Modify the Academic Sanctions And/Or Remedies Assigned by the Decision Maker, Or Any Part of the Sanctions And/Or Remedies; Or(Iii) Set Aside the Findings, Sanctions, Remedies, Or Any Part of the Findings, Sanctions, Or Remedies and Remand the Matter Back to the Decision Maker with Instructions for Further Proceedings.(D) the Academic Integrity Hearing Board Is Empowered to Provide an Appropriate Remedy for a Respondent Including Arranging a Withdrawal From the Course, Having the Respondent's Work Evaluated, Or Changing a Grade Where It Finds That:(I) the Respondent Is Not Responsible for Violating Academic Integrity Policies; Or(Ii) the Outcome Assigned by the Instructor Violates the Instructor's Published Policies.(E) Content of Decision. the Decision Includes the Outcome, Any Sanction Or Remedy, and a Brief Statement of the Reasons for the Decision. the Letter Must Advise the Parties That Judicial Review May Be Available. the Written Decision of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board Is the University's Final Order. There Is No Additional Appeal of the Findings of Responsibility Or Academic Sanctions Assigned by Academic Integrity Hearing Board.(3) After a Finding of Responsibility, Either Upon Expiration of the Appeal Period Or the Academic Integrity Hearing Board Decision, the Matter Is Referred to Ccs for Educational Sanctioning Separate From, and in Addition To, Any Academic Sanctions Assigned by the Instructor.(4) Because Instructors and Departments Have an Educational Need to Know the Outcome of an Academic Integrity Hearing Board Decision, Academic Integrity Hearing Board Decisions Are Shared with the Responsible Instructor and the Chair Or Dean.[Statutory Authority: Rcw 28B.30.150. Wsr 24-23-093, S 504-26-415, Filed 11/19/24, Effective 12/20/24; Wsr 24-10-031, § 504-26-415, Filed 4/23/24, Effective 5/24/24; Wsr 22-23-142, § 504-26-415, Filed 11/21/22, Effective 1/1/23; Wsr 21-07-057, § 504-26-415, Filed 3/15/21, Effective 4/15/21; Wsr 18-23-083, § 504-26-415, Filed 11/19/18, Effective 12/20/18.](Effective August 1, 2026)Pdfwac 504-26-415Procedure for Academic Integrity Violations.

(Effective until August 1, 2026)

(1) Initial hearing.

(a) When an instructor believes that an academic integrity violation has occurred, the instructor must make at least one reasonable attempt to meet with the respondent.

(b) After making at least one reasonable attempt to meet with respondent, the instructor determines responsibility using a preponderance of the evidence standard, defined in WAC 504-26-040, as to whether it is more likely than not that the respondent is responsible for an academic integrity violation as defined in WAC 504-26-202.

(c) If the instructor finds that the student is responsible for an academic integrity violation, the instructor must inform the respondent in writing that they:

(i) Are being found responsible for an academic integrity violation; and

(ii) Have the right to appeal the decision through CCS.

(d) Instructors are required to submit a report to CCS that includes:

(i) All evidence used to make the finding of responsibility;

(ii) The course syllabus and any other documentation that defines the established course expectations for academic integrity;

(iii) A copy of their communication with the student that includes the requirements outlined in (c) of this subsection;

(iv) Documentation of the reasonable attempt made to meet with the respondent before making a decision.

(e) If the instructor does not meet the reporting instructions in (c) of this subsection, CCS may refer the reported violation back to the instructor with additional instructions. The instructor must submit a new report, or they must grade the assignment as if no academic integrity violation occurred.

(2) Appeal.

(a) Time for appeals. Decisions become final on the 21st calendar day after the date the respondent is notified in writing of their right to appeal, unless an appeal is submitted within 20 calendar days of the date the decision is sent to the parties.

(b) Scope of review. The community standards board reviews all information submitted by the instructor to CCS and all information submitted by the respondent in their appeal to determine the following:

(i) Whether the communication and reporting requirements under subsection (1)(c) and (d) of this section were completed;

(ii) Whether the initial decision was based on a preponderance of the evidence standard as defined in WAC 504-26-040; and

(iii) Whether the sanction assigned by the instructor was in alignment with the published course policies and/or syllabus statement(s).

(c) Actions. After reviewing the record, as defined in (b) of this subsection, the community standards board may take the following actions:

(i) Affirm, reverse, or modify the initial decision of responsibility based upon the scope of review defined in (b) of this subsection; or

(ii) Affirm, reverse, or modify the sanction assigned by the instructor if it was more severe than outlined in the published course policies and/or syllabus statement(s); or

(iii) Reverse the sanction assigned by the instructor if the respondent is found not responsible.

(d) Outcomes. The respondent and instructor must adhere to all determinations made by the community standards board as outlined in (b) of this subsection and any other remedies assigned by the community standards board including, but not limited to, having the respondent's assignment evaluated as if no academic violation took place or changing a grade when the community standards board affirms, reverses, or modifies an initial decision.

(e) Notice of decision and right to appeal. The parties are notified, in writing, of the decision within 30 calendar days of the community standards board hearing or, upon notification in writing, within an extended total of 90 calendar days.

(i) The written decision of the community standards board, in accordance with WAC 504-26-415, is the university's final order.

(ii) Decision letters are sent to the respondent, instructor, chair, and/or dean.

(f) Content of decision. The decision includes the outcome, any remedies, and a brief statement of the reasons for the decision. The letter must advise the parties that judicial review may be available.

(3) After a finding of responsibility, either upon expiration of the appeal period or the community standards board decision, the matter is referred to CCS for sanctioning separate from, and in addition to, any academic sanctions assigned by the instructor.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.30.150. WSR 26-09-100, s 504-26-415, filed 4/20/26, effective 8/1/26; WSR 24-23-093, s 504-26-415, filed 11/19/24, effective 12/20/24; WSR 24-10-031, § 504-26-415, filed 4/23/24, effective 5/24/24; WSR 22-23-142, § 504-26-415, filed 11/21/22, effective 1/1/23; WSR 21-07-057, § 504-26-415, filed 3/15/21, effective 4/15/21; WSR 18-23-083, § 504-26-415, filed 11/19/18, effective 12/20/18.]