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Academic Honor Code
To a large extent, a College's reputation
depends upon the quality and the integrity of the academic work that its
students produce. Maintaining high standards of academic honesty is the
responsibility of both Goldey-Beacom College students and faculty. As
students begin or continue their career pursuits, it is critical that they
bring high ethical standards to their work. The Academic Honor Code System
at Goldey-Beacom College will strive to enhance ethical awareness in each
student.
Definition of Academic Dishonesty
Cheating: An act or attempted act by which a student seeks to misrepresent
what he/she has mastered on an academic exercise. Cheating includes but
is not limited to the following examples:
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Copying from others during an examination.
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Collaborating on a test, quiz, or project
with others without authorization.
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Using unauthorized materials to complete an
exam or assignment.
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Programming of notes, formulas, or other
aids into a programmable calculator or electronic dictionary without
prior authorization.
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Using a communication device such as a cell
phone, pager, PDA, or electronic translator to obtain unauthorized
information during an exam.
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Using online resources such as Web sites or
e-mail while completing an online exam without the permission of the
instructor.
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Copying computer files from another person
and representing the work as the student’s own work.
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Taking an exam for another student or
permitting someone else to take a test for the student.
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Allowing others to do research or writing of
an assignment; e.g.,
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Using the services of a commercial term
paper company,
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Using the services of another student,
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Using Internet services to access
another’s work.
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Submitting substantial portions of the same
academic work for credit in more than one course without consulting the
second instructor (and the first instructor if the courses are
concurrent at GBC).
Fabrication: the use of invented information or the falsification of
research or other findings. Fabrication includes but is not limited to
the following examples:
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Citation of information not taken from the source indicated. This may
include incorrect documentation of secondary source materials; e.g.,
using the bibliographic information from a source instead of going to
the original source yourself.
- Listing sources in a bibliography not used in the academic exercise.
- Submission in a paper or other academic exercise of false or
fictitious data, or deliberate and knowing concealment or distortion of
the true nature, origin, or function of such data.
- Submitting as the student’s own work any academic exercises prepared
totally or in part by another.
Plagiarism: the inclusion of another’s words,
ideas, or data as one’s own work. This covers unpublished as well as
published sources. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to the following
examples: -
Quoting another person’s words, sentences, paragraphs, or entire work
without acknowledgment of the source.
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Utilizing another person’s ideas, opinions, or theory without
acknowledgment of the source.
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The use of resources without documentation on a task that is to be
completed without resources.
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Copying another student’s essay test answer.
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Copying, or allowing another student to copy, a computer file that
contains another student’s assignment, and submitting it, in part or in its
entirety, as one’s own.
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Working together on an assignment, sharing the computer files and
programs involved, and then submitting individual copies of the assignment
as ones own individual work.
Academic Misconduct: other academically
dishonest acts. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to the
following examples:
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Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining all or part of an unadministered
exam.
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Selling or giving away all or part of an exam, including answers; e.g.,
telling someone in the 10 a.m. class what was on the 8 a.m. class exam.
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Bribing another to obtain an exam.
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Copying and distributing an unadministered exam.
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Continuing to work on an exam or project after the specified allotted
time has elapsed.
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Changing, altering, or being an accessory to the changing or altering of
a grade on a test, assignment, or project.
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Falsifying an excuse to obtain an extension on a deadline for a test,
assignment or project.
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Attempting to use technology to alter grades or academic records.
Procedures for Handling Student Violations of
the Honor Code
Any student, staff or faculty member has the right and is
expected to report suspected student violations of the Academic Honor Code
to the instructor of the course or any member of the Academic Honor Code
Committee. The instructor should handle suspected violations in the
following way:
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Satisfy oneself that there is credible
evidence that a violation has occurred.
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Document everything completely.
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Take action appropriate to the violation.
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Submit a Violation Report to the Chair of
the Academic Honor Code Committee and the Academic Dean.
The instructor should only submit the Report and keep the
supporting evidence in their file for a minimum of two
years.
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Notify the student concurrently in writing
that a Violation Report has been filed. This will be done
via e-mail with “return receipt requested,” to the student’s
GBC e-mail account.
A reported incident of academic misconduct will be handled by the
instructor by one of the following means:
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written reprimand,
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assignment of additional work,
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re-examination,
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lowering the assignment or course grade,
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assigning an “F” grade for the
course.
All communication with the student should be in private and completely
documented. The instructor must apprise the student of the appeal process
available to him/her.
Student Appeal Process
If a student disagrees with the faculty action, he/she should request a
meeting with the Academic Dean. After meeting with the Dean, the Dean
may document the meeting and any resulting decision and communicate the
information to the student via the student’s GBC e-mail address. If, after
meeting with the Dean, the student still disagrees, he/she may appeal the
faculty action to the Academic Honor Code Committee. The appeal should be
handled in the following way:
Student appeals must be made in writing and submitted within ten (10)
business days of the meeting date with the Academic Dean, or the date of the
Dean’s e-mail, whichever is later. The written appeal should include a
brief summary of the alleged violation of the Academic Honor Code, the
faculty action taken, and the student’s reasons for appealing the action.
The appeal should be submitted to the Chair of the Academic Honor Code
Committee who will hold a formal administrative hearing to consider the
appeal. Such hearings will occur during standard business hours during
the Fall and Spring semesters.
Parties involved in the administrative hearing process have the following
rights and responsibilities:
The Student:
- At least five (5) business days prior to the hearing, the Student shall
be sent written notice via the GBC e-mail account and letter of the
administrative hearing specifying the suspected violation, the time
and the place of the hearing, and a copy of the procedures which will be
used during the hearing.
- Shall be given the opportunity to present his/her
explanation of the alleged academic dishonesty.
- Is entitled to be present
during the hearing while evidence is being presented and may remain until
the deliberations have begun. If the student elects not to appear at
the hearing, the hearing shall be conducted in the student’s absence.
- Shall
have the right to produce witnesses, written documents, and other evidence
to substantiate his/her case.
- Shall have the right to ask questions, which
shall be directed to the Chair of the hearing who will pose all questions to
all witnesses.
- Shall have the right to refuse to answer any question(s) or
to make a statement.
- May have someone present to advise them, e.g., a
faculty member, fellow student, or staff member of the College Community.
Legal counsel is not permitted to be present during the hearing.
Should the suspected academic dishonesty have the potential for criminal
prosecution based on the activity that is the subject of the violation, an
exception may be granted to allow for the presence of legal counsel.
Should legal counsel be permitted, the counsel’s role is limited to legal
advisor to the student, not advocate, and he/she may not ask questions of
witnesses or otherwise participate in the hearing.
The Instructor:
- At least five (5) business days prior to the hearing, the Instructor
shall be sent written notice of the hearing specifying the suspected
academic dishonesty, the time and place of the hearing, and a copy of the
procedures which will be used during the hearing.
- Shall be given the
opportunity to present his/her explanation of the suspected academic
dishonesty. Is entitled to be present during the hearing while evidence is
being presented and may remain until the deliberations have begun.
- Shall
have the right to produce witnesses, written documents, and other evidence
to substantiate his/her case.
- Shall have the right to ask questions, which
shall be directed to the Chair of the hearing, who will pose all questions
to all witnesses.
The Academic Honor Code Committee:
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Shall base its findings upon the preponderance of evidence.
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Shall make
all decisions by majority vote at a meeting with the appropriate quorum of
members.
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Shall submit its findings, decision, and action to be taken within
ten (10) business days following the hearing.
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Shall keep summary minutes of
the hearing, which will be available to the student, upon request, within
ten (10) business days following the hearing.
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At the discretion of the
Chair, an audio record may be made. Deliberations need not be recorded.
The student will receive written notice via the GBC e-mail account with
“return receipt requested” and letter either hand delivered or mailed by
certified mail within ten (10) business days following the hearing informing
him/her of the Committee’s decision. Copies should be sent to the
faculty member, the appropriate Cluster Coordinator, and the Academic
Affairs Office.
The decision of the Academic Honor Code Committee may be appealed to the
Appellate Board within ten (10) business days after the notification of the
Committee’s decision. The written appeal should include a detailed summary
of the alleged violation of the Academic Honor Code, the faculty action
taken, and the student’s reasons for appealing the action. The appeal
should be submitted to the Chair of the Appellate Board who will hold a
formal administrative hearing to consider the appeal. Such hearings
will occur during standard business hours during the Fall and Spring
semesters. The student will receive written notice via the GBC e-mail
account with “return receipt requested” and letter either hand delivered or
mailed certified within ten (10) business days of the Appellate Board’s
decision. The decision by the Appellate Board in all Academic Honor
Code cases is final.
Sanctions for Repeat Violations
Individuals with documented repeat violations of the College's Academic
Honor Code may be subject to the following sanctions:
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Disciplinary warning: A
disciplinary warning is an official written notice expressing that the
student’s conduct violates one or more College rules, regulations, or
policies.
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Loss of Scholarship: A
student may have his/her Goldey-Beacom College scholarship revoked for
engaging in behaviors that are in violation of the Student Code of Conduct,
the Alcohol and Drug Policy, or the Housing Policy Handbook. Upon
dismissal from the College, all College-funded scholarships are permanently
revoked.
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Probation: Probation is
a period of review during which the student must comply with all College
rules, regulations, and polices. This action is a period of official
censure. A probation action may specify any conditions with which the
individual must comply or any privileges which may be withheld. Probation
may include, but is not limited to, the loss of privilege to represent the
College in an official capacity (e.g., varsity intercollegiate events,
holding office, or participation in campus government or related
organizations).
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Suspension: Suspension
from the College is the termination of student status for a specified period
of time. A student may not attend classes, take exams, receive grades,
or be on College property. After this period of time, the student must seek
written approval from the Academic Dean to return to the College. The
hearing officer may establish additional requirements which must be
fulfilled to the Academic Dean’s satisfaction prior to reinstatement. There
will be no refunding of tuition or fees.
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Dismissal: Dismissal is
the permanent, involuntary separation from the College due to academic
violations. A student is not permitted on College property. There will
be no refunding of tuition or fees.
Honor Code Committee:
The Academic Honor Code Committee will consist of five (5) members:
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A committee chairperson – one of the Cluster Coordinators,
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One (1)
faculty members (with two alternates),
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The Dean of Students,
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Two (2)
students (with two alternates).
Members and alternate members will be appointed each academic year.
The Academic Honor Code Committee administrative hearings must have in
attendance at least three (3) members, with one of either the faculty or
staff member in attendance. If a member cannot serve, she/he should
notify the Honor Code Committee Chairperson immediately.
Maintenance of Academic Honor Code Violation Records
All reports involving Academic Honor Code violations will be housed in
the Academic Affairs Office. The files may be discarded after a ten (10)
year period.
This policy supersedes any previously published Academic Honor Code
policies of Goldey-Beacom College. |
