The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

Students enrolled in the Peabody Conservatory assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to an institution of higher education. A student is obliged to refrain from acts which he or she knows, or under the circumstances has reason to know, threaten the academic integrity of the Conservatory. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to: cheating; plagiarism; misrepresentation of work; falsification of an approval signature; knowingly furnishing false information to any agent of the Conservatory for inclusion in the academic records; and falsification, forgery, alteration, destruction, or misuse of official Conservatory documents or shared information technology resources.

When evidence is found of a possible violation of academic integrity on the part of a student, the teacher in charge of the course may either review the evidence and the facts of the case promptly with the student or choose to refer the matter directly to the associate dean for academic affairs. If the student admits that he or she is guilty of a violation of academic integrity, the teacher may either impose an academic penalty and report the violation and sanction(s) to the associate dean for academic affairs or refer the sanction decision directly to the associate dean for academic affairs. Either party may choose at any time to refer the case to the associate dean for academic affairs. In no case may a teacher impose an academic penalty if the student’s guilt is disputed. In addition, the student may request that the associate dean review an academic penalty imposed by the teacher.

The associate dean must authorize notation of academic misconduct on the student’s academic transcript if this sanction is recommended by a teacher.

Charges that are referred to the associate dean should be made promptly in writing and must state the essential facts of the case in point. Upon receipt of a charge of a violation of the Academic Code of Conduct, the associate dean for academic affairs shall serve prompt written notice of the charge on the accused student, preferably by hand delivery. The notice shall contain:

1. A description of the alleged violation including, insofar as possible, the time, date, and place of the alleged act(s)

2. A statement informing the student of the right to inspect in advance of a hearing any relevant documentary evidence

3. A directive notifying the student of the date, time, and place where a hearing of the charges will be held

With prior approval by the associate dean, students involved in a disciplinary hearing (either as a complainant or respondent) may bring their parents or other individuals to a disciplinary hearing to provide support. Although respondents and other participants may retain legal counsel, legal counsel is not permitted to participate in or attend a disciplinary hearing.

The following conditions apply to a disciplinary hearing before the associate dean for academic affairs:

1. The student responding to the allegations (i.e., the respondent) shall be afforded the opportunity of appearing personally before the associate dean. [Note: After meeting with the respondent, the associate dean may decide to forgo a hearing where the pertinent facts are not in dispute.]

2. The associate dean, the complainant, and the respondent may call witnesses and/or gather evidence as necessary to determine the respondent’s culpability or innocence. The associate dean may exercise judgment as to whether witnesses will be present at the hearing or will meet privately with the associate dean. The respondent will not necessarily have the opportunity to question witnesses directly, but the associate dean may determine that more than one meeting is needed to allow time to re-interview witnesses before rendering a final decision.

3. The associate dean will provide the respondent with a written statement of the findings, and if the student is found guilty of the charges, the statement will include the sanctions the associate dean has imposed.

4. A copy of the findings will be sent to the dean of the Conservatory.

5. The student may appeal the ruling by the associate dean to the dean of the Conservatory within seven days of the associate dean’s decision.

The respondent shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The decision on guilt or innocence shall be made on the preponderance of the evidence.

If a respondent fails to appear for a hearing and the associate dean for academic affairs determines that such action has been willful or without good reason, the student will have waived his/her right to appear and the hearing will be conducted in the student’s absence.

When a student is found guilty of academic misconduct, the associate dean for academic affairs may consult with the teacher of the course regarding appropriate penalty options. The associate dean may impose a sanction(s) from among the following:

1. Retake of the examination, paper, or exercise involved, only if the teacher of the course considers this sanction appropriate

2. Score of zero on the examination, paper, or exercise involved

3. Lowering of the course grade

4. Loss of Peabody scholarship for a specific duration or permanently

5. Failure in the course without a notation on the student’s transcript that the grade was for violation of academic integrity

6. Failure in the course with a notation on the student’s transcript that the grade was for violation of academic integrity

7. Suspension from the Conservatory for a specified period of time

8. Expulsion from the Conservatory