Policy No: 2074 Responsible Office: Academic Affairs Last Review Date: 04/03/2023 Next Required Review: 04/03/2028

Degree Revocation

1. Purpose

The University of South Alabama will revoke an academic degree awarded by USA when it is determined that the degree recipient committed fraud, deceit, academic or scientific misconduct, or falsified or otherwise misrepresented his/her credentials, which, if known prior to the awarding of degree, would have resulted in a failure to earn the degree.

2. Applicability

This policy applies to all University students, both graduates and undergraduates, and to Academic
Affairs and the College of Medicine employees involved in these matters.

3. Definitions

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4. Policy Guidelines

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5. Procedures

Should the University of South Alabama (USA) suspect that a degree was awarded that was not properly earned, USA will review and, when warranted as determined by USA, institute proceedings to revoke the degree. The following procedures will be followed when warranted as determined by USA:

• • The Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost/SVPAA) will be notified and provided with all supporting documentation;
    The Office of the Provost/SVPAA will determine the appropriate procedure and notify the affected graduate within 10 days (via certified mail sent to his/her last known address) of the charges outlined in the complaint and the applicable procedure;
  • If the charges involve scientific misconduct, the Office of the Provost/SVPAA will forward the complaint and all supporting information to the Office of Research Compliance and Assurance for evaluation under the applicable process of the University Committee for Standards in the Conduct of Research;
  • If the charges involve issues other than scientific misconduct, the matter will be evaluated by the University Academic Integrity Review Panel through Level III procedures;
    If no response is received from the graduate within the time allocated in the respective policy, the Provost/SVPAA will make a decision based on the recommendation of the respective committee;
    The Office of the Provost/SVPAA will send notice of the decision via certified mail to the degree recipient’s last known address;
  • The graduate will have 10 business days from delivery of the notification to submit a written appeal of the decision to the Office of the Provost/SVPAA. Grounds for an appeal are limited to the failure to follow due process or the discovery of new evidence not available at the time of the review;
    The Provost/SVPAA will forward any adverse decision to the President who will officially revoke the degree and notify the graduate; and
  • If a degree is revoked under this policy, the subject individual is not eligible for future entry into the University of South Alabama.

6. Enforcement

Terms of this policy are enforced by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost/SVPAA). For charges involving scientific misconduct, the Office of Research Compliance and Assurance will also be involved. Failure to abide by this policy may result in disciplinary actions.

7. Related Documents

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