Academic and Professional Standards

Academic Rights, Penalties, and Appeals

The policies described in this section are based on the Board of Governors Rules and Policies Academics Rule 2.5, Student Rights and Responsibilities. This section expands the general policy to include procedures for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at WVU (including the divisional campuses in Beckley and Keyser, but subject to exclusions as defined in individual policies).

A student, by voluntarily accepting admission to West Virginia University (WVU) or enrolling in a class or course of study offered by WVU, accepts the academic requirements and criteria of the institution. Normally students may finish a program of study according to the requirements under which they were admitted to the program. However, requirements are subject to change at any time with reasonable notice provided to students. It is the student’s responsibility to fulfill coursework and degree or certificate requirements and to know and meet criteria for satisfactory academic progress and completion of the program. Students are expected to adhere to academic requirements and standards in all academic settings, such as classrooms, laboratories, and clinics, and during any activities that are part of academic requirements. Further, WVU students are citizens of a broader academic community. As such, the University expects that every member of its academic community share its historic and traditional commitment to honesty, integrity, and the search for truth. To meet these standards, academic dishonesty is prohibited and is subject to both academic and disciplinary penalties. Information on these penalties, as well as all associated procedures, are found on the West Virginia University Office of Academic Integrity website. Please note that, to the extent there is any inconsistency with the language in the catalog and the BOG Academics Rule 2.5 or the WVU Policy on Student Academic Integrity, the BOG Rule and the WVU Policy govern; please refer to the BOG Rule and WVU Policy for the most current language.

Any question of interpretation regarding student rights and responsibilities, academic penalties, or appeal processes for final grades or other academic penalties shall be referred to the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Health Sciences, or the divisional campus President, as appropriate, for final determination.

Any behaviors not academic in nature but related to student conduct should be referred to the Campus Student Code as stipulated in Board of Governors Rules and Policies Student Life Rule 6.1.

Academic Rights

Each student at West Virginia University has the following academic rights (as well as others; see BOG Academics Rule 2.5):

1. Right to have their performance evaluated solely upon performance as measured against academic standards. The student shall not be evaluated prejudicially, capriciously, or arbitrarily. The student shall not be graded, nor shall their performance be evaluated on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, marital or family status, pregnancy, veteran status, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or gender expression (see BOG Governance Rule 1.6), or other protected status.
2. Right to appeal any final grade, charge of academic dishonesty, or other academic penalty.
3. Right to access a copy of the University catalog and program documents in which all current program requirements and standards are described (e.g. required courses, total credit requirements, time in residence requirements, special program requirements, minimum grade point average, probation standards, professional standards, etc.).
4. Right to receive course syllabi with descriptions of content and requirements for any course in which they are enrolled (e.g., attendance expectations, special requirements, laboratory requirements including time, field trips and costs, grading standards and procedures, professional standards, etc.).
5. Right to assigned grades issued from the instructor of each course to students enrolled in the course consistent with the academic rights set out in the preceding sections.

Academic Dishonesty

Students are expected to adhere to the academic standards set forth by West Virginia University, and to avoid academic dishonesty in all its forms. West Virginia University defines academic dishonesty as follows:

1. Plagiarism means the theft or unauthorized use of work, typically created by another. It includes but is not limited to: 
   1. the use of another’s words, ideas, or media – whether published or unpublished, partial or complete, by paraphrase or direct quotation – without complete and accurate acknowledgement;
   2. the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another individual, including an individual engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials; or
   3. repeated submission of one’s own work, specifically submission of the same material in multiple courses or iterations of a course, without the instructor’s express permission. 
       
2. Cheating means reliance on unauthorized resources, in connection with examinations or academic assignments. It includes but is not limited to: 
   1. collaboration with peers beyond that authorized by the instructor in the completion of an examination or academic assignment;
   2. cheating on an examination or academic assignment, by either (i) utilizing unauthorized physical or technological resources (e.g., cheat sheets, online resources), or (ii) receiving unauthorized personal assistance (e.g., copying from another student); or
   3. the acquisition or use, without permission, of examinations or other academic material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff. 
       
3. Fabrication or Falsification means acts of misrepresentation, forgery, or fraud as they relate to academic or educational matters.  It includes but is not limited to: 
   1. fabricating or falsifying citations, data, or other records;
   2. wrongfully fabricating or falsifying attendance or participation records for a University course or in an experiential or clinical setting;
   3. wrongfully fabricating or altering an educational record (e.g., admission, grade, or attendance record) after it has been created;
   4. use of University documents or instruments of identification for fraudulent purposes (e.g., impersonation of another student); or
   5. knowingly furnishing false statements in any University academic proceeding. 
       
4. Other Prohibited Academic Conduct means:
   1. engaging in behavior specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus; or
   2. violating other departmental, college, or university academic standards, and/or legal or professional standards. 
       
5. Facilitation means:
   1. providing unauthorized materials or personal assistance to another student when such assistance allows them to commit academic dishonesty; or
   2. compelling someone else to commit academic dishonesty on one’s behalf.

Information on all associated procedures are found in the WVU Policy on Student Academic Integrity. Please note that, to the extent there is any inconsistency with the language in the catalog and the Board of Governors Rules and Policies or the WVU Policy on Student Academic Integrity, the BOG Rule and the WVU Policy govern; please refer to the BOG Rule and WVU Policy for the most current language.

Types of Academic Penalties

In this section:

• Penalties for Failure to Meet Academic Requirements or Standards
• Penalties for Academic Dishonesty

Penalties for Failure to Meet Academic Requirements or Standards

A student at West Virginia University who fails to meet academic requirements or standards will be subject to one or more of the following academic penalties:

1. A lower final grade, including failure of a course. A lower grade or failure of the course can be imposed by the course instructor/coordinator. If a student appeals a final grade, the grade shall remain in effect until the appeal is completed.
2. Exclusion of a student from further participation in class prior to any appeal proceedings requires that the course instructor/coordinator obtain approval of the dean of the college or school offering the course.
3. Required repetition or revision of a program requirement, or termination of the student's participation in specific program-related activities.
4. Failure of a program requirement or failure to meet academic standards. Program requirements and standards must be described in the catalog or other program documents provided or available to students. Program requirements may include such items as passing a qualifying exam, maintaining progress on research, developing required technical skills, or meeting professional standards of conduct (including the avoidance of academic dishonesty).
5. Academic probation or suspension at the program, college, or school level for failure to meet program requirements and academic standards, or at the university level for failure to meet grade point average standards. More information concerning probation and suspension of undergraduate students at the university level is available in the Academic Standards section of undergraduate catalog. More information about probation and suspension of graduate or professional students at the program, college, or school level is in the Academic Standards section of the graduate catalog as well as in program documents. If a graduate or professional student appeals a penalty of program suspension, the dean of the college or school offering the student’s program will determine if the student shall be allowed to continue in the program, and the conditions of that continuation, until the case is determined.
6. Dismissal from a program, college, school or the university. Dismissal is defined as termination of student status, including any right or privilege to receive some benefit or recognition or certification. A student may be academically dismissed from any program and remain eligible to enroll in courses in other programs at the institution, or a student may be academically dismissed from the institution and not remain eligible to enroll in other courses or programs at the institution, including other divisional campuses (BOG Academics Rule 2.5). If a student appeals a penalty of program dismissal, the dean of the college or school offering the student’s program will determine if the student shall be allowed to continue in the program, and the conditions of that continuation, until the case is determined. Dismissal from a program, college, or school must be communicated to the Associate Provost for Undergraduate or Graduate Academic Affairs, the Health Sciences Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, or the divisional campus President once the time limit for a student appeal has expired or the appeal process has been completed. The Associate Provost, Associate Vice President, or divisional campus President submits a request to the appropriate office to change the student’s status to non-degree. Academic dismissal from the university requires consultation and approval from the student’s dean, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs (Health Sciences students only), and the Provost’s or divisional campus President’s Office.

Penalties For Academic Dishonesty

Information for both students and faculty on procedures related to the resolution of allegations of academic dishonesty can be found on the Office of Academic Integrity website. A student at West Virginia University who is found responsible for academic dishonesty will be subject to one or more of the following academic and/or disciplinary penalties:

1. Remedial and/or educational sanctions.
2. Required repetition or revision of the academic assignment at issue.
3. A lower grade on the academic assignment or course at issue.
4. Failure of the academic assignment or course at issue.
5. Unforgivable failure (UF) of the course. When a UF is assigned, a student may repeat the course at issue, but the undergraduate (and where applicable, the graduate or professional school) D/F repeat process will not be applied. A permanent record will appear on the student’s transcript, and the F will be permanently factored into the student’s GPA.
6. Failure of the course with exclusion from further participation. The student will receive a final grade of an “F” for the course at issue but will be prohibited from continued enrollment or participation in the course for the duration of the semester.
7. Disciplinary probation, deferred suspension, or disciplinary suspension at the university level. More information concerning disciplinary probation, deferred suspension, and disciplinary suspension of students at the university level is available in the West Virginia University Campus Student Code and in the regional campus handbooks.
8. Dismissal from a program, college, or school. Dismissal is defined as termination of student status, including any right or privilege to receive some benefit or recognition or certification, from a specific academic program. A student may be academically dismissed from any program and remain eligible to enroll in courses in other programs at the institution.
9. Expulsion. Permanent separation of the student from the University. More information concerning expulsion of students at the university level is available in the West Virginia University Campus Student Code and in the regional campus handbooks.
10. Other sanctions. Other sanctions may be imposed instead of or in addition to those specified, where those sanctions bear a reasonable relationship to the nature and severity of the violation.

Appeals

In this section:

• General Information about Appeals
• The Appeal Process for Failure to Meet Academic Requirements or Standards
• The Appeal Process for Academic Dishonesty

General Information about Appeals

Students may appeal any final grade, charge of academic dishonesty, or other academic penalty described above and imposed by a course instructor/coordinator, the institution, or its constituent academic units through the procedures described in this section of the catalog with the following exceptions:

• Grades for individual course assignments cannot be appealed except in the context of a final grade appeal or a charge of academic dishonesty.
• University, college/school, or program probation based on failure to meet minimum GPA standards may not be appealed. University suspension of undergraduate students based on GPA may be appealed as described in the Academic Standards section of the undergraduate catalog.
• When imposed for academic dishonesty, disciplinary penalties imposed by the Office of Academic Integrity, including but not limited to probation, suspension, or expulsion from the university, are appealed as described here. However, disciplinary penalties imposed by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for any other form of misconduct may not be appealed through these processes, and students should refer to the Campus Student Code for appropriate procedures.

The primary purpose of the appeal procedure is to allow review of a final grade, charge of academic dishonesty, or other academic penalty in cases where a student believes that due process was not followed or that the grade, charge, or penalty was imposed unfairly or inconsistently with course, program, and university standards and regulations.

Students are expected to present written grounds (typically via email) for an appeal.  Students have the right to appeal a final grade, charge of academic dishonesty, or academic penalty that they believe reflects a capricious, arbitrary, or prejudiced academic evaluation, or reflects discrimination based on criteria listed in BOG Governance Rule 1.6, Section 1.2. Additional grounds for appeal may include: unreasonable severity of the penalty; demonstrable prejudice in the decision-making process; a belief that the evidence does not support the finding of responsibility (in the case of academic dishonesty) or the choice of penalty; or additional evidence or new information that was not considered in determining the penalty. Further guidance for students on preparing an appeal is available on the Academic Standards Resources webpage.

If a student does not appeal a final grade, charge of academic dishonesty, or other academic penalty, fails to follow the appeal procedures described below, or does not attend a scheduled meeting regarding the appeal, the final grade, charge of academic dishonesty, or other academic penalty will be upheld, regardless of whether or not the student is still enrolled in the course or program.

Communication about Appeals:

All communication with a student concerning an appeal must come directly from, or be directed to, the student, except in cases of academic dishonesty that proceed through the Office of Academic Integrity, when communication through attorneys or advisors is explicitly allowed. Otherwise, although students and others involved in the appeal process may consult with third parties, appeals and communication about appeals should be conducted between the student and individuals or committees charged with reviewing the appeal. Communication may take place through written documents, e-mail (using official University e-mail accounts whenever possible), and direct contact (telephone, face-to-face meetings, etc.). Decisions at each level of appeal must be communicated to the student and other individuals involved with the appeal at prior levels in writing transmitted via WVU e-mail.

Responsibility for Appeal Decisions:

Detailed information about which individuals or committees are responsible for handling different types and levels of appeals is available on the Academic Standards Resources webpage. These individuals may delegate this responsibility to a designee or to a standing or ad-hoc committee. In some cases, program, college, or school documents may provide additional guidance on who is charged with reviewing specific types of appeals. If an appeal reviewer was involved in the determination of a sanction, or otherwise has a conflict of interest relevant to the appeal, a different appeal reviewer must be identified. When necessary, decisions about who is responsible for appeal decisions will be made by the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs in Health Sciences, the Provost, or the divisional campus President, or the designee of any of these.

Evidence and Meetings Concerning Appeals:

Individuals and committees reviewing appeals may convene individual or joint meetings or request additional materials to collect further evidence. The student may be accompanied to meetings concerning the grade, charge, penalty, or appeal by a person of his or her choice from the institution. Such advisors may consult with but may not speak on behalf of their advisees or otherwise participate directly in the proceedings, unless they are given specific permission to do so by the individual or committee conducting the appeal. Attorneys, operating in that capacity, may only participate in appeals in cases of academic dishonesty through the Office of Academic Integrity, and are subject to limitations imposed by the WVU Policy on Student Academic Integrity.

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The Appeal Process for Failure to Meet Academic Requirements or Standards

Steps in the Appeal Process:

The following is a summary of the steps in the appeal process for failure to meet academic requirements or standards. In addition, a detailed list of the steps involved in each type of appeal is available on the Academic Standards Resources webpage on the Detailed Appeal Procedures tab to assist students, instructors, and administrators in managing the appeal process.

• Students are notified of final grades and other academic penalties.
  • Students are informed of final grades for courses at the end of each academic term through the WVU Portal accessible at https://portal.wvu.edu.
  • The individual or chair of the committee who imposed an academic penalty must notify the student in writing via WVU e-mail of the academic penalty.
• Prior to filing an appeal, students are strongly encouraged (but not required) to contact the individual or chair of the relevant committee who reported a final grade or imposed an academic penalty to express their concerns and attempt to resolve the issue. The individual or committee chair, or another informed individual, must meet with the student to provide information and evidence forming the basis for the grade or penalty.

• Level 1 appeal (for final grades and other academic penalties):
  • The student may begin an appeal by submitting a written appeal via WVU e-mail to the Level 1 appeal reviewer named on the Academic Standards Resources webpage within the time limit provided below. The student’s appeal must include the documentation and evidence forming the basis of their appeal.
  • The individual or committee that gave the grade or imposed the penalty must provide all relevant documentation (including the criteria for determining the student’s final grade in the case of a final grade appeal) to the Level 1 appeal reviewer upon their request.
  • The Level 1 appeal reviewer assesses the available evidence and makes a decision about the appeal based on that evidence. The sanction(s) under review may be upheld, lessened, or dismissed entirely, but not aggravated, by the Level 1 reviewer.
  • The reviewer communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student and other individuals or committees that have been involved in the grade, penalty, or appeal to that point. The reviewer retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years.  In the case of a final grade appeal, the Level 1 appeal reviewer ensures that a grade modification is submitted if necessary.
  • If the student accepts the Level 1 appeal decision, the appeal is concluded.
• Level 2 appeal (for final grades and other academic penalties):
  • If the student does not accept the Level 1 appeal decision, the student may continue their appeal by submitting a written appeal via WVU e-mail to the Level 2 appeal reviewer named on the Academic Standards Resources webpage within the time limit provided below.
  • The Level 1 appeal reviewer forwards all materials included in the appeal to the Level 2 reviewer and the student upon request from the Level 2 reviewer. Both the student and other individuals or committees may provide additional information if they wish.
  • The Level 2 appeal reviewer assesses the available evidence and makes a decision about the appeal based on that evidence. The sanction(s) under review may be upheld, lessened, or dismissed entirely, but not aggravated, by the Level 2 reviewer.
  • The reviewer communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student and other individuals or committees that have been involved in the grade, penalty, or appeal to that point, including the Level 1 appeal reviewer. The reviewer retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years. In the case of a final grade appeal, the Level 2 appeal reviewer ensures that a grade modification is submitted if necessary.
  • If the student accepts the Level 2 appeal decision, the appeal is concluded. If the appeal concerned a final grade or an academic penalty other than program dismissal, the appeal is concluded.
• Level 3 appeal (for dismissal from a program):
  • If the penalty is dismissal from a program, the student may continue their appeal by submitting a written appeal via WVU e-mail to the Level 3 appeal reviewer named on the Academic Standards Resources webpage within the time limit provided below.
  • The Level 2 appeal reviewer forwards all materials included in the appeal to the Level 3 reviewer and the student upon request from the Level 3 reviewer.  Both the student and other individuals or committees may provide additional information if they wish.
  • The Level 3 appeal reviewer may (but is not required to) appoint and convene a Student Academic Hearing Committee (SAHC) to hear the case and review the appeal. SAHC procedures follow.
    • Members are appointed to the SAHC at the discretion of the Level 3 appeal reviewer and shall comprise at least three faculty members. At least one SAHC member should be from the program offering the course or the student’s program; at least one should be from outside the program offering the course or the student’s program.
    • The SAHC holds a joint hearing with the student and any individuals involved in making the academic dishonesty charge or imposing the academic penalty and may also convene additional individual meetings or request additional materials to collect further evidence. The hearing is set outside of the student's scheduled classes; should the student choose not to appear, the meeting will proceed as scheduled.
    • The student may be accompanied to the hearing or meetings or be advised by a person of his or her choice from the institution. Likewise, the faculty member, academic officer, or committee recommending dismissal may have an advisor from the institution. Such advisors may consult with but may not speak on behalf of their advisees or otherwise participate directly in the proceedings, unless they are given specific permission to do so by the individual or committee conducting the appeal.
    • Witnesses may be called by any of the parties involved.
    • A record of the SAHC hearing shall be prepared in the form of summary minutes or an audio recording.  This record and relevant attachments and will be provided to the student upon request.
  • The Level 3 appeal reviewer assesses the available evidence, including the recommendation of the Student Academic Hearing Committee, when available, and makes a decision about the appeal based on the evidence and recommendation. The reviewer communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student, and other individuals or committees that have been involved in the penalty or appeal to that point, including the Level 1 and 2 appeal reviewers. The reviewer retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years.
  • The appeal is concluded.

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Time Limits for Steps in the Appeal Process:

• Level 1:
  • Final Grade Appeal
    • The student files an initial appeal based on the Timeline for Appeals on the Office of the Provost webpage, after the grade is posted.  The timeline on this webpage will indicate the last date the final grade appeals can be filed for each academic term in the current academic year. 
    • The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 10 academic days* after the student submits the appeal.
  • Academic Penalty
    • The student files an initial appeal within 10 academic days* after the penalty is sent to the student.
    • The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 10 academic days* after the student submits the appeal.
• Level 2 (for final grades and other academic penalties):
  • The student files a continuation of the appeal within 10 academic days* after the decision at Level 1 is sent.
  • The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 10 academic days* after the student submits the Level 2 appeal.
• Level 3 (appeals of program dismissal only):
  • The student files a continuation of the appeal within 10 academic days* after the decision at Level 2 is sent.
  • The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student at the discretion of the Provost’s office.

*Academic days are defined as days during which the University is open and on-campus classes are officially in session. If classes are canceled for the entire campus, for any portion of a day, the day will not be deemed an academic day.

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The Appeal Process for Academic Dishonesty

Steps in the Appeal Process:

The following is a summary of the steps in the appeal process for academic dishonesty. In addition, a detailed list of the steps involved in each type of appeal is available on the Office of Academic Integrity webpage.

• A student who has been found responsible for violating the WVU Policy on Student Academic Integrity may initiate an appeal by submitting a written appeal following the instructions provided in the notice of outcome. The student’s appeal must include the documentation and evidence forming the basis of their appeal, and must be based on one or more of the recognized grounds for appeal listed in the WVU Policy on Student Academic Integrity. The student may appeal the finding of responsibility, the sanction(s), or both.
• The Office of Academic Integrity must provide all relevant documentation to the Provost upon their request.
• The Provost assesses the available evidence and makes a decision about the appeal based on that evidence. The sanction(s) under review may be upheld, lessened, or dismissed entirely, but not aggravated, by the Provost.
• The Provost communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student and other individuals or committees that have been involved in the charge or appeal to that point. The Office of Academic Integrity retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years. 
• Once the Provost has issued a decision, the matter is final and binding upon all involved.

Time Limits for Steps in the Appeal Process:

The student must file an appeal within 10 academic days* from the date the outcome letter is sent. If no appeal is submitted within that time frame, the sanction(s) will be applied, no appeal will be considered, and the matter will be concluded.

The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 30 calendar days after the student submits the appeal.

*Academic days are defined as days during which the University is open and on-campus classes are officially in session. Summer sessions and final exam days are included in this definition. If classes are canceled for the entire campus, for any portion of a day, the day will not be deemed an academic day.

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In this section:

• Probation
• Suspension
• Dismissal from a program
• Sanctions for Campus Student Code Violations

Probation

Graduate students may be placed on probation by the director of their program or by the dean of their college/school by failing to maintain acceptable grades in their courses or by failing to show acceptable performance in other areas such as research progress or professional behavior (as determined by the program or the University). Graduate students with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) below 2.75 may be subject to probation by the dean of their college/school and are considered by the University to not be in good standing. Individual academic units may designate a higher GPA or other academic standards required for students to remain in good standing within the program.

Probation, which is not recorded on a student’s permanent record, constitutes a warning to the student that standards are not being met. A letter of probation, delivered by the graduate program to the student, must outline the reason for the probation sanction as well as delineate academic or other benchmarks for the student to attain in order to have the probation sanction removed. Students may appeal a probation sanction.

At the conclusion of the semester in which a student was placed on probation, the academic program shall review the academic record and performance of the student. If the stipulations set forth in the letter of probation have been met, the student is removed from probation. If the stipulations have not been met, student standing is reassessed by the program. The student may continue on probation or be suspended or dismissed by the program.

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Suspension

Graduate students may be suspended from their program by the director of their program or by the dean of their college/school by failing to maintain acceptable grades in their courses, by failing to show acceptable performance in other areas such as research progress or professional behavior (as determined by the program or the University), or by failing to meet the terms of probation. Suspension from a program normally follows a probation sanction.  Typically, students are suspended from a program at the end of an academic term and are notified formally by the department and/or the dean of the college/school of suspension. However, students can be suspended from their program without a prior probation period and at times other than the end of a term in the case of serious violations of academic or professional standards, with approval of the college/school dean and either the Associate Provost for Graduate Academic Affairs or Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs (for Health Sciences programs).

A student who is suspended from their program will not be permitted to register for classes offered by their program or participate in other program activities until the student has been notified that the suspension sanction has been lifted. The normal period of suspension is either one academic semester or one calendar year. Students may appeal a suspension sanction. At the end of the suspension period, the program must reinstate or dismiss the student from the program. If appropriate, the student may be reinstated and placed on probation.

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Dismissal from a program

Graduate students may be dismissed from their program by the director of their program or by the dean of their college/school by failing to maintain acceptable grades in their courses, by failing to show acceptable performance in other areas such as research progress or professional behavior (as determined by the program or the University), or by failing to meet the terms of probation. Dismissal from a program normally follows a probation sanction. Typically, students are dismissed from a program at the end of an academic term and are notified formally by the department and/or the dean of the college/school of dismissal. However, students can be dismissed from their program without a prior probation period and at times other than the end of a term in the case of serious violations of academic or professional standards, with approval of the college/school dean and either the Associate Provost for Graduate Academic Affairs or Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs (for Health Sciences programs).

A student who is dismissed from a program will not be permitted to register for classes offered by their program or participate in other program activities. A student who is dismissed from a program will be reclassified as a non-degree student unless they are admitted into a different degree program.  Students may appeal dismissal from a program.

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Sanctions for Campus Student Code Violations

In some cases of student conduct violations, such as serious academic dishonesty and research misconduct, the program may recommend dismissal from the University (i.e., expulsion) or other University-level sanctions explained in the Campus Student Code. In these circumstances, the case is referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Student Conduct processes apply. 

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Research Integrity and Compliance

Integrity in research and scholarship is an obligation of all who engage in the acquisition, application, and dissemination of knowledge. Research and scholarly work by West Virginia University faculty, staff, and students is governed by a number of federal, state, and institutional policies. The Office of Research Integrity & Compliance provides information related to the Human Research Protections Program, Conflict of Interest, Animal Welfare and IACUC, and Responsible Conduct of Research.

Any graduate student who conducts research involving human subjects must have their protocol approved (or determined exempt) by the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects before starting the research. Any graduate student who conducts research using animals must have their protocol approved by the Animal Welfare and IACUC Committee before starting the research. Any graduate student who is supported by a National Science Foundation research award must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research training. All researchers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to their research.

Finally, all members of the University community are obligated to maintain high ethical standards and to report observed, suspected, or apparent misconduct in research.

Reports of research misconduct should be made to the University’s research integrity officer.  The General Guidance page on the Research Integrity & Compliance website provides useful links to introductory videos, to the Academic Integrity page (which includes the West Virginia University Research Integrity Procedure), and to an online reporting form (select “Reporting”).

Intellectual Property

The Office of Technology Transfer is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property for all WVU organizations.

Intellectual property can be protected through patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Graduate students are encouraged to review WVU’s Intellectual Property Policy. Other useful information about intellectual property and technology transfer activities at WVU is available at the Intellectual Property website and the WVU Libraries Research Guide on Intellectual Property.

Graduate students with other concerns about intellectual property, such as ownership and storage of research data, authorship considerations when presenting or publishing, and use of course materials, should discuss these concerns with faculty members and administrators in their discipline as well as with their collaborators in any research activities. Additional information is available from the Office of Research Integrity & Compliance.