The principles of truth and honesty are recognized as fundamental to a community of teachers and scholars. The University has a responsibility for maintaining academic integrity to protect the quality of education, research, and co-curricular activities on our campus and to protect those who depend upon our integrity. The following describes how we understand academic integrity at Waynesburg University.
Each member of the University community expects that both faculty and students will honor the principles of academic integrity. Faculty will exercise care in the planning and supervision of academic work, so that honest effort will be positively encouraged. It is the responsibility of the student to refrain from academic dishonesty and from conduct which aids others in academic dishonesty. This responsibility means that all academic work will be done by the student to whom it is assigned without unauthorized aid of any kind.
If any instance of academic dishonesty is discovered by an instructor, it is his/her responsibility to inform the student in writing of the accusation along with a proposed sanction. Students found guilty of cheating or plagiarism will normally receive an “F” in either the course or the particular test or assignment, at the faculty member’s discretion. Written notice of this finding will be provided by the faculty member to Academic Affairs with a copy to the department chair. In addition, to allow for tracking across multiple departments, the instructor will file an online report of the incident using the MUM Early Alert System.
If the student denies the accusation as charged by the instructor, the matter will be referred within three (3) class days, in writing by the student, to the Academic Standards and Procedures Committee.
The Academic Standards and Procedures Committee will be charged with determining whether the allegation can be substantiated and will report its decision in writing to Academic Affairs, the student, and the faculty member of the outcome. Students or faculty may, within three class days, appeal in writing the decision of the panel to the Provost.
When in the judgment of the Provost, action other than or in addition to a failing grade in the course is warranted, such action, including suspension, dismissal or expulsion, will be determined by the Provost and communicated in writing to the student. Students may, within three class days, appeal in writing such action of the Provost to the President.
Academic Integrity: Student Regulations
The principles of truth and honesty are recognized as fundamental to a community of scholars. The University expects that students will honor these principles and in so doing protect the validity of the University grading system.
- No student shall knowingly, without proper authorization, procure, provide or accept any materials which contain questions or answers to any examination or assignment to be given on a subsequent date.
- No student shall, without proper authorization, complete, in part or in total, any examination or assignment for another person.
- No student shall, without proper authorization, knowingly allow any examination or assignment to be completed, in part or in total, for him or her by another person.
- No student shall knowingly plagiarize or copy the work of another and submit it as his or her own.
- Students shall provide honest effort to provide proper credit for academic resources in accordance with the University catalog, course syllabus, and course assignment.
Academic Integrity: Definitions
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
Cheating
Intentionally misrepresenting the source, nature, or other conditions of academic work so as to accrue undeserved credit, or to cooperate with someone else in such misrepresentation of the work of others. As defined, “cheating” includes, but is not limited to:
- Obtaining or retaining partial or whole copies of examinations, tests, or quizzes before they are distributed for student use.
- Using notes, textbooks, or other information or equipment (e.g., calculators and other technological devices ) in examinations, tests, and quizzes except as expressly permitted.
- Obtaining confidential information about examinations, tests, or quizzes other than that released by the instructor.
- Securing, giving, or exchanging information during examinations.
- Presenting data or other assignments prepared by another person or group as one’s own.
- Falsifying experimental data or information.
- Having another person take one’s place for any academic performance without the specific knowledge and permission of the department chair.
- Without the express permission of the instructor, submitting work previously submitted for another course.
- Cooperating with another to do one or more of the above.
Plagiarism
Taking and presenting as one’s own a material portion of the ideas or words of another or to present as one’s own an idea or words derived from an existing source without full and proper credit to the source of the ideas, words, or work. As defined, “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to:
- Copying words, sentences, and paragraphs directly from the work of another without proper credit.
- Copying illustrations, figures, photographs, drawings, models, or other visual and nonverbal material (including recordings) of another without proper credit.
- Presenting work prepared by another in final or draft form as one’s own without citing the source, such as the use of purchased research papers.
- Taking and presenting another’s ideas as one’s own.
Fabrication
Intentional falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise. Fabrication includes but is not limited to:
- “Invented” information may not be used in any laboratory experiment or other academic exercise without notice to and authorization from the instructor or examiner.
- Students must acknowledge reliance upon the actual source from which cited information was obtained.
Facilitating
Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty. Facilitating includes but is not limited to:
- A student who knowingly allowed another to copy from his or her work would be in violation of this section.
- Proxy Taking Exam: A student taking an exam by proxy for someone else is an infringement of academic integrity on the part of both the student enrolled in the course and the proxy substitute.
Bribes, Favors, and/or Threats
Bribing or attempting to bribe, promising favors to or making threats against any person, with the intention of affecting a record of a grade or evaluation of academic performance. This includes students who conspire with another person who then takes action on behalf of the student.
Interference and Computer-Related Infractions
- Depriving students of fair access to and reasonable use of educational resources (e.g., computer facilities, electronic data, required/reserved readings, or referenced works).
- Tampering with, altering, circumventing, or destroying electronic resources or data used for student projects.
- Computer-related infractions defined by federal laws, state statutes, or contracts with the University (such as unauthorized use of computer licenses, copyrighted materials, intellectual property, or trade secrets).
- Unauthorized student use of academic or administrative computer resources for noneducational, private, or commercial purposes.