Reporting

Procedures for Reporting Violations

Suspected violations should be reported to the Honor Committee in a timely manner using forms provided by the Honor Committee. The Honor Committee will promptly notify the involved student(s) in writing. The involved student(s) will meet with a representative of the Honor Committee to review the information and arrange for resolution of the matter.

Hearing Panels

When a student disputes an allegation, a five member panel of Honor Committee members, appointed by the chair of the Honor Committee, will meet with both the student and the person(s) reporting the alleged offense. Each side will present information and the panel will determine if clear and convincing evidence of a violation has been presented. At least four of the five panel members must judge that the evidence proves responsibility for the offense. If the student is found responsible, a sanction or sanctions will be determined by majority vote of the panel.

Counsel

The hearing panel will have a faculty member present during the hearing to offer assistance when requested by the Chair of the panel. All other parties may have an advisor present if that advisor is a member of the George Mason University student body, other than a student from the School of Law.

Sanctions

The hearing panel may impose oral and written reprimands and other such non-academic sanctions as they deem proportionate to the offense. It can recommend sanctions that involve reduced grades to the course professor. Recommendations for non-academic suspension and non-academic dismissal are forwarded to the Provost's delegate. In determining sanctions for a first violation of the Honor Code, panel members should keep in mind the educational purpose of the Honor Code process.

Appeals

Appeals must be submitted in writing within seven business days of the hearing. Appeals can be granted only on the basis of new evidence, procedural irregularity, or other grounds of sufficient gravity to call into serious doubt the original hearing panel's decision. The decision to accept or deny the appeal will be made by three Honor Committee members who have had no prior contact with the case.

Amendments

The Honor Committee, by majority vote, may approve proposed amendments to the Honor Code. The proposed amendments will be submitted to the student population at the next spring election where they must be approved for implementation by a two-third majority of those voting.