An instructor who catches a student in a first offense has the ability to determine a penalty based on the nature of the offense. Instructors who feel a student committed an act of plagiarism by mistake may simply give them a warning. If a student's act of plagiarism is blatant, an instructor can give the student a lowered grade or expel them from class and give them an "F" for the course. In each instance, the instructor reports the plagiarism to the provost, who maintains a record and may recommend further action.
When a student has been caught in an act of plagiarism or academic dishonesty for the second time, the provost will send the case to the Committee on Academic Standards. The provost may or may not recommend a course of action to the committee, which conducts a hearing in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct of Lycoming College. The committee may choose to remove the instructor's penalties if it feels the evidence does not prove the student's guilt, or it may determine that the student is guilty of the second offense. In that case the student will be either suspended or dismissed from the university.
Any student accused of plagiarism is allowed to view the evidence against him and give an explanation. The instructor or Committee on Academic Standards must determine reasonable guilt before enacting any punishment. In the case of a second offense, the provost will provide the student with the reasons for the hearing in writing, and the student may bring witnesses and/or an adviser to testify on his behalf.
Students can appeal a first offense penalty by requesting a hearing from the Committee on Academic Standards. They must submit their request in writing to the Office of the Provost. Hearings follow the Student Code of Conduct. The student may further appeal the committee's decision directly to the Lycoming College President. Second offense penalties can be appealed directly to the Lycoming College President, but such appeals must be made no later than two weeks after the decision of the Committee on Academic Standards.