Change to the CSE TA Application Regarding Academic Misconduct
Beginning with Fall 2026, the Allen School TA application will require applicants to allow the release of their academic misconduct records for the purpose of making TA hiring decisions. We believe that, like a student’s academic performance, academic misconduct may be relevant information for instructors when evaluating TA applicants.
Specifically, instructors reviewing TA applications will be able to see a list of the courses and academic quarters in which a student has been found responsible for academic misconduct (that is, cases in which the student received a notification from the Community Standards & Student Conduct Office (CSSC) that they violated the Student Conduct Code).
Instructors will not have access to:
- Case reports or other case details
- The specific policy violations involved
- Any sanctions assigned
- Unresolved cases
- Cases in which a student was found not responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code
- Behavioral or student housing cases, regardless of the outcome
Having a record of academic misconduct does not disqualify a student from applying for or being selected as a TA. Instructors may consider this information, along with other application materials, when determining their hiring preferences for a particular course.
If you believe there is important context that potential instructors should consider regarding an academic misconduct record, we encourage you to include it in your personal statement.
FAQ
What is shown to instructors?
Instructors will be able to see any resolved academic misconduct cases where the TA applicant was found to have violated conduct policies. Specifically, they will see course numbers and quarters in which violations occurred.
They will not see:
- Case details, such as the report from the instructor or specific policies violated.
- The sanctions assigned.
- Unresolved cases.
- Cases where a student was found not responsible for any policy violations.
- Any behavioral or student housing cases regardless of outcome.
Will I be disqualified if I have any records?
No. Records are provided to help instructors make decisions but do not automatically disqualify a candidate.
What does ‘found responsible’ mean?
Students who have been found responsible for an academic misconduct case will have received an email notification from CSSC stating that they violated the Student Conduct Code.
How can I explain in more detail what happened?
You are welcome and encouraged to use your personal statement to add context to any misconduct records, and share any growth or reflection since.
Why are you making this change?
We believe conduct information is relevant, similar to how grades are relevant when selecting TAs for a given course.
This also emphasizes that the Allen School takes misconduct seriously, and that upholding the expectations of the Allen School is a requirement for all Allen School TAs.
When I talked to my case officer, they told me nobody would ever know about this. What’s changed?
Student conduct records are protected under FERPA; other university staff and faculty do not generally have access to this information. This new policy for the Allen School, starting Fall 2026, requires students to release their conduct records, in addition to their CSE grades, in order to apply for an Allen School TA position. This information will be used when instructors input their TA preferences.
What if I have an open/pending case that has not been resolved yet?
That information won’t be included in the interface instructors see. In future quarters, if you apply to TA again and the case is resolved and you are found responsible, then the information will be shown to instructors if you apply to TA again.
How are instructors going to use this information?
Different courses and instructors will use this information differently. This policy does not dictate how courses will use conduct information.