Academic Judiciary Committee Volunteer Student Board Member

 

What does an Academic Judiciary Committee Member do?

The Academic Judiciary Committee hears the appeals of students accused of violating academic integrity in courses taught in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Journalism, and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. The Committee will hear details of the accusation by the reporting faculty/staff and details of the appeal by the accused student. The Committee will come to a decision of finding the student responsible or not responsible for the accusation at a hearing from testimony heard and reviewing documentation presented.

How do I qualify to be a member?

• Must have completed at least one semester of at least 12 credits at Stony Brook
• Must be in good academic standing
• Must never have been found responsible for violating academic integrity 
• Must maintain a minimum term and cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Be in any declared major
• Available for duration of hearing 1 – 1 1/2 hours

How many people are on the hearing board?

Each hearing board consists of 5 members; a hearing officer, 2 faculty, 1 professional staff and 2 undergraduate students. We also have an alternate member scheduled in case a last minute emergency arises and a member cannot attend.

Is this a paid internship? Can I apply for credit?

No, this is not a paid internship and you do not receive credit for this. This is a volunteer position.

How many hearings am I required to sit on each week?

There is not a set requirement for how many hearings you have to participate in. The number of hearings you sit on, depends on your availability. We strive to allow each student the chance to sit on at least one hearing per semester.

AJC STUDENT MEMBER RESPONSIBILITY

Please visit our website and review the academic policies and procedures for students as well as faculty/staff.

            http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/academic_integrity/

Honor all commitments you make and be on time (30 minutes prior) to all hearings. (When you do not show for a hearing or do not give prior notice that you will not be able to attend, we have to reschedule; Besides the time it takes to coordinate and reschedule a hearing, it is also not fair to all parties involved who have made a commitment to attend a scheduled hearing). Hearings generally run for about 1 hour and then the committee deliberates and discusses any necessary penalties. Any hearings that require more than 1 hour, prior notice will be given.

It is considered a conflict of interest and you will not be able to participate in that specific hearing; if you know the student, or are currently enrolled in a course in which the reporting instructor teaches.

You are required to maintain a term and cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and be in good academic standing. If you fall below this requirement, you will be removed from the committee until you meet that requirement.

OVERVIEW OF HOW THE HEARING RUNS:

• When students are accused of violating academic integrity, they have a chance to appeal the accusation and they do so by requesting a hearing before the reporting faculty/staff and academic judiciary hearing board.
• Everyone gets a copy of materials to review before the hearing; that is why we ask that you arrive about 30 minutes beforehand.
• Once the hearing begins, witnesses will be asked to wait outside until called by the committee.
• Instructor makes a statement about why he has accused the student. Not to be interrupted unless you need to have him/her repeat.
• Accused student makes a statement explaining why he/she is appealing. Not to be interrupted unless you need to have him/her repeat.
• Student, professor, hearing board can all ask questions, and when the hearing board deems it appropriate, the witness(es) will be invited in to answer questions.
• When the hearing board is satisfied that all of its questions have been answered, we will ask the student, professor, and witnesses to wait outside and the board will meet briefly to determine if we need to have you come back in for further questions. If not, we will let them know they can leave, and we’ll stay to discuss and vote.
• Decision is made by anonymous paper ballot vote of responsible or not responsible. Majority of the 5 hearing board members will rule.
• After a decision has been made, then the penalty is discussed.
• The instructor has rendered a recommended penalty, but the committee can either agree with that recommendation or suggest another penalty.
• Decisions are emailed to all parties involved.
• The decision of the hearing board is appealable by either party to the Associate Provost of the College of Arts and Sciences, within one week of receiving the hearing decision. Normally, appeals are only heard if there’s an error in procedure during the hearing or unless new evidence arises after the hearing that was not available beforehand.

Confidentiality

All committee records of findings of academic dishonesty are confidential and are accessible only to the committee, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the dean of the Marine Sciences Research Center and their designees, pre-professional committees whose request for such information have been honored by the Judiciary Committee, and to others specifically granted such access by the student(s) named in the case. The Q grade and any relevant notation, however, are accessible to anyone with access to the student's transcript for the period during which they appear on the transcript. Generally, both the Q grade and notation are temporary and students can remove both from their transcript by taking the Q course. ALL HEARING DISCUSSIONS DO NOT LEAVE OUR OFFICE.

GET INVOLVED

For further information, please email academic_judiciary@stonybrook.edu.