Policy on Academic Integrity

Every offense against academic honesty seriously undermines the teaching–learning process for which the University exists, and such offenses will be dealt with expeditiously according to the following criteria.

Definition

Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:

1. Cheating on an examination or test; for example, by copying from another’s work or usingunauthorized materials before or during the test, including the use of electronic devices;
2. Plagiarism, which represents as one’s own the work of another, whether published or not, without acknowledging the precise source;
3. Participation in the academic dishonesty of another student, even though one’s own work is not directly affected;
4. Any conduct which would be recognized as dishonest in an academic setting.

Procedures for Cases of Academic Dishonesty

Faculty and/or exam administrators who consider that they have a valid case of academic dishonesty against a student must…

1. Inform the student of the charge and penalty in writing, using the Report of Academic Dishonesty Form, available from the Registrar. The faculty member will inform the student after the cheating has been discovered and investigated, no later than the date when course grades are due for the semester or academic session. If necessary, the faculty member will send the student a copy of the report by certified mail. The student has the right toappeal the facts of the charge, as outlined below in “Procedures With Appeal”.
2. Determine the penalty for the dishonesty. The penalty is at the discretion of the faculty member, not the exam administrator, and can include either a mark of zero for the work in question or the grade of “F” for the course. The faculty member is encouraged to discuss this incident with the student and offer recommendations, as appropriate.

Procedure Without Appeal

1. The original signed Report of Academic Dishonesty Form will be submitted for the record to the Registrar, who will keep it in a locked confidential file until the student graduates.
2. The case will be treated as a matter of deferred adjudication; if and when the student graduates, the record will be expunged.

Procedure With Appeal

1. A student who wishes to appeal must write a letter of appeal to the Registrar within three days of signing the Report of Academic Dishonesty Form or receiving notice of the charge. The Registrar will notify the chair ofthe Academic Committee.
2. The chair will schedule a special meeting of the committee in a timely manner, but no later than 30 days after notification by the Registrar, and will notify the student, the faculty member, and/or the test administrator accordingly.
3. Copies of all pertinent written evidence will be submitted to the members of the committee a minimum of one week prior to the scheduled meeting.
4. The committee may rule on the appeal immediately or may first schedule a hearing. If the committee chooses to conduct a hearing, it will proceed as follows:
   1. The student may bring a member of the faculty to serve as an advocate during the hearing.
   2. The student and the faculty member/test administrator may each bring witnesses to speak to the facts of the alleged offense. Ordinarily, the number of witnesses should not be more than two or each party; they must have direct knowledge of the alleged offense.
   3. The student, the faculty advocate (if one is brought) and the faculty member/test administrator will be present for all aspects of the hearing except the committee’s deliberations.
5. The chair of the committee will conduct the hearing in the following manner:
   1. The chair will ask the parties present to provide a more detailed statement of the circumstances and evidence than has already been filed in writing. Members of the committee may then ask questions for further information or clarification.
   2. Witnesses to support the allegation will be heard, one at a time. After a witness’initial presentation, questions may be put in the following order: by members of the committee, by the student and the faculty advocate, by the faculty member/test administrator and/or by members of the committee.
   3. Witnesses to support the appeal will be heard, one at a time. After a witness’ initial presentation, questions may be put in the following order: by members of the committee, by the faculty member/test administrator, by the student and the student advisor, and by members of the committee.
   4. The faculty member/test administrator and then the student will each be given the opportunity to make a final statement to the committee regarding their respective positions in the matter, after which they will with–draw to allow the committee to deliberate.
   5. Should the hearing be lengthy, the chair will have the option of postponing the committee’s deliberations for not more than three working days.
6. The chair will report the committee’s decision to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will notify in writing the faculty member/test administrator and the student.
7. The report of the decision will be handled in the same way as the report in Procedure When There Is No Appeal, described above.

Procedure in Second Offense Cases:

1. Initially, second offense cases will be treated according to the procedures outlined above.
2. When a second charge of academic dishonesty has been upheld against a student, the student shall be dismissed from the University. The transcript will note “Dismissed for Academic Dishonesty,” along withthe date.
3. Readmission to the University may be considered under extraordinary circumstances through a written appeal to the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.