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Students' Rights and Responsibilities

Students are responsible for knowing their rights and responsibilities as defined by the Academic Integrity Code. By registering as a student at American University, all students acknowledge their awareness of the Academic Integrity Code each semester at the time they acknowledge their awareness of university registration policies.

Following are the responsibilities and rights identified by the code.

Each student is responsible for:

  • Pursuing conscientiously the academic objectives which he or she has set.
  • Conforming to the regulations of the university and the school or college in which the student is enrolled, and of the classes in which he or she is registered.
  • Knowing the requirements for their particular courses regarding such issues as collaborative work, use of study aids, or take home examinations.
  • Completing all examinations, tests, written papers and other assignments according to the standards set forth in the Academic Integrity Code.
  • Learning the conventions of documentation and acknowledgment of sources required in academic discourse.
  • Reporting suspected violations through the faculty member in whose course the alleged violation occurred, if the student wishes to bring forth a charge.

Each student charged with a code violation has the right to:

  • Prompt, written notification of any charge brought against the student.
  • An impartial review of any charge throughout the adjudication process.
  • A preliminary meeting, where the student will be presented with the charge made and the evidence submitted by the faculty member, advised of the procedures including her or his right to a hearing before the code review panel, and given the opportunity to respond.
  • Call relevant witnesses to a code review hearing and ask questions of witnesses.
  • The standard of proof of "clear and convincing evidence" for any instance of academic dishonesty.
  • Appeal to the provost in cases concerning notation to the permanent record (penalties (e) - (g) in .03.C).
  • Inspect her or his records of violations of the code.