Home / Walsh University Graduate Catalog 2012-2013 / Academic Policies and Procedures / Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures

Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures

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Academic Policies and Procedures

I. Policy Statement

Academic integrity lies at the heart of student–teacher relationships involving learning, free inquiry, and the search for knowledge and truth. Inspired by the spirit of the Judeo-Christian tradition expressed in the University’s mission statement, Walsh University requires all faculty and students to act honestly, morally, and ethically in the maintenance of professional standards for learning, research, writing, and assessment. To maintain the academic integrity of the University, students are responsible for their own academic work. Academic dishonesty is not acceptable.

II. Penalties and Sanctions

Violations of academic integrity and appropriate penalties vary in severity, and range from failure of a specific test or assignment, reduced course grade, failure of the course, probation, suspension, to expulsion from the University. The faculty member has the primary responsibility in determining the severity of the impact on a student’s grades in a course. In cases where the faculty member believes the severity of the offense warrants academic probation, suspension, or dismissal, such a recommendation should proceed through the division chair or school dean to the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is the responsibility of the faculty member to provide all documentation and supporting materials related to violations of academic integrity.

III. Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations

If a faculty member discovers, and/or has reason to believe that the student has committed an academic integrity violation, the faculty member checks the Academic Integrity Repository for prior offenses and communicates to the student the nature of the charge, the information collected, and the penalty warranted. The faculty member determines the violation, the student’s grade, and the penalty imposed.

If the student concurs with the decision, the faculty member notifies the division chair/school dean in writing of the decision and the penalty and includes any supporting materials and documentation related to the decision. The chair will send a copy of the report to the Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs for inclusion in the Academic Integrity Repository file. If the student maintains that the allegation is in error, or that the decision was unfair, he or she may appeal the decision in accordance with the University’s Academic Appeals procedures. Formal written appeals involving academic decisions in graduate programs will be adjudicated by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

IV. Definitions

Academic Dishonesty. The definition of Academic dishonesty is the fabrication or misrepresentation of work, either intentional or unintentional, which includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, forgery, sabotage, bribery, and the multi-submission of work.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism is the representation of the works, ideas, data, or arguments of others as one’s own. Whether quoting, paraphrasing, or reiterating others’ ideas, students are responsible for documenting any materials taken from other sources. This means that students identify the source through footnotes, quotation marks and/or other forms of documentation. Sources include books, magazines, newspapers, electronic media, private letters, interviews, or other individuals’ work. Additionally, a classroom paper must not be merely a series of phrases, sentences, or paragraphs copied from a source or sources.

Cheating. Cheating is using, or attempting to use, unacknowledged or unauthorized materials, information, data, or ideas. In addition to plagiarism, looking at another student’s materials and/or using unauthorized external aids of any sort during an exam or completion of assignments is also cheating.

Forgery. Forgery is the fabricating, altering or counterfeiting of images, documents, or signatures on any information, data, or documents.

Sabotage. Sabotage means deliberately impairing, destroying, damaging, or stealing another’s work or working materials such as lab experiments, library resources, computer programs, term papers, exams, or projects.

Bribery. Bribery means offering any service or article with the purpose or effect of receiving a grade or other academic benefit not earned on the merits of the academic work.

Multi-submission of work. A classroom paper of any type must be the work of the student submitting it.

Student should normally submit credit work for only one course, unless the instructor(s) grant prior written consent for submission to meet requirements for any other course.

Academic Integrity Repository. A confidential file of student academic Integrity violations kept in the office of Academic Affairs. Faculty may request confirmation of prior student offences.