Everybody’s Guide to
Colorado State University’s PACe Program 

Academic Honesty

The University Policy on Academic Integrity includes the following statements:

Academic dishonesty undermines the educational experience at Colorado State University, lowers morale by engendering a skeptical attitude about the quality of education, and negatively affects the relationship between students and instructors.

Instructors are expected to use reasonably practical means of preventing and detecting academic dishonesty. Any student found responsible for having engaged in academic dishonesty will be subject to academic penalty and/or University disciplinary action.

Students are encouraged to share responsibility for the academic integrity of the University by reporting incidents of academic dishonesty. (See the University General Catalog.)

Possession of visually, audibly, or tactilely accessible materials in the PACe Testing Center that could assist the student in earning a higher score on an examination and attempting to misrepresent information are examples of academic dishonesty.

The University Policy on Academic Integrity is vigorously enforced in the PACe Program. Students judged to have engaged in cheating may be assigned a reduced grade or a grade of F for the course and/or other penalties may be imposed. All incidents of academic dishonesty will be reported to Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services for possible further disciplinary action. Incidents of impersonation may be referred to the University Police for criminal investigation.

Procedures and Appeals

Any evidence that a student is engaging or has engaged in an act of academic dishonesty will be reported to a Director of the PACe Program. The Director will give the student involved the opportunity to provide his/her explanation of the incident.  If the student admits to engaging in academic dishonesty or if the director judges that a preponderance of evidence exists to support the allegation of academic dishonesty, the Director may impose an academic penalty and will report the incident to Conflict Resolution and Students Conduct Services.

If the student disputes the allegation of academic dishonesty, he/she should request a hearing with Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services. The University Hearing Officer will determine whether or not a preponderance of evidence exists in support of the allegation of academic dishonesty.

If the University Hearing Officer finds insufficient evidence or clears the student of charges, the penalty imposed by the PACe Director will be rescinded and the student's previous status in the PACe Program restored. If the University Hearing Officer finds the student culpable, the Hearing Officer may impose additional University disciplinary sanctions.

For further information see "Student Rights and Responsibilities" in the University General Catalog.