Policy on Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is vital to an institution of higher education. The integrity of your work ‒ that it represents your independent thought and effort and that it properly acknowledges the work of others ‒ is essential to the awarding of credit and to the development of your academic potential. As such, instances of academic dishonesty ‒ cheating, plagiarism, etc., ‒ are extremely serious academic offenses that should not be overlooked. Students should be aware and regularly cautioned that violations of academic integrity may result in suspension or expulsion from the college.

Definitions

Acts of academic dishonesty are serious offenses that should not be overlooked. Students should be regularly reminded that violations of academic integrity may result in suspension or expulsion from the college. Examples of academic dishonesty include: 

• Cheating – intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in an academic exercise.
• Fabrication – intentional and unauthorized falsification, misrepresentation or invention of any data or citation in an academic exercise.
• Plagiarism – intentionally representing the words, ideas or data of another as one’s own in any academic exercise without providing proper citation.
• Unauthorized collaboration – instances when students submit individual academic works that are substantially similar to one another; while several students may have the same source material, the analysis, interpretation and reporting of the data must be each individual’s independent work.
• Participation in academically dishonest activities – any action taken by a student with the intent of gaining an unfair advantage. This includes submitting previously graded work as new.
• Facilitating academic dishonesty – intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to violate any provision of this policy.

Procedure

If an instructor can demonstrate that cheating or plagiarism has taken place, he or she will notify the student in writing, present the evidence and apply an academic penalty depending on the severity of the offense. The instructor will bear in mind that there are different degrees of academic dishonesty and assign the academic penalty he or she considers most appropriate from the options listed below: 

1. Require that a makeup test is taken or a makeup paper is written.
2. Reduce the grade on the paper or exam.
3. Reduce the final grade in the course by one or more levels.
4. Assign a grade of “F” to the exam or paper.
5. Assign a grade of “F” for the course. 

The instructor must present the student with the Academic Grievance Policy at the time of notification so that the student will know his or her rights of appeal. The student may appeal the appropriateness of the particular academic penalty chosen by the instructor, as well as the finding of fact, through the academic grievance process. The instructor also will notify the dean of students so that a record may be maintained. If the faculty member wishes to pursue the matter as a disciplinary issue, he or she must refer the matter to the dean of students, where a conduct hearing officer may choose to impose disciplinary sanctions following procedures outlined in Article V of the Student Conduct Code (See Page 12).