Academic Integrity Policy: Non-Credit Learners

ACAD-POL-003

I. Policy Statement

As members of an academic community, both learners and instructors share responsibility for maintaining high standards of personal and professional integrity. If a learner violates these standards, the Academic Integrity Process ensures a fair resolution. The Academic Integrity Committee (AIC) may be called upon to hear cases where a breach of academic integrity is alleged by an instructor or peer. In all cases, RIT Certified representatives are responsible for rendering fair and appropriate decisions that uphold the standards of academic integrity.

II. Definitions and Roles

  • Academic Integrity Committee (AIC): A panel responsible for reviewing and determining outcomes in cases of academic integrity breaches. Staff or learner members on the committee must recuse themselves if there is a conflict of interest or bias, and alternates will be appointed as needed. The committee shall consist of
    • One (1) or two (2) members from the Academics team
    • The RIT Certified Registrar
    • A learner advocate as a non-voting party (as requested by the learner)
    • Executive Director Designee
  • Executive Director Designee: The Executive Director (ED) shall identify a designee to facilitate and manage the hearing process as the Academic Integrity Committee chair. The Executive Director Designee serves as a voting member for the AIC, oversees procedural fairness, schedules hearings, and ensures all parties are notified and supported throughout the process.
  • Advocate: A non-legal instructor, staff, or peer representative chosen by the learner to provide support during the hearing.
  • Instructor: The course facilitator who identifies and reports suspected academic misconduct. An instructor is responsible for assembling evidence and making an initial determination of appropriate action to be taken, up to and including failing the learner in the course. This authority aligns with RIT Certified’s Grading Policy, which defines failure as a potential academic outcome based on course expectations or violations of academic integrity.
  • Learner: Any individual enrolled in an RIT Certified non-credit offering.

III. Breaches of Academic Integrity

Breaches of academic integrity fall into four primary categories:

  • Cheating: Cheating is any form of fraudulent or deceptive academic act, including falsification of data, possessing, providing, or using unapproved materials, sources, or tools for a project, exam, or body of work submitted for evaluation. This includes unauthorized collaboration or misrepresentation of academic work as independently completed.
  • Duplicate Submission: Submitting the same or similar work for credit in more than one course or course section without instructor permission.
  • Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the representation of others’ ideas as one’s own without giving proper attribution to the original author or authors. Plagiarism occurs when a learner copies direct phrases from a text (e.g. books, journals, and internet) and does not provide quotation marks or paraphrases or summarizes those ideas without giving credit to the author or authors. In all cases, if such information is not properly and accurately documented with appropriate credit given, then the learner has committed plagiarism.
  • Inappropriate Use of AI: Utilizing AI tools in a way that contradicts course-specific expectations. Learners must follow AI usage guidelines outlined in the course syllabus.

All communication related to breaches may be conducted via email.

IV. Initial Instructor-Learner Resolution Attempt

When an instructor identifies a potential breach, they are responsible for determining whether the allegation is credible and supported by evidence. The instructor will:

  • Document the evidence (e.g., text comparisons, screenshots, communication records)
  • Notify the learner of the allegation via email, outlining the rationale for the action being taken
  • Offer to meet with the learner to discuss the allegation and proposed resolution

If the learner accepts the outcome, the matter is considered closed. The instructor must submit all documentation, including the gathered evidence, a summary of the discussion with the learner, and the agreed-upon outcome, to certreg@rit.edu within five (5) business days of the learner’s acceptance. If the learner contests the allegation or the instructor believes the severity of the breach warrants additional review, either party may refer the case to the Academic Integrity Committee.

V. Reporting to the Academic Integrity Committee (AIC)

To escalate a case, the instructor or learner must do so within five (5) business days of their meeting if a mutual resolution is not reached:

  • A written report and relevant evidence must be emailed to certified@rit.edu by the instructor or learner
  • The AIC chair will review the submission and notify both parties within two (2) business days if the report warrants further action

A formal hearing will be scheduled and notice will be provided to the learner, including:

  • A summary of the allegations
  • Names of committee members expected to be present
  • A link to this policy

Learners have the right to choose an advocate to sit on the AIC as an ad-hoc non-voting member to provide support. Once notified of the escalated case, learners have three (3) business days to designate a nonlegal advocate to participate in the hearing. If no advocate is selected, the AIC will proceed without one.

VI. Accessibility and Accommodations

RIT Certified is committed to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in the academic integrity process. If you need access services or accommodations for a hearing (such as sign language 2 interpretation, captioning, or other support) please email certified@rit.edu as early as possible after receiving your hearing notification.

We will work with you and RIT’s Access Services team to ensure your needs are met throughout the process.

VII. Academic Integrity Hearing

Hearings are not a court of law or legal proceedings, and legal representation is not allowed. The AIC chair determines what testimony and evidence will be considered. Hearings will be scheduled in formats amenable to all participants.

Participants will be notified at least three (3) business days in advance. Hearings include:

  • The learner
  • AIC members
  • A learner-designated advocate (optional)
  • Relevant witnesses (with prior notice and limited speaking time)

The learner cannot be found responsible for breaches of academic integrity solely for failing to answer the charges or appear at the hearing; in such cases, evidence to support the charges will be presented to the AIC and a determination will be made based on the evidence.

Written statements may be submitted in lieu of live attendance and will be read into the record.

VIII. Recording and Documentation

All hearings are recorded (audio or video). Hearing participants will be informed when recording begins. Transcripts or recordings may be reviewed upon request to certified@rit.edu. All materials are property of RIT Certified and will be retained for 10 years.

RIT Certified values academic integrity as a core institutional principle and maintains internal documentation of all potential, unfounded, and confirmed breaches reported through the Academic Integrity process. Only cases that have been initiated via formal instructor reporting or learner submission, regardless of outcome, will be tracked. Informal communications, advisories, or undocumented concerns that do not result in an official report will not be recorded in institutional records.

Tracking both confirmed and unfounded cases supports pattern identification, promotes transparency, and informs future academic integrity education and policy development.

Learners have the right to request access to records pertaining to their academic integrity case, including hearing documentation and final determinations. Learners may also request a correction to factual inaccuracies in those records by submitting a written request to certified@rit.edu. Requests will be reviewed by the Registrar and Academics team, and any updates or corrections will be reflected in the institutional record as appropriate.

IX. Hearing Participants

  • Advocates: Learners may bring an instructor, staff, or peer advocate (non-lawyer) to participate.
  • Lawyers: Practicing lawyers are not permitted to participate in the Academic Integrity Process as a representative of the learner or instructor.
  • Parents/Guardians: May observe and/or provide quiet counsel if the learner is under the age of 18.
  • Witnesses: Must be pre-approved by the ED Designee. Speaking time is limited to five (5) minutes. Names and contact information for anyone presenting information must be submitted in advance of the meeting and in time to be documented in hearing materials. RIT Certified maintains the right to limit the number of meeting presenters and attendees.

X. Hearing Outcome

The AIC will render a decision by simple majority within two (2) business days after the hearing. If a breach is confirmed:

  • Sanctions may include resubmission, grade penalties, course failure, or involuntary withdrawal from RIT Certified.
  • The Executive Director may also be advised to consider academic suspension from RIT Certified.
  • A written outcome will be sent to both learner and instructor within three (3) business days.

For RIT Certified learners that are also matriculated RIT students, a referral to the Office of Student Conduct will be submitted following the hearing outcome.

If the AIC determines no breach occurred, the instructor will reassess the grade in accordance with course policies. If a learner withdraws from the course after a case has been initiated, the grade will be recorded as:

  • W if not yet adjudicated
  • F if the breach is later confirmed

XI. Appeals and Procedural Reviews

Findings of the AIC are final. However, learners may request a procedural review if they believe there was a significant error in the hearing process. Requests must:

  • Be submitted in writing to the Executive Director through certified@rit.edu within five (5) business days of the outcome
  • Include specific claims of procedural error (not a disagreement with the outcome)

The Executive Director will determine whether further review is warranted.