At the University of Pittsburgh, students have certain rights and responsibilities consistent with the privilege of being a member of the university and law school community. For non-academic matters, the Student Code of Conduct articulates the duties and obligations of students. In academic endeavors, every student must familiarize themselves with the provisions of these standards and comply with them. Nothing contained herein shall be construed or interpreted to conflict with the University of Pittsburgh Guidelines on Academic Integrity. These University Guidelines should also be the source of implied terms not expressed herein.
Student Obligations
Students must exhibit honesty and respect the ethical standards of the legal profession when carrying out their academic assignments. Without limiting the application of this principle, a student may be found to have violated this obligation if they:
- Possess materials or employ devices not authorized by the instructor during an academic evaluation
- Assist in an academic evaluation of another person in a manner not authorized by the instructor
- Receive assistance during an academic evaluation from another person in a manner not authorized by the instructor
- Possess, buy, sell, obtain, or use a copy of any materials intended to be used as an instrument of academic evaluation in advance of its administration
- Act as a substitute for another person in any academic evaluation process
- Utilize a substitute in any academic evaluation procedures
- Practice any form of deceit in an academic evaluation proceeding
- Attempt to override constraints imposed by examination software
- Depend on the aid of others in a manner expressly prohibited by the instructor in the research, preparation, creation, writing, performing, or publication of work to be submitted for academic credit or evaluation
- Provide aid to another person, knowing such aid is expressly prohibited by the instructor, in the research, preparation, creation, writing, performing, or publication of work to be submitted for academic credit or evaluation
- Present as one's own, for academic evaluation, the ideas, representations, or words of another person or persons without customary and proper acknowledgment of sources
- Submit the work of another person in a manner that represents the work to be one's own
- Knowingly permit one's work to be submitted by another person without the instructor's authorization
- Attempt to influence or change one's academic evaluation or record for reasons other than achievement or merit
- Indulge, during a class or examination session, in conduct that is so disruptive as to infringe upon the rights of the instructor or fellow students
- Fail to cooperate, if called upon, in the investigation or disposition of any allegation of dishonesty about a fellow student
- Mutilate library materials or take or sequester library materials for their benefit or to the detriment of others
- Continue writing after the final warning indicator, signaling the conclusion of an examination. Upon issuing the one-minute warning, a student shall ensure the front of the exam booklet is appropriately filled out. When the final announcement is given, students will stop writing. The only time a student may make any further markings is with the express consent of the person supervising that examination.
- Falsify or misrepresent academic records on an employment application made through the Law School or
- Falsify or misrepresent information or participate in falsifying or misrepresenting information, including but not limited to LSAT scores, in any law school admissions application form or other law school disclosure form before or after their matriculation.
- Whether before or following matriculation, fails to disclose information required by any law school admissions application form or other law school disclosure form, or fails to update or correct information contained in such forms, as and when required by such forms or other communications from the Law School administration.
- Signs another student's name on an attendance sheet.
Adjudication Procedures
No student should be subject to an adverse finding that they committed an offense related to academic integrity, and no sanction should be imposed relating to it except by the procedures appropriate for the disposition of the matter involved. The degree of formality of proceedings, the identity of the decision-maker or decision-makers, and other related aspects properly reflect such considerations as the severity of the potential sanction, its probable impact upon the student, and the extent to which matters of professional judgment are essential in arriving at an informed decision. In all cases, however, the objective is to provide fundamental fairness to the student and an orderly means for arriving at a decision, starting with the individual instructor and then designated administrative officers or bodies.
- A faculty member, student, or staff member may initiate an allegation that a student has violated academic integrity standards. The allegation must be communicated to the Vice Dean and/or the Assistant Dean of Students, who will inform the student of it and allow the student to respond. Efforts will be made at this informal stage to resolve the matter in a manner acceptable to the interested parties.
- If the matter cannot be resolved through this informal process, a written statement of charges will be filed with the Office of the Dean. If the Dean or their designee finds probable cause to believe that a student has violated a standard of academic integrity and that severe sanctions may be appropriate, he or she shall refer the matter to the Hearing Board. For this purpose, severe sanctions include expulsion, suspension, or entry of a permanent notation on any record currently or prospectively available to any person outside the law school.
- The Hearing Board shall consist of three faculty members appointed annually by the Faculty Steering Committee and two students.
- Students appearing before the Hearing Board shall have the right to be accompanied and represented by an advisor of their choice during all stages of the proceedings before the Board.
- The Hearing Board proceeding is de novo, without reference to any matter developed previously in any informal proceeding in which disciplinary action was considered. No member of the Hearing Board who has previously participated in the case or would appear as a participant before the Board itself shall sit in judgment during that proceeding.
- At least ten days before the Hearing Board proceeding, the student immediately involved shall be given a written statement indicating the nature and basis of the charge and the penalties that may attach to it. Should a charge arise during an examination period, any student involved will be notified immediately after completing that period.
- During the proceedings, the student shall be allowed to testify and present other evidence and witnesses relevant to the charge or the possible penalties imposed. This student shall have an opportunity to cross-examine adverse witnesses. In no case shall the Board consider statements against the student unless they have been advised of their content and the names of those who gave them unless they have been allowed to rebut unfavorable inferences that might otherwise be drawn.
- A clear and convincing standard shall be applied to determine any fact bearing on culpability or penalty.
- Decisions of the Hearing Board shall be subject to such review as provided in the University of Pittsburgh Guidelines on Academic Integrity, provided, however, that whenever the sanction of expulsion is imposed, an appeal to the full faculty is permitted as a matter of right.
- The Hearing Board is empowered to formulate additional operating procedures and policies, subject to conformity with University Guidelines on Academic Integrity.
Faculty Obligations
Faculty obligations are governed by the University of Pittsburgh's Guidelines for Academic Integrity. A copy of these guidelines may be retrieved from the Office of the Assistant Dean of Students.
Timeliness
All parties, including administrative officers, must take prompt action to resolve charges quickly and fairly. The instructor's failure to utilize these procedures diligently may constitute grounds for dismissal of charges.
Sanctions
The sanctions that may be imposed upon a finding that an offense related to academic integrity has been committed are the following:
- Dismissal from the University without expectation of readmission.
- Suspension from the University for a specific period.
- Dismissal from the department where the offense occurred and exclusion from courses offered in that department, permanently or for a stated period.
- Dismissal from the course in which the offense occurred, with or without the opportunity to be enrolled at a future date.
- Reduction in grade, or assignment of a failing grade, in the course in which the offending paper or examination was submitted.
- Reduction in grade, or assignment of a failing grade, on the paper or examination in which the offense occurred.
The school may consider imposing such sanctions in preparing any report concerning a student that will be submitted to a government agency, accrediting body, or other person or institution as required by law or with the student's consent