Academic Honesty Policy for all Courses except those in Health Professions programs

In all courses, except for assignments where the instructor has explicitly directed otherwise, each student has the responsibility to submit work that is uniquely his or her own. All of this work must be done in accordance with established principles of academic integrity. Specific violations of this responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information in examinations, tests, quizzes, reports, assigned papers, or special assignments, as in computer programming, studio work, and the like;
2. the fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports, as in laboratory reports;
3. any action which destroys or alters the work of another student;
4. the multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without the prior written permission of each instructor;
5. plagiarism, the appropriation of information, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one’s own to satisfy the requirements of a course. Plagiarism thus constitutes both theft and deceit. Compositions, term papers, or computer programs acquired, either in part or in whole, from commercial sources or from other students and submitted as one’s own original work shall be considered plagiarism.
   
   All students are directed to the standard manuals of style or reference guides for discussions of plagiarism and the means by which sources are legitimately acknowledged, cited, quoted, paraphrased, and footnoted, whether presented in an oral report or in writing.
6. unauthorized collaboration.
7. soliciting or aiding another person or persons to engage in specific conduct which would constitute a violation or an attempt to commit a violation under this policy.

Students have other academic responsibilities that may pertain to conduct outside formal coursework and which also fall under the jurisdiction of the University Academic Honesty Policy. Specific violations of such responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. the misrepresentation of one’s own or another’s identity;
2. the alteration or falsification of official University records;
3. the unauthorized use of University academic facilities or equipment, including computer accounts and files;
4. the unauthorized recording, sale, or use of lectures and other instructional materials;
5. the unauthorized removal, mutilation, or deliberate concealment of materials in University libraries.

While the main purpose of the University Academic Honesty Policy is positive, to stress the importance of personal and communal integrity within an atmosphere of learning, the commission of any offense of academic dishonesty makes the violator subject to penalties determined to be justified by the University, according to the procedures which follow.

Primary responsibility for investigating alleged infractions of the University Academic Honesty Policy under section 1, above, rests with the faculty member in whose course the infraction occurred. The faculty member also has the responsibility for determining the sanctions, specified below, for infractions under section 1. Similar primary responsibilities for infractions under section 2, above, normally rest with the Provost or his or her designee, hereinafter referred to as the Vice President. Primary responsibility for investigating infractions filed as complaints under section 5, below, and for determining the sanctions also rests with the Vice President. Whenever an infraction is alleged, the faculty member or the Vice President shall summon the student to an interview.

1. Notice.
   An attempt to notify the student by letter, e-mail or phone must be made within 10 consecutive days of the discovery of the alleged infraction. An interview is to be held as soon as possible after the student is notified of the alleged infraction. However, cases in which the time frame cannot be met will not be dismissed for this reason alone.
2. Penalties.
   1. Under section 1, above: After a review of the evidence, if a student is found guilty of an infraction, depending on its severity, the faculty member must either record a grade of zero or failure for the examination or assignment, or record a grade of failure for the course. In cases of failure for the course, withdrawal from the course is not permitted; in cases of failure or the grade of zero for an assignment or examination, withdrawal from the course must have the written approval of the responsible faculty member.
   2. Under section 2, above: After a review of the evidence, if a student is found guilty of an infraction (excepting those under section 2.e.), depending on its severity, the Vice President must either suspend or dismiss the student, or impose such other penalty as he or she determines appropriate for the offense. If a student is found guilty under section 2.e., one or more of the following sanctions may be imposed: restitution, fine, suspension, or dismissal. In cases of suspension, no credits for courses taken during the suspension will be accepted towards graduation requirements.
3. Files.
   In all cases where a student is found guilty, the names of the principals, the pertinent dates, and the nature of the offense must be communicated in writing to the Office of the Registrar either by paper form or electronically to be maintained in a separate, confidential file. Upon receipt, the Registrar will send a copy of the Violation Report to the student. In cases of second offenses, the Director of the Office of the Registrar shall immediately notify the Chair of the Academic Honesty Board.

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.

1. Composition. The Academic Honesty Board (AHB or Board) is composed of seventeen (17) members. In addition to the chairperson, the Board consists of eight (8) students [two (2) from the College of Arts & Sciences, two (2) from the Haub School of Business, one (1) from the School of Health Studies and Education, one (1) continuing adult undergraduate, and two 2 from Graduate students] and eight (8) faculty [two (2) from the Haub School of Business, one (1) from the School of Health Studies and Education, and five (5) divisional representative (humanities, social sciences and natural sciences/math), with no more than 2 representatives from any one division]. All members, including the chair, shall be nominated by appropriate deans or student governments and appointed by the Provost, with consideration given to anyone interested in serving on the Board. All members shall serve two-year terms which are renewable. In the event that the chair is temporarily unable to convene the board, he/she will designate one of the eight faculty members to act as chair until such time as the chair is again able to convene. Six Board members, including the Chair (or his/her designate) and at least one student representative, constitute a quorum in order to conduct business. Decisions of the Board shall be rendered by a simple majority of those present. The Chair (or his/her designate) shall vote only in the case of a tie.
2. Appeals and Referrals. An accused student may appeal to the Board in order to contest a determination of guilt if he or she believes the decision to have been unsubstantiated or procedurally unfair. The responsible faculty member or the Vice President may refer a case to the Board if he or she believes because of the severity of the offense that the penalties specified under section 4.b., above, are inadequate. All appeals and referrals must state grounds and must be made in writing to the Chair within seven days after notification of the decision.
3. Hearings. As soon as possible after the receipt of a written request for an appeal or a referral, the Chair (or his/her designate) shall consult a minimum of four board members, including at least one student representative, to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for conducting a formal hearing. For cases in which it is decided that there are not sufficient grounds for appeal, a letter explaining the basis for that decision shall be written and mailed to the student who made the appeal. Upon notification of a second offense, the Board must hold a hearing to decide what further action should be taken. Written notice of a formal hearing must be provided to the parties involved, normally seven days before the hearing. Present at the hearing may be the following: the accused student, the accusing person, any witnesses or advisor from the academic community called by the student or the accuser, anyone called by the Board. The decision of the Board shall be communicated in writing by the Chair to the accused student and to the responsible faculty member or the Vice President, as defined under section 3, above, usually within seven days after the hearing.
4. Penalties. If the Board finds a student guilty, it shall do one or more of the following: allow the original decision to stand; suspend the student for a specified period of time; dismiss the student from the University; or impose some other penalty which the Board deems more suitable. However, the Board cannot lessen penalties imposed under section 4.b., above.
5. Files. The Board shall retain a confidential file on each hearing specifying the names of the principals, the pertinent dates, the nature of the charge and its final disposition. At the end of each academic year the Chair shall submit a summary report on the proceedings of the Academic Honesty Board to the Vice President.