Appendix B: Faculty-Student Resolution (FSR) Process

Optional, One-time Faculty-Student Resolution (FSR) Process for Cases of Academic Misconduct Involving Undergraduates

This option for resolving cases of academic dishonesty is reserved for first-time, minor alleged infractions by Duke undergraduates. The faculty/staff member has the discretion to decide if the matter is resolved through the faculty-student resolution process or referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS). 

The faculty/staff member must submit an incident report of the alleged academic misconduct. The incident report must include a description of the alleged academic misconduct with any relevant information in an attachment (i.e., copies of the assignments, exams, lab reports, and plagiarism detection results). OSCCS will determine if the student is eligible to receive a Faculty-Student Resolution (FSR) and confirm that the faculty/staff member desires to resolve the matter via FSR. OSCCS will notify the student via email. 

If needed, OSCCS is available to consult with a faculty/staff member to discuss the appropriateness of this option with respect to the nature of the offense, as well as to learn of any prior violations by the student. 

If there is no record of prior offenses and the case appears to be one that, if adjudicated by a hearing officer/panel, would result in disciplinary probation, reprimand, and admonition, it may be resolved between the faculty/staff member and the student. If a student is not eligible to receive an FSR, or the faculty/staff member declines to resolve the matter through an FSR, the case will be forwarded to OSCCS for adjudication. 

A faculty-student resolution may result in a reduced grade on the assignment, a reduced grade in the course, additional assignments, and/or other educational initiatives. The outcome must comply with university policies and be agreed upon in writing using the FSR form and signed by the involved student, and faculty/staff member. The faculty must ensure that any agreed upon terms for the resolution, whether discussed in person, discussed in email, or codified in writing via the FSR form, must comply with the Undergraduate Bulletin and applicable grading policies. 

The faculty/staff member must report the outcome(s) of a faculty-student resolution to OSCCS and the student's academic dean for record keeping. A student may not drop, change course grading to S/U, or withdraw from the course once a report of alleged academic dishonesty has been submitted and/or resolved. This resolution will not become part of the student’s reportable disciplinary record unless there is a second violation. At that time, both cases will be noted on the student’s reportable disciplinary record.

Process

• The faculty/staff member must submit an incident report of the alleged academic misconduct, and relevant information in an attachment. If there are any questions, OSCCS may be reached at 919-684- 6938 or via email at conduct@duke.edu 
• If the student has no record of prior offenses and the case appears to be one that, if adjudicated by a hearing officer/ panel, would result in disciplinary probation, reprimand, or admonition, it may be resolved between the faculty/staff member and the student.
• If a student is not eligible to receive an FSR, or the faculty/staff member declines to resolve the matter through an FSR, the case will be forwarded to OSCCS for adjudication.
• OSCCS will notify the student via email that the FSR process has been initiated, and they will receive outreach from their faculty/staff member to schedule a meeting to discuss the allegations. The scheduled meeting is strictly between the student and faculty/staff member. 
• The faculty/staff member shall meet with the student, present any information relevant to the allegation.
• The student shall have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
• If multiple students are alleged to have violated the same policy in the same assignment with the same or similar fact patterns, then the FSR process must be offered equitably to all eligible students involved.
• If, after hearing the student’s perspective, the faculty/staff member determines that academic misconduct has occurred, the faculty/staff member must inform the student of the proposed outcome (s) for the Faculty-Student Resolution form.  The faculty must ensure that any agreed upon terms for the resolution, whether discussed in person, discussed in email, or codified in writing via the FSR form, must comply with the Undergraduate Bulletin and applicable Trinity/Pratt grading policies. 
• Upon receipt of the proposed FSR form, the student has 96 hours to consider and seek advice on whether to accept responsibility and agree to the terms of the FSR.
• If the student agrees to the FSR resolution, the student should sign and email the FSR form to the faculty/staff member within the allotted 96-hour period.
• The faculty/staff member should sign the FSR form and then forward a copy of the FSR to OSCCS via email, and the student's academic dean should be cc'd on the correspondence.
• By signing the FSR, the student is accepting responsibility for the alleged violation and agreeing to the terms of all indicated outcomes in the FSR and the matter will be considered final. 
• If the student does not accept the proposed resolution, the faculty/staff member should refer the case to OSCCS via email (conduct@duke.edu), and CC the student's academic dean on the correspondence.