Under what circumstances would a University revoke a student's degree? [duplicate]

Question

Under what circumstances would a University revoke a student's undergraduate bachelor's degree if something was discovered after the degree was awarded, but actually happened when the student was still enrolled in the University?

• Is there any examples of degrees being revoked? If so, what types of academic misconduct would justify this?

• What types of alleged offences would be able to be proven after the fact?

• Would the blame be placed on the University since it would have been beneficial for the student to remediate their situation to plan and still graduate at his/her desired date if it were addressed at the proper time?

• Would a student be able to sue the University for something like this?

Question is kind of vague but any general insight is helpful.

This is asked in regards to a typical person doing an undergrad, not unique stories regarding celebrities and/or high-end people getting doctorate degrees revoked for non-academic reasons. Only purely academic and the steps/reasoning for why it happened, not just what the allegation was.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm not going to answer all of your questions, some being duplicates, too broad or opinion-based.

Is there any examples of degrees being revoked? If so, what types of academic misconduct would justify this?

There have been spectacular examples of falling from grace.

• Pal Schmitt resigned as President of Hungary after his doctorate was stripped by Semmelweis University on findings of plagiarism.

• Former German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg graduated summa cum laude from the University of Bayreuth in 2006 with a dissertation entitled "Constitution and Constitutional Treaty: Constitutional developments in the USA and EU." A finding of plagiarism led to his degree being revoked.

Most cases aren't as public, I think. In my university, the provision for a revocation of the degree is vested in the President of the University by the Trustees of the University. The policy allows for a revocation in the event that the degree was awarded in error or through fraud. The policy proceeds to list the criteria and processes to be followed. Fraud is defined broadly and includes conventional definitions of academic misconduct, but other acts as well. Finally, in the case of my university, there is a specific clause about the role of intentionality. In short, this is irrelevant to the decision. That is to say, one cannot base one's defense on the basis that there was no intention to commit fraud.

I expect that these policies vary between universities. I suggest checking with your university.