ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
Approved by
APSCUF Rep Council on October 9, 1997
Approved by
University Senate on December 4, 1997
Approved by
University President on May 19, 1998
PREAMBLE
Kutztown University is
committed to the personal and intellectual growth of its students. The principal context in which this growth
occurs is the University's courses, -and the educational process depends upon
an open and honest atmosphere of positive cooperation between faculty and
students. In order to maintain this
atmosphere, professors must evaluate the academic performance of students
fairly and students must demonstrate their mastery of subject matter
honorably. Any acts of academic
dishonesty by students, such as plagiarism on written papers or cheating on
exams, threaten to undermine the educational and ethical goals of the
University for its students. Such
violations are of the utmost seriousness.
The goal of the following policy and procedures is to promote a climate
of academic honesty for all individuals at the University.
POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Responsibilities of the University
It is the responsibility of
University officials to acquaint students with this policy. The Academic Honesty Policy will be printed
in The Key, the student handbook, and
an explanation of the policy and procedures will be included during Freshmen
orientation. University officials will
take advantage of other opportunities to publicize the University's commitment
to academic honesty.
Responsibilities of Faculty Members and Administrators
It is the responsibility of
faculty members who become aware of acts of academic dishonesty to investigate,
gather evidence, bring charges, and participate in the resolution of cases that
they initiate, and administer appropriate sanctions according to the policy and
procedures set forth below. As a
preventive measure against such acts, instructors are strongly encouraged to
inform students at the beginning of each course that they intend to uphold this
policy. In addition, whenever there is
a potential for ambiguity as to how the policy applies to specific course
activities and assignments, instructors should explain clearly to students what
procedures, activities, and resources are allowed. Administrators who become aware of breaches of the Academic
Honesty Policy may participate, as co-accusers with the instructor, in bringing
charges of academic dishonesty.
Responsibilities of Students
It is the responsibility of students to be aware of this policy and abide by it at all times. Ignorance of this policy will not be an acceptable defense if charges are lodged. Students accused of academic dishonesty who fail to meet the time deadlines contained in the procedures set forth below will forfeit their rights to a formal hearing and to appeal a sanction. Students are encouraged to bring cases of academic dishonesty that they observe or know about to the attention of their instructors or to officials of the University. They should be willing to testify at subsequent formal hearings about such matters. Students have the right to participate, as co-accusers with the instructor, in bringing charges of academic dishonesty against other students.
Definitions of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty involves
any attempt to obtain academic credit or influence the grading process by means
unauthorized by the course instructor.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following
situations and examples.
1. Providing or receiving unauthorized assistance in course
work and lab work, or unauthorized assistance during examinations or quizzes.
2. Using unauthorized notes, materials, and devices during
examinations or quizzes.
3. Plagiarizing the work of others and presenting it as
one's own without properly acknowledging the source or sources. At its worst extreme, plagiarism is exact
copying, but it is also the inclusion of a paraphrased version of the opinions
and work of others without giving credit.
It is not limited to written materials.
It includes the wrongful appropriation in whole or in part of someone
else's literary, artistic, musical, mechanical, or computer-based work.
4. Presenting material to fulfill course requirements that
was researched or prepared by others (such as commercial services) without the
knowledge of the instructor.
5. Falsifying or inventing data to be presented as part of
an academic endeavor.
6. Gaining unauthorized access to another person's or the
University's computer system.
Violations include tampering with or copying programs or data or access
codes associated with coursework.
7. Possessing or arranging for someone else to possess
course examination or quiz materials at any time without the consent of the
instructor.
8. Altering or adding answers on exercises, exams, or quizzes after
the work has been graded.
9.
Making
fraudulent statements, excuses, or claims to gain academic credit or influence
testing or grading.
10. Taking examinations or quizzes for someone else or arranging to have someone take examinations or quizzes in place of the person registered for the course.
Sanctions
One or more of the following
sanctions may be imposed upon a student who commits a single act or multiple
acts of academic dishonesty. The
determination of the sanctions to-be imposed depends on the severity of the
offense or offenses. In the event that
a student agrees to accept the charges made by the course instructor using the
informal process or loses an appeal through the formal resolution process, the
course instructor will administer either the first or second sanction
below. In the event that the current
offense represents a second or multiple offense or the current single offense
is of such severity, the Student-Faculty Judiciary, as specified in Section
5.2.1 of the Key, may recommend (after a formal hearing) suspension or
dismissal from the University. A
student suspended or dismissed from the University for academic dishonesty may
receive a grade of "F" for the course in which the act of academic
dishonesty occurred. For all other
courses in progress at the time of the incident leading to suspension or
dismissal, appropriate withdrawal policies will apply. No grade where a penalty for academic
dishonesty has been assessed can be appealed under the University's Grade
Appeal Policy. The impact of other
unrelated contributing factors to a final course grade may be considered for
appeal if sanction outlined under I listed below is applied.
I . The student may be given a grade-reduction penalty within the
course in which the act occurred and/or be required to fulfill additional
academic requirements within the course at the discretion of the
instructor. The grade reduction may
encompass one portion of a course (such as a particular assignment or exam) or
apply to the entire course (such a dropping the student one letter grade).
2. The student may be given a failing grade of "F" for the
course. Instructors have the right to
assign such a grade for any instance of academic dishonesty, and the student
may not withdraw from the course in order to avoid this penalty.
3. The student may be temporarily suspended from enrollment at the
University.
4. The student may be
permanently dismissed from enrollment at the University.
Procedures
No sanction for academic
dishonesty may be imposed upon a student without following the procedures
established in this policy.
Students accused of academic
dishonesty in the context of a course in progress who intend to request a
formal hearing in order to contest the allegations may continue to attend the
class in question until the case is resolved.
If the course in question ends before the case is resolved, the
instructor shall submit a grade of "NGW'
(no grade), that will be replaced with the appropriate grade upon
resolution of the case.
The term "university
calendar days" as used in this policy refers to days when classes are
officially scheduled at the University during the Fall and Spring semesters and
during the Summer and Winter sessions.
Thus, final exam days, holidays, recesses, and breaks are excluded. The term "week' refers to any period of
time spanning five class days. Formal
hearings are only held during the Fall and Spring semesters. If a case is not resolved by the end of the
course in which the alleged violation occurred, then the matter is continued to
the following Fall or Spring semester.
If a violation is discovered
after the instructor of the course is no longer employed by the University or
if the time deadlines for a case extend beyond the period of employment of the
instructor, then the Chair of the Department in question or his or her designee
may substitute for the instructor in the procedures associated with this
policy.
The Informal Resolution Process
The informal resolution
process applies to situations when the instructor believes that an alleged act
of academic dishonesty can be resolved within the course by enforcing either
the first or second sanction, that is, where the maximum penalty sought by the
instructor is no greater than failure in the course with a grade of "F."
Instructors are urged to confer with or at least inform the Chair of the
Department in question about any charges of academic dishonesty.
1. Arranging the
initial meeting between the instructor and the student.
Within two (2) weeks of when
the instructor first becomes aware of an alleged instance of academic
dishonesty in his or her course, the instructor shall inform the student that
he or she must meet with the instructor to discuss the allegation.
2. The
initial meeting and filling out the Academic
Dishonesty Report Form.
The meeting between the
instructor and the student shall occur within one (1) week after the instructor
calls for it provided that the student is first given a minimum notice of two
(2) university calendar days of such meeting.
This provision may be waived if a clear and present danger exists. Before or during the meeting, the instructor
shall fill out the appropriate sections of the Academic Dishonesty Report Form (including the proposed sanction)
and give it to the student during the meeting.
The instructor should retain a copy of the filled-out form. While the instructor and the student may
wish to discuss the case and its resolution at this meeting, no lengthy
discussion is required. Even if the
case eventually results in a formal hearing, the instructor shall not impose a
sanction any stronger than the proposed sanction on this form.
If the student does not
appear for the scheduled meeting, the instructor dates and files the filled out
form with the Director of Judicial Services, noting that the student failed to
show up for the meeting. If the meeting
is not rescheduled by the student within three (3) university calendar days of
the original specified meeting day, then the student forfeits his or her right
to a formal hearing or appeal, the process is over, and the instructor is
permitted to enforce the proposed sanction.
3. The student's completion
and signing of the Academic
Dishonesty Report Form.
The student must sign, date,
and return the Academic Dishonesty Report
Form to the instructor within three (3) university calendar days of the
initial meeting. Failure to do so means
that the student forfeits his or her right to a formal hearing or appeal, the
process is over, and the instructor is permitted to enforce the proposed
sanction.
There are two (2) options
for the student when signing. By
signing under Option #1, the student admits the violation and waives his or her
right to a formal hearing or appeal on the matter. In that event, the process is over, and the instructor is
permitted to enforce the proposed sanction.
By signing under Option #2,
the student indicates that he or she has been informed of the accusations and
intended sanction, but has not admitted to committing a violation. Signing under Option #2 reserves the
student's right to request a formal hearing by hand-delivering a letter to the
Director of Judicial Services within one (1) week of the student's date on the Academic Dishonesty Report Form. Failure
to do so means that the student forfeits his or her right to a formal hearing
or appeal, the process is over, and the instructor is permitted to enforce the
proposed sanction.
4. Reports and record
keeping.
When the instructor receives
the signed Academic Dishonesty Report
Form from the student, he or she shall make three copies: one for him or
herself, one for the student, and one for the Dean of the College in which the
course is being taught. The original
form, along with any relevant documentation, shall be hand-delivered to the
Director of Judicial Services within one (1) week of receiving the form from
the student.
If the student does not
return the form within the three (3) university calendar day limit, then the
instructor will note the failure to meet that deadline on the copy of the Academic Dishonesty Report Form that he or she retained from the initial meeting. The instructor then resigns and dates that
notation on the form. The instructor
then makes three (3) copies: one for him or herself, one for the student, and
one for the Dean of the College in which the course is being taught. The original copy of the form, along with
any relevant documentation, shall be hand-delivered to the Director of Judicial
Services within one (1) week of the date when the student returns the form to
the instructor. As stated above, the
process is over and the instructor is permitted to enforce the proposed
sanction.
The original copies of these Academic Dishonesty Report Forms where
students admitted to a violation by signing under Option # 1, failed to meet
with the instructor, or failed to meet the three-day deadline to return the
signed form to the instructor shall be kept by the Director of Judicial
Services. These records are to be kept
by the Director or Judicial Services as evidence to be used in the event of
future academic dishonesty violations by the same student. These records also may be used to tabulate
anonymous statistical information.
If the student in question
is eventually suspended or dismissed from the University, these records shall be
kept permanently. Otherwise, these
records and all copies shall be destroyed two (2) years after the student's
separation from the University.
The Formal Resolution Process
1. Initiation of the
Formal Resolution Process.
Instructors, accused
students, or the Director of Judicial Services may initiate the Formal
Resolution Process.
a. An instructor must initiate the Formal Resolution Process, when
he or she, in consultation with his or her Department Chair, seeks a sanction
greater than failure in the course with a grade of "F", the student
involved was not enrolled in the course, or the student was previously enrolled
or in complicity with a student enrolled in the course. In such cases, the instructor shall initiate
the charges by hand delivering a completed and signed Incident Report Form along
with supporting evidence to the Director of Judicial Services within two weeks
of becoming aware of the violation.
b. An accused student, who signed the Academic Dishonesty Report Form under Option #2, may initiate the
Formal Resolution Process when he or she wishes to dispute the accusation(s)
described by the instructor on the form.
In order to do this, the student must hand-deliver a written request for
a formal hearing to the Director of Judicial Services within one (1) week of
the date given next to his or her name on the Academic Dishonesty Report Form. The request must explain the nature of
the student's disagreement with the charges.
The Director of Judicial Services shall send copies of the student’s
request to the instructor and the Dean of the College as soon as the request
for a formal hearing is received.
c. The Director of Judicial Services shall initiate the Formal
Resolution Process if a student's most recent violation of the Academic Dishonesty
Policy is for a repeated offense, or for an offense similar to a prior offense,
that was settled by the Informal Resolution Process. In such cases, the Director shall bring a charge of Persistent
Infractions of University regulations by completing an Incident Report Form.
2. Preliminary briefing of
the principals by the Director of Judicial Services.
The principal participants,
or principals for short, in a case are defined to be students accused of
academic dishonesty and those who have accused them either by signing an Academic
Dishonesty Report Form or by signing an Incident
Report Form where such violations are described. When the Formal Resolution Process is required, the Director of
Judicial Services will send the accused student a formal letter by certified
mail informing him or her of the accusations.
Copies of the letter will also be sent to the instructor in question and
the appropriate Dean. If the student has
requested a formal hearing, copies of the request will also be sent to the instructor
and the Dean. The letter will invite
the student to meet with the Director of Judicial Services for a preliminary
briefing on the case. An accused
student has one (1) week to schedule a time for such a briefing that will
explain the judicial process at the University and the student's rights. During this same period of time, the
Director of Judicial Services shall also invite the instructor and any other
accusers to a meeting to explain the judicial process and the instructor's
rights and those of any other accusers.
A formal hearing of the
Student-Faculty Judiciary will be scheduled within three (3) weeks of the date
of the certified letter to the student.
The Director of Judicial Services shall make every effort to schedule the
formal hearing at a time when all principals interested in attending can be
there. Those who attend will be able to
speak at appropriate times during the hearing.
3. The Formal Hearing by the
Student-Faculty Judiciary.
The Student-Faculty Judiciary shall adjudicate cases of academic
dishonesty that have not been resolved by the Informal Resolution Process. The formal hearing will be conducted
according to the Student-Faculty Judiciary's usual procedures as published in The Key.
The Student-Faculty Judiciary shall hear any testimony and/or review
evidence relevant to the allegations.
After doing so, the Student-Faculty Judiciary shall make a finding as to
whether or not the student violated this policy by committing an act of
academic dishonesty. All principal parties
are entitled to appear at the hearing with an advisor, who may be an attorney.
The Student-Faculty Judiciary shall make a finding based on a
preponderance of the credible evidence presented. In the event that it comes down to the word of the student
against the word of the instructor, then the Judiciary shall decide who is more
credible.
Within one (1) week of the formal hearing, the Student-Faculty
Judiciary -shall render its decision in a written report, including recommended
sanctions in the event of finding the accused responsible for a violation, that
shall be sent by certified mail to the accused student, the accuser(s), the
Dean of the College, and the Director of Judicial Services.
4. Appeals
Any principal participant in
a case may appeal the findings of the Student-Faculty Judiciary to the
President or his/her designee. The
appeal must be in writing and must describe in detail the grounds for the
appeal and what alternate decision is desired instead. These grounds must be consistent with those
stated in the KEY 4.9.3, 230, Basis for Appeal.
This appeal must be made
within two (2) university calendar days following receipt of the ruling made by
the Student-Faculty Judiciary. If not,
the ruling of the Student-Faculty Judiciary shall be enforced. The President or his/her designee shall deny
or uphold the appeal and shall have the power to modify the recommended
sanction of temporary suspension or permanent dismissal accordingly.
5. When
the student is found not responsible.
Assuming the student is
found not responsible for a violation, then the student has the right to
complete the course in question without penalty due to this unproved
accusation. The student's grade in the
course should be based upon the student's academic performance during the
course and be consistent with grading procedures used for other students in the
same course as if no accusation of academic dishonesty had ever been made. A student who is found not responsible for violating
the Academic Honesty Policy, but who nevertheless feels that he or she has been
penalized for it, can appeal the grade separately under the University's Grade
Appeal Policy (if he or she received an "F" in the course).
6. When
the student is found responsible.
If the student is found to
be responsible for a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy, then the
instructor of the course is permitted to assess the first or second sanctions
listed in this policy, provided the sanction does not exceed the proposed
sanction on the Academic Dishonesty
Report Form that the instructor may have filled out to begin the Informal
Resolution Process.
When a student is found to
be responsible (either by the Student-Faculty Judiciary or during the appeal
process), the Director of Judicial Services shall check the student's records
for earlier violations of the policy (and this policy only). If such violations exist, then the
Student-Faculty Judiciary or the University President (or designee), depending
on who made the finding for responsibility, may examine the records of the
previous violation(s) and take them into account when considering the sanctions
of temporary suspension and permanent dismissal from the University.
7. Filing of reports and
record keeping.
As with the records of
academic dishonesty in cases that are resolved by the Informal Resolution
Process, the records of students found responsible for a violation through the
Formal Resolution Process should be kept by the Director of Judicial Services
for future reference as described in Part 4 of the Informal Resolution Process
above.
KU ACADEMIC DISHONESTY REPORT FORM
|
Student Accused Name:
________________________________ Local
Address: _________________________ |
SS#
__________________________________
Local Phone:___________________________ |
|
Instructor Making Accusation |
|
|
Name:________________________________ |
Dept.: ________________________________ |
|
Position:
______________________________ |
Phone:
_______________________________ |
|
Academic Honesty Violation |
|
|
Date
of Violation:________________________ |
Course/Section:
________________________ |
Description of the violation
(Attach additional sheets as needed, including supportive data):
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Accuser(s)
_____________________________________________________ Date:________________________________
(Instructor of the course,
signature required)
____________________________________________________ Date: ________________________________
(Co-accuser, if any; faculty member, student, or administrator)
(Student
must return this form within three (3) university calendar days of this date)
The accusing faculty member and student shall each retain
a copy of this form after the initial meeting.
Signature
of Accused Student – Sign exactly one of the following two options.
Option
#1: I admit to the violation(s) described above and understand the
sanction(s) to be imposed.
I
hereby waive my right to a formal hearing or an appeal of these accusations.
Student:
_____________________________________________
Date: _________________________________
Option #2: I understand
that I am accused of a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy and may be
subject to
the
sanction (s) described above. My
signature indicates only that I have been notified of the
accusation(s), not that I agree with them. I waive none of my rights.
Student:
____________________________________________
Date: __________________________________
Date That
Form Was Returned:
_____________________________________________
The
instructor shall deliver the original of this form, along with any relevant
documentation, to the Director of Judicial Services within one (1) week of the
date when the student returns the form to the instructor. The instructor shall keep one for him or
herself, give one to the student and send one to the Dean of the College in
which the course is being taught. The
information constitutes part of the student’s educational record and may not be
redisclosed without their signed written consent.