Academic Integrity Policy

12 Jul 2016 17:02
Tags

Back to list of posts

ACADEMIC CODE OF CONDUCT

Academic integrity is the honest and responsible pursuit of scholarly activity, a practice that depends on a commitment to learning. It is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. All members of the USAO community are obligated to support this practice, as well as to discourage and punish academic dishonesty. Each student must subscribe to the following honor code:

“I will not engage in academic dishonesty or assist others who attempt to do so.”

Any form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable to the University. The following sections describe such offenses and outline the punishments that may be imposed on the student who cheats, ranging from an “F” on an assignment to expulsion from the University with a statement on the student’s transcript that the student was “dismissed for academic dishonesty.” All students are required to follow the academic code of conduct that is outlined in the section that follows.

Section I: Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

A. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is stealing the words or ideas of another person and presenting them as one’s own, either by copying someone else’s work or by paraphrasing. Each time a writer or speaker presents someone else’s ideas or works, credit must be given to that person. Some selected examples of plagiarism include:

  1. Submitting written or oral work done totally or in part by someone else.
  2. Failing to give credit in a paper, footnote, or speech for works or ideas originated by another person.
  3. Failing to use quotation marks when quoting written material directly from another person.
  4. Paraphrasing another’s ideas or words without indicating the source of the information.
  5. Submitting work that was submitted in another course, whether in its original or altered form, without first obtaining the permission of the instructor
  6. Knowingly aiding any of the above offenses.

B. Fabrication

Fabrication is inventing information. Although fabrication may involve plagiarism, fabrication does not include necessarily the stealing of ideas from another writer. Fabrication, however, is dishonest. With fabrication the writer or speaker is deceiving an audience by presenting work as based on real, established facts when those facts do not exist. Some selected examples of fabrication would include:

  1. Using false citations, i.e., falsely attributing information or ideas to an authoritative source.
  2. Using graphs or statistical information not supported by existing data based on actual research.
  3. Falsely claiming that one did formal research in support of a paper or speech.
  4. Reporting data that was not actually collected.
  5. Knowingly aiding any of the above offenses.

C. Cheating

Cheating is presenting material as proof that the writer or speaker has learned the information when, in fact, he/she has not. Some selected examples of cheating would include:

  1. Allowing another person to do one’s work and presenting it under one’s own name.
  2. Using unauthorized notes, study aids, or information from another student on in-class examinations.
  3. Altering a graded work after it has been returned, and then re-submitting the work as though for the first time.
  4. Having another respond to one’s name during roll call or having another sign one’s name on an attendance sheet.
  5. Obtaining, either directly or with the help of another, an advance copy of an examination.
  6. Knowingly aiding any of the above offenses.

D. Forgery and Altering Documents

Forgery is writing someone else’s name on a record or document. Forgery also means altering a record or document for the purpose of presenting inaccurate information. Some selected examples of forgery would be:

  1. Altering official academic records.
  2. Making an unauthorized signature for a faculty member or other University Official.
  3. Falsifying information on an official academic document.

Section II: Degrees of Academic Dishonesty

Unintentional Dishonesty

These incidents of dishonesty are deemed the consequence of inexperience, naivety, or sincere misunderstanding, by the faculty member.

Intentional Dishonesty

Minor Offenses

Plagiarism in which:

  1. The nature or extent of the offense indicates intentional dishonesty AND
  2. is minor enough that its inclusion without detection would not have raised the grade received for the assignment AND
  3. The dishonesty is perpetrated by a freshman or a sophomore AND
  4. The dishonesty is a first offense

Fabrication in which:

  1. The nature or extent of the offense indicates intentional dishonesty AND
  2. is minor enough that its inclusion without detection would not have raised the grade received for the assignment AND
  3. The dishonesty is perpetrated by a freshman or a sophomore AND
  4. The dishonesty is a first offense

There are no Minor Offenses of Forgery and Altering Documents

Serious Offenses

Plagiarism in which:

  1. The nature or extent of the offense indicates intentional dishonesty AND
  2. The plagiarism represents a minor portion of the submitted work, but the inclusion without detection of fraudulent portions could potentially raise the grade for the assignment OR
  3. The dishonesty is perpetrated by a junior or a senior OR
  4. The dishonesty is a second offense

Fabrication in which:

  1. The nature and extent of the offense indicates intentional dishonesty AND
  2. The fabrication represents a minor portion of the submitted work, but the inclusion without detection of fraudulent portions could potentially raise the grade for the assignment OR
  3. The dishonesty is perpetrated by a junior or a senior OR
  4. The dishonesty is a second offense

Cheating in which:

  1. There is no pre-meditation to cheat AND
  2. The cheating represents a minor portion of the submitted work, but the inclusion without detection of fraudulent portions could potentially raise the grade for the assignment

There are no Serious Offenses of Forgery and Altering Documents

Egregious Offenses

Plagiarism in which:

  1. The nature or extent of the offense indicates intentional dishonesty AND
  2. The plagiarism represents a significant portion of the submitted work OR
  3. The dishonesty is a third offense

Fabrication in which:

  1. The nature or extent of the offense indicates intentional dishonesty AND
  2. The fabrication represents a significant portion of the submitted work OR
  3. The dishonesty is a third offense

Cheating in which:

  1. There is pre-arrangement to cheat, i.e., preparing “cheat sheets” for an exam, obtaining an advance copy of the exam, etc. AND
  2. The cheating represents a significant portion of the submitted work OR
  3. The dishonesty is a second offense

All cases of Forgery and Alteration of Documents shall be considered egregious

All second offenses shall be defined as serious or egregious

Section III: Procedures

Faculty members at USAO are empowered to determine instances of academic dishonesty and what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken within their classroom. After discovering instances of intentional dishonesty, faculty members may pursue either an informal or a formal means of resolution. The means of resolution is at the discretion of the faculty member. However, in both procedures, faculty members are obligated to report academic dishonesty to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The names of students found guilty of academic dishonesty will remain on record in the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

The Academic Integrity Committee—a university committee composed of faculty members, students, and the registrar—is empowered to pursue disciplinary action above and beyond that of the faculty members or to hear appeals upon the failure of the informal resolution process. The Academic Integrity Committee is empowered to recommend supplementary disciplinary action outside of the classroom and to hear appeals regarding instances of academic dishonesty resolved through the informal resolution process. These additional penalties may include expulsion, suspension, probation, revocation of scholarship funds, or mandatory service to the college.

Intentional Dishonesty: Informal Resolution Procedures

If a faculty member suspects academic dishonesty on the part of a student, an informal resolution may be reached through a conversation between the faculty member and the student. If the student admits guilt or if the faculty member is convinced of an act of academic dishonesty on the part of the student, then the faculty member and student may resolve the instance of academic dishonesty informally without invoking the Office of Academic Affairs or the Academic Integrity Committee. Appropriate sanctions, such as loss of credit on an assignment or failure in the course, should be levied.

If resolved informally, the instance of academic dishonesty should be reported within five business days to the Office of Academic Affairs. Appropriate documents should include the signatures of both the faculty member and the student, affirming an informal resolution of academic dishonesty. Along with this informal resolution form, documentation of the details of the case of academic dishonesty should also be submitted to the office of the VPAA.

Documentation may include a report detailing plagiarism, an admission of guilt on the part of the student, witness testimony, or any other relevant information. If the student denies the charge of academic dishonesty, or if the faculty member does not feel as if the case has been suitably resolved, then an appeal may be made to the Academic Integrity Committee. Such an appeal must be made in person or in a letter to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Faculty members are encouraged to resolve perceived minor instances of academic dishonesty through the informal resolution process. (Please refer to Section II of the current policy for definitions of minor offenses). Faculty members are also encouraged to resolve instances of academic dishonesty by first- or second-year students through the informal resolution process.

Even if the case is resolved informally, second or third offenses of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Integrity Committee for possible additional disciplinary action.

Intentional Dishonesty: Formal Resolution Procedures

If a faculty member suspects that a student has committed an act of academic dishonesty and does not wish to pursue the informal resolution process, cases of potential academic dishonesty can be referred to the Office of Academic Affairs, which in turn will refer the case to the chair of the Academic Integrity Committee. The faculty member shall provide a written account of the incident along with supporting documentation. The written account should detail any actions taken by the professor within the confines of the classroom in addition to any conversations regarding the case of academic dishonesty.

The suspected case of academic dishonesty should be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs within five business days of its discovery by the faculty member. Penalties may be imposed according to the degree of academic dishonesty as outlined below.

Section IV: Punishments

Unintentional Dishonesty

Faculty should clearly warn the student and educate them as to proper academic practices. Such cases need not be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs or to the Academic Integrity Committee.

Intentional Dishonesty

For all instances of perceived intentional dishonesty, the faculty member shall provide a written account of the incident (as outlined above) to the Office of Academic Affairs, which will keep a record of the report and refer the incident to the chair of the Academic Integrity Committee. The chair will provide documentation to the committee members in advance of the next scheduled meeting of the committee. The student will also be invited to attend the meeting.

After the committee has met, the committee shall report the proceedings and penalty to the Office of Academic Affairs, which shall then communicate the decision to the professor and the student, in writing, within three business days. The Office of Academic Affairs shall also report the incident to the Financial Aid Office and the Office of Student Affairs. Personnel in these offices will report the incident to other interested parties, including Residential Life or relevant academic departments. Additional disciplinary action may be administered by these
parties.

Recommended punishments, as agreed upon by the committee, may follow the guidelines as outlined below:

Minor Offenses

For minor offenses of academic dishonesty, the committee may recommend supplementary discipline in the form of college service. The committee may also recommend academic probation.

Serious Offenses

For serious offenses of academic dishonesty, the committee may recommend supplementary discipline in the form of college service. The committee may also recommend a maximum penalty of a one-semester suspension from the university or a lesser penalty as it deems appropriate.

A record of the offense and the penalty shall be included in the student’s academic record. In the event of a suspension, the committee may place a statement on the student’s transcript indicating that the suspension was the result of academic dishonesty. If the student commits no other offense of academic dishonesty, he/she may petition the university upon graduation to have his/her record expunged.

Egregious Offenses

For egregious offenses of academic dishonesty, the committee may recommend supplementary discipline in the form of college service. The committee may also recommend a maximum penalty of expulsion from the university or a lesser penalty as it deems appropriate.

A record of the offense and penalty shall be included in the student’s academic record. In the event of a suspension, the committee may place a statement on the student’s transcript indicating that the suspension was the result of academic dishonesty. If the student commits no other offense of academic dishonesty, he/she may petition the university upon graduation to have his/her record expunged. An offense resulting in expulsion cannot be expunged from the student’s record.

Multiple Offenses

For multiple offenses of academic dishonesty, the committee shall recommend a minimum penalty of college service. Two instances of serious or egregious academic dishonesty shall result in a minimum of automatic academic dishonesty probation. Academic suspension may also be recommended. A maximum penalty of expulsion from the university may be recommended upon two instances of serious or egregious acts of academic dishonesty. Three determinations of academic dishonesty of any form will result in an automatic expulsion from the university. In the event of academic dishonesty probation or suspension, the committee may place a statement on the student’s transcript indicating that the suspension was the result of academic dishonesty. If the student commits no other act of academic dishonesty, he/she may petition the university upon graduation to have his/her record expunged. An offense resulting in expulsion cannot be expunged from the student’s record.

Section V: The Academic Integrity Committee

The Academic Integrity Committee shall be designated a university committee comprised of the following seven individuals: four faculty members (one from each division) who have been employed at least three years at the time of appointment; three students who either volunteer or are recommended by faculty and/or the Vice President of Enrollment Management; and the registrar, a non-voting member.

Part IV: Procedure for Appeals

Both the instructor and the student shall have the right to appeal the decision of the Academic Integrity Committee to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Upon request for an appeal, the Vice President will appoint an ad hoc Appeals Committee consisting of five tenured faculty who have no previous involvement with the incident. The ad hoc Appeals Committee may uphold or overturn the decision of the Academic Integrity Committee. The ad hoc committee will report its decision to the Office of Academic Affairs, which shall then communicate the decision to the professor and the student, in writing, within 3 working days.

The instructor and the student shall have the right to appeal the decision of the ad hoc appeals Committee to the President. The President may uphold or overturn the decision.

If, after all campus channels have been exhausted, no satisfactory solution has been reached, the student or instructor may request a hearing before the USAO Board of Regents.

Comments: 0

Add a New Comment

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License