Academic Honesty Policies

Academic Honesty Policy

The University exists primarily to sustain the pursuit of knowledge. Learning, to have true value, must be linked to a sense of honesty and integrity. It is the responsibility of every person in the academic community - faculty members, students, administrators - to ensure that dishonesty is not tolerated. Personal and communal integrity have always been fundamental in Jesuit education, and a sense of honor must be kept alive in every activity at Saint Joseph’s University.

Note: These policies and procedures are subject to additional revision and updates during the 2023-2024 academic year.

GENERAL ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

The University has adopted a general Academic Honesty policy to recognize the essential contribution of honor to University life. This general policy applies to all courses in graduate and undergraduate programs, except for courses within the Health Professions programs’ professional curriculum (Allied Health, Nursing, OT, PT, PA, Pharm D). Acts of academic dishonesty that occur in all other classes, including general education courses, and those that occur outside of formal courses, will be adjudicated under the general policy.

Read the Academic Honesty Policy for Non-Health Professions Courses

HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY (IHPAHP)

Acts of academic dishonesty occurring within courses in the Health Professions professional curriculum (Allied Health, Nursing, OT, PT, PA, Pharm D) fall under the Interim Health Professions Academic Honesty policy (HPAHP). The IHPAHP only applies to the adjudication of academic honesty violations (i.e., hearing procedures, academic leveling system, etc.).

The IHPAHP has been adopted from the Student Conduct Policy, as seen in the 2021-2022 USciences Student Handbook, and was approved by the University Council on February 26, 2022. It will remain in place until University governance adopts a new unified policy. Anyone with questions about the IHPAHP should contact the Assistant Director of Community Standards, Adam Centeno M.S., at acenteno@sju.edu.

View the Health Professions Academic Honesty Policy

Any member of the academic community may file with the Vice President a written complaint against a student alleging that an infraction has occurred. If, after prompt investigation, the Vice President finds that the complaint may be justified, the Vice President shall investigate further hold an interview with the student, and also notify the instructor of the course involved.

a. Purpose. The purpose of the Academic Integrity Council is to promote academic integrity throughout the university. The Academic Integrity Council is a special committee of the University Council.

Activities of the Council shall include, but are not limited to:

i. increasing awareness and knowledge of the principles and importance of academic integrity throughout the University community;

ii. educating members of the University community regarding practices that advance, uphold, and reinforce) academic integrity;

iii. encouraging faculty, students, and staff to enforce the University Academic Honesty Policy;

iv. educating members of the University community on methods to prevent academic integrity violations;

v. promoting compliance with the University Academic Honesty Policy throughout the academic community, in coordination with the Academic Honesty Board;

vi. educating the University community about the substance and procedures of the University’s Academic Honesty Policy, in coordination with the Academic Honesty Board; and

vii. in coordination with the Academic Honesty Board, advising faculty how to investigate alleged infractions of the University Academic Honesty Policy and to comply with related procedures. The Academic Integrity Council complements the role of the Academic Honesty Board described in section 6, above. The roles of the two bodies are explicit and distinct. The Academic Honesty Board deals with appeals and referrals regarding reported violations of the Academic Honesty Policy. The Academic Integrity Council has the responsibility for proactive initiatives and programs to advance academic integrity throughout the University community.

b. Composition. The Academic Integrity Council (AIC) shall consist of four (4) faculty representing each division, four (4) students, and one (1) additional faculty member serving as chair. The chair shall be appointed by the senior academic officer. All members shall serve two-year terms (except as noted in iii. f, below), which are renewable.The Council shall consist of both representative faculty and student members of the four academic divisions of the University, as well as function- or role-specific members who may be faculty or staff of the University.

i.Faculty members. The Academic Integrity Council shall consist of four (4) faculty members, one from each academic division of the university. All faculty members shall be nominated by Faculty Senate and appointed by the Chief Academic Officer, with consideration given to anyone interested in serving on the Council.

ii. Student members. The Academic Integrity Council shall consist of four (4) students, including one (1) from each of the four student constituencies (College of Arts and Sciences, Haub School of Business, College of Professional and Liberal Studies, and Graduate Programs). All student members shall be nominated by student government and appointed by the Chief Academic Officer, with consideration given to anyone interested in serving on the Council.

iii. Function- or role-specific members. Given the charge of the Academic Integrity Council, a number of University functions shall be represented on the AIC. Members of the University community who hold either faculty or staff appointments may be named to the Council in such a capacity. Faculty members named to the Academic Integrity Council as function- or role-specific members shall not be counted against the number of faculty members indicated in section i, above. All function- or role-specific members are appointed by the Chief Academic Officer (except as noted in f, below) to two-year terms, and based on nominations as follows:

a. The Vice President overseeing International Programs or his/her designee shall nominate one (1) staff member or one (1) faculty member to service on the Academic Integrity Council.

b. Information technology. The Information Technology Management team or its designee shall nominate one (1) University, College, or department level faculty or staff whose primary job functions include information technology to serve on the Academic Integrity Council.

c. Library. The Library Director or his/her designee shall nominate one (1) Librarian to serve on the Academic Integrity Council.

d. Student life. The Vice President overseeing student life or his/her designee shall nominate one (1) member of Student Educational Support Services whose primary job responsibilities are within Student Educational Support Services to serve on the Academic Integrity Council.

e. Writing Center. The Director of the Writing Center (whether a member of faculty or staff) shall serve as a member of the Academic Integrity Council. Additional functional members may be added to the AIC upon the approval of the University Council, provided however, that the AIC shall not seek a change in the number of functional representatives until it has had one year of operating experience.

c. Exclusions from membership. Members of the Academic Honesty Board, The Director of the Teaching Institute at SJU, Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, and Officers of the University may not serve on the Academic Integrity Council. In the event of a conflict between any of these exclusions and any functional or role specific member described in section b, above, the Chief Academic Officer shall name an appropriate member of the University community to serve in place of that individual as a member of the AIC.

d. Quorum and functioning. In the event that the Chair is temporarily unable to convene the AIC, he/she will designate one of the other faculty members to act as Chair until such time as the Chair is again able to convene the AIC. A quorum shall be one (1) more than half the members of the Council with at least two (2) student representatives being required for a quorum. Should changes occur in the names or structure of the University functions or roles indicated in sections b and c above, the Chief Academic Officer shall name an appropriate member of the University community to serve on the AIC in place of the named function or role. The applicable section of this policy should be subsequently revised as a matter of course.

e. Resources and support. Financial support for the activities of the AIC will be provided through the budget allocated to the Teaching Institute at SJU. Approval by both the Director of the Teaching Institute and the Chair of the AIC is required for such expenditures, subject to the normal budget and expense controls of the University.

f. Reporting. Each Academic year the Chair of the Academic Integrity Council shall submit a report (“Annual Report”) to the Chief Academic Officer for review and discussion by the University Council that will include: (1) a reporting of its activities, (2) an assessment of progress, (3) identification of current and emerging issues, (4) future plans, (5) recommendations, and (6) requests for funding or other substantive support. The goals and activities of the AIC contained in its Annual Report shall be reviewed by the University Council to ensure that there is no duplication or conflict with the activities of the Academic Honesty Board or other university bodies.

g. Initial review. The University Council will review the functioning, impact, and effectiveness of the Academic Integrity Council five years after its approval and formation. This review should be initiated through the appropriate annual report described in section f, above.

Summary of the Academic Honesty Policy