Academic Integrity Policy
St. Edward's University expects academic honesty from all members of the community, and it is our policy that academic integrity be fostered to the highest degree possible.
Consequently, all work submitted for grading in a course must be created as a result of your own thought and effort. Representing work as your own when it is not a result of such thought and effort is a violation of our code of academic integrity.
Whenever it is established that academic dishonesty has occurred, the course instructor shall impose a penalty upon the offending individual(s). It is recognized that some offenses are more egregious than others and that, therefore, a range of penalties should be available. Whenever possible, it would also be important to try to determine the intent of the offender, since the error could be a result of careless work rather than an intent to deceive. The maximum penalty for a first offense is failure in the course, and if that penalty is imposed, the student does not have the option of withdrawing from the course.In cases of mitigating circumstance, the instructor has the option of assigning a lesser penalty.
After obtaining sufficient evidence that such dishonesty has occurred, the instructor should discuss the question with the student. Instructors who impose a penalty for serious academic dishonesty should report this penalty to the dean or director of the program in which the course is offered. The dean or director will report confirmed cases of dishonesty to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and a record of all offenses will be kept by the Office of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Offenses that resulted in failure in the course will then be reported to the Office of the Registrar.
The Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs will determine whether an earlier serious offense by the student has been recorded. A second serious offense merits an automatic appeal. Upon denial of this appeal, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs will dismiss the student from the university and notify the registrar and the dean or director.
A procedure for student appeal is already established and is outlined in detail in the Student Handbook, but it should be noted that, for appeals of decisions regarding academic dishonesty, the student must appeal to the dean of the school or program director within five (5) working days after being notified by the instructor.
(St. Edward's University Undergraduate Bulletin 2004-2005, p. 11)
You can also view this policy and some guidelines regarding academic integrity on the Center for Teaching Excellence. |
