- Academic integrity is an integral part of a faith-based university community. As such, it is assumed that a student is the author of all coursework (quizzes, problem sets, online contributions, tests, papers, lab work, etc.) that he/she submits, whether for a grade or not. Images, ideas, data, audio clips, phrases, etc. borrowed from others should be fully identified by standard procedures for making such acknowledgment.
- An act of academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating or plagiarism) is a serious offense and is regarded as conflicting with the work and purpose of the entire university and is not merely just a matter between the student and the faculty member.
- When a student cheats, disciplinary action is initiated with the goal of helping the student refrain from future acts of cheating. This disciplinary action includes academic consequences related to the student’s course and a change in the student’s status, moving the student to academic integrity probation or academic integrity suspension, as appropriate.
- Cheating includes such acts as copying another’s work and presenting it as one’s own (or allowing someone else to copy one’s work) and using unfair methods to complete a test (or helping someone to cheat).
- Incidents of cheating must be reported immediately by the faculty member to the Registrar for Traditional Undergraduate (TRAD) courses or the Assistant Dean of the College of Graduate, Online & Adult Learning (CGOAL) for Dual Enrollment (DE) and Adult & Graduate (A&GS) courses.
- A student found cheating in course work or examinations is subject to discipline. The standard disciplinary response is an immediate “F” (failing grade) for the course. Additionally, for the first incident of cheating, the student is placed on academic integrity probation by the Registrar, or Assistant Dean of CGOAL, as appropriate, and for a subsequent incident of academic dishonesty, the student is placed on academic integrity suspension by the Registrar or Assistant Dean of CGOAL, as appropriate. Student Life and Academic Achievement may be made aware of the disciplinary action taken.
- The disciplinary action may be decreased for reasons such as the following:
- Possibly decreased to failure of assignment and/or student not placed on academic integrity probation or academic integrity suspension if
- the work is a minor part of the total grade of the course (such as less than 5%),
- the act of academic dishonesty (cheating) is judged to not be premeditated.
- Academic integrity probation students are required to meet with the Academic Achievement Program Manager (TRAD and DE students in Trad courses) or the Assistant Dean of CGOAL (DE and A&GS students) for an accountability appointment.
- Academic integrity suspended students are suspended as such:
- All students: If the incident occurs during the fall semester, then the student will be suspended during the subsequent spring semester
- TRAD and DE students: If the incident occurs during the spring semester, then the student will be suspended during the subsequent summer and fall semesters.
- A&GS students: If the incident occurs during the spring semester, then the student will be suspended during the subsequent summer semester.
- All students: If the incident occurs during the summer semester, then the student will be suspended during the subsequent fall semester.
- Appeals regarding academic cheating will be in writing and directed to the respective chair of the ad hoc Appeals Committee: Registrar for TRAD courses or the Assistant Dean of CGOAL for DE and A&GS courses.
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