Georgian Court University is a college with high moral standards and ethics. If a student is accused of plagiarizing, the teacher will first approach the student about the matter. If the teacher still thinks the student's work is plagiarized, then the faculty member will approach the appropriate school dean who, upon advising with the department chair of that subject, may appoint an ad-hoc Academic Integrity Task Force.
An ad-hoc Academic Integrity Task Force at GCU would consist of one faculty member who regularly teaches undergrad courses from each school, one student from each school, and one at-large faculty member who regularly teaches undergrad courses. The at-large faculty member would serve as the chair of the task force and only votes if there is a tie. The ad-hoc task force writes to the student about the plagiarism matter and evidence against her in order for her to form a rebuttal. The chairperson then would set a date for the academic hearing, usually occurring within three weeks of the time the task force was assembled.
The student is allowed to have one academic adviser present with her the day of the academic hearing and may also call witnesses in her defense. All academic hearings at GCU are tape recorded or transcribed and kept at the office of the school dean. Copies of the hearing are available for the student, and the student may also confront the accuser in the academic hearing.
If the student is found guilty of plagiarism by the Academic Integrity Task Force, the task force will recommend an appropriate penalty. Penalties range anywhere from receiving an "F" grade on the work in question to receiving an "F" grade in the course; suspensions and expulsions from the department and school are also not out of the question, depending on the case. The conclusions or recommendations from the task force will be presented to the school dean, who will then inform the student of its rulings within 10 days. Copies of the ruling will also be with the department chair, dean of students and the provost. Students in question are able to appeal, in writing, to the provost within 10 days of the task force's decision; all decisions of the provost are final.