Academic work is evaluated on the assumption that the work presented is the student’s own, unless designated otherwise. Anything less is unacceptable and is considered academically dishonest. Specific terms related to academic dishonesty are defined below:
- Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic work submitted for credit.
- Plagiarism: Submitting academic work for credit that includes material copied or paraphrased from published or unpublished works without documentation.
- Fabrication: Deliberately falsifying or inventing any information or citation in academic work.
- Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Knowingly helping or attempting to help another violate the College’s policy on academic dishonesty.
- Falsifying qualifications: Deliberately misrepresenting oneself and/or one’s professional qualifications, credentials, or experiences.
If a faculty member, instructor, adjunct, or mentor suspects a student may be engaged in academic dishonesty, then the following process will be followed to determine what, if any, action should be taken:
- The faculty member, instructor, adjunct, or mentor will meet with the student and discuss the situation in an effort to resolve the problem. If the meeting does not resolve the situation, a follow-up letter will be sent by the faculty member, instructor, adjunct, or mentor to the appropriate dean reviewing the allegations, the student’s response, any pertinent documentation, and the outcome and recommendations.
- If necessary, a second meeting will take place involving the student, the faculty member, instructor, adjunct, or mentor, and the dean. This meeting will review all of the documentation, allegations, and prior discussions to determine appropriate sanctions, if any.
- A resolution, including any sanctions, will be conveyed to the student in writing by the dean. This decision ends the investigation.
- In the event that the student believes that the investigation and/or the sanctions are unwarranted, he/she may submit an appeal to the Appeals Committee. This appeal must be filed in writing and received within 15 days of the dean’s ruling. No further appeals will be accepted and the Appeals Committee's decision is final.
Sanctions: If it is determined that a student has violated the academic integrity code, possible sanctions include: no credit for the assignment; no credit for the course or the term; suspension from the College, revocation of an awarded degree.