ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

Policy

General

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University is a scholarly community whose members believe that excellence in education is grounded in qualities of character as well as of intellect. We respect the dignity of other persons, the rights and property of others, and the right of others to hold and express disparate beliefs. We believe in honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct. We defend the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning and combine that freedom with the exercise of judgment and the acceptance of personal responsibility.

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú demands the highest standards of professional conduct from its students, faculty, and staff. As a community of scholars, our fundamental purpose is the pursuit of knowledge.  Integrity in academic study is based on sound disciplinary practices and expectations, as well as a commitment to the values of honesty and integrity.

The faculty have the right and the obligation to set standards for ethical and honest academic study. The graduate faculty are responsible for communicating and discussing these standards with their graduate students. Students are also responsible for knowing and understanding these standards and misunderstanding does not justify the violation of academic integrity.  If a student is in doubt about appropriate academic conduct in a particular situation, they  should consult with the instructor in the course, the department chair/program director, or the Dean of the Graduate School in order to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty.

Criteria

Whereas many standards of conduct are discipline specific, there are well-established standards that apply to all graduate students in all disciplines. All students are expected to engage in ethical behavior in their academic study and in all forms of scholarship.  Unethical or dishonest conduct in academic study will lead to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Academic Dishonesty

Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is defined as engaging or attempting to engage in any activity that compromises the academic integrity of the institution or subverts the educational process, including as a means to complete or assist in the completion of an academic assignment.

An academic assignment is defined as the submission or presentation of any student work for evaluation, grade, or academic credit. This includes, but is not limited to, assignments in courses, proficiency waiver exams, oral/comprehensive/qualifying exams, theses, dissertations, and portfolios of research submitted to earn academic credit. This definition applies to work submitted face-to-face or through on-line or electronic means and work submitted for face-to-face, hybrid, and on-line courses affiliated with any of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University’s campuses and divisions.

A finding of academic dishonesty requires that there is a significant departure from accepted academic practices of the relevant academic community.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:

1. Cheating: using or attempting to use or possessing any aid, information, resources, or means in the completion of an academic assignment that are not explicitly permitted by the instructor or providing such assistance to another student. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to:

1. 1. Possessing, referring to, or using in any way unauthorized textbooks, notes, study aids, websites, crib/cheat sheets, or other information during an academic assignment, in paper, electronic, or other format;
   2. Possessing, referring to, or using in any way unauthorized electronic devices or other materials during an academic assignment;
   3. Looking at or using information from another student’s work during an academic assignment;
   4. Receiving answers, information, or materials from another individual in any academic assignment when not explicitly permitted by the instructor;
   5. Utilizing or soliciting another person to complete any portion of an academic assignment in place of oneself or submitting the work of another person as one’s own;
   6. Submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment or portions thereof to fulfill the requirements for two or more courses without approval of the instructors involved, including when repeating a course; or submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment or portions thereof from a previously completed course to fulfill the requirements for another course without the approval of the instructor of the latter course; or submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment or portions thereof to fulfill the requirements for two or more academic assignments within a course without the approval of the instructor;
   7. Completing or participating in the completion of any portion of an academic assignment for another student to submit as their own work, including taking a quiz or an examination for another student;
   8. Providing answers, information, or materials to another student in a manner not authorized by the instructor, including one’s own completed coursework.
2. Plagiarism: presenting as one’s own the work, the ideas, the representations, or the words of another person/source without proper attribution. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:
   1. Submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely one’s own work without accurate and appropriate citations and attribution (including appropriate use of quotation marks);
   2. Using the words, ideas, or structure/sequence of another person or source without accurate and appropriate citation and attribution (including the appropriate use of quotation marks);
   3. Submitting material using translation software/devices without permission from the instructor.
3. Fabrication: falsification, invention, or manipulation of any information, citation, data, or method for an academic assignment. Examples of fabrication include, but are not limited to:
   1. Changing material on a graded academic assignment and requesting re-grading for that assignment;
   2. Presenting false or invented information in any academic assignment;
   3. Presenting false claims regarding how information or data was collected or generated;
   4. Providing an inaccurate account of how information or data was collected or generated;
   5. Inventing, inaccurately manipulating presenting, or data and/or its outcomes;
   6. Inventing or inaccurately presenting citations or sources.
   7. Changing or manipulating any grade or evaluation.
4. Unauthorized collaboration: working with another individual or individuals in any phase of or in the completion of an individual academic assignment without explicit permission from the instructor to complete the work in such a manner.
5. Misrepresentation: falsely representing oneself or one’s efforts or abilities in an academic assignment. Examples of misrepresentation include, but are not limited to:
   1. Utilizing another person to complete any portion of an academic assignment in place of one’s self;
   2. Having another individual sign-in for a course or use an electronic device to record one’s presence or participation in a class.
   3. Signing another student’s name or using an electronic device to record another’s presence or participation in a class or on an academic assignment;
   4. Including another student’s name on a group project for credit when that student did not contribute to the work;
   5. Including one’s own name on a group project when one did not contribute significantly to the work or thereby claiming credit for work completed by another group member.
   6. Including unacknowledged sources or citations in an academic assignment
6. Gaining an unfair advantage: completing an academic assignment through use of information or means not available to other students or engaging in any activity that interferes with another student’s ability to complete their academic work. Examples of gaining an unfair advantage include, but are not limited to:
   1. Retaining, possessing, using, distributing or making public previous or current academic assignment materials when the instructor has indicated that those materials are not to be retained or shared or are to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the academic assignment or course (including originals, copies, reproductions, pictures and electronic or hard copy formats, or uploading to websites or providing for sale);
   2. Taking pictures of, making copies of, or reproducing any academic assignment materials when the instructor has indicated that those materials are not to be copied or reproduced in any form;
   3. Obstructing or interfering with another student’s academic work or ability to gain access to information to be used in the completion of an academic assignment;
   4. Taking or using another student’s work without their knowledge;
   5. Removing academic assignment materials from an instructor’s office, classroom, computer, or any other University space (physical or virtual/electronic);
   6. Violating the procedures described to maintain the integrity of an academic assignment, including any procedures associated with online proctoring.

Attempts to engage in any of the above actions will be treated the same as completed acts.

Students may be held responsible for committing academic dishonesty while enrolled even if the student withdraws from the course.

Reporting Academic Dishonesty

If academic dishonesty is suspected to have occurred within a course, the course instructor who suspects that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall report the alleged incident to the Academic Integrity staff in a timely manner. If academic dishonesty is suspected to have occurred on an academic assignment that is not within a course (e.g., proficiency waiver examination, oral/comprehensive/qualifying exams, theses, dissertations, portfolio or research submitted for credit), the person in charge of the academic assignment shall report the alleged incident to the Academic Integrity staff.

Other persons, including students, who believe they have knowledge of academic dishonesty, should report the alleged dishonesty to the instructor of the course or person in charge of the academic assignment in which the dishonesty is alleged to have occurred.  If, after reasonable inquiry, the course instructor or person in charge of the academic assignment finds the report credible, they will report the alleged incident to the Academic Integrity staff.

In reporting the alleged incident to the Academic Integrity staff, the course instructor or person in charge of the academic assignment (herein referred to as the instructor) shall provide a report of the incident and include the relevant documentation. The instructor is encouraged to communicate to the student suspected of committing academic dishonesty that they have been reported to the Academic Integrity staff.

Once a report has been submitted to the Academic Integrity staff, the Academic Integrity staff may meet with the instructor to discuss the criteria for academic dishonesty, hearing procedures, the nature of the information, or to request more information.

Notice and Procedural Review

Upon receipt of a referral, the Academic Integrity staff will notify the student of the report and schedule a procedural review with the student.

The notice will include a copy of the instructor’s report with all supporting documentation; the date, time, and location of the procedural review, which will be held no sooner than five university class days from the date of the notice; and the Student Guide to Academic Dishonesty.

The purpose of the procedural review is to review the report from the instructor, provide an explanation of the academic integrity process, discuss the reported student’s options, and advise the student regarding the proposed sanctions for the alleged violation(s).

If the student fails to appear at the procedural review, the case will be referred to the appropriate department chair/program director for a hearing. Procedural reviews may be rescheduled at the discretion of the Academic Integrity staff.

Selection of a Hearing/Outcome Option

The student must, no later than two university class days from the date of the procedural review, select one of two resolution options and return the signed Academic Integrity Resolution Option form to the Academic Integrity staff.

The options are:

1. Accept responsibility for committing academic dishonesty as alleged and the proposed sanction or
2. Request a hearing with the department chair/program director of the department/program in which the alleged violation arose.

If the student accepts responsibility, the Academic Integrity staff will notify the following parties of the student’s decision: the instructor, the appropriate department chair/program director in the department the offense occurred as well as in the student’s home department, and the Graduate Dean. The Academic Integrity staff will impose the sanction(s). If the student accepts responsibility, the finding is final, and the student may not appeal. If the reported student requests a hearing, the Academic Integrity staff will notify the student and the appropriate department chair/program director of the student’s decision. The department chair/program director has the right to require a single hearing for cases involving multiple students.

Hearing Notice

If the student elects to have a hearing or fails to notify the Academic Integrity staff of the option selected within two university class days from the date of the procedural review, a hearing will be scheduled and the student will be notified of the date, time, and location of the hearing. The hearing will be scheduled no sooner than five university class days from the date of notification.

Hearing Procedures

The hearing will be conducted by the department chair/program director (herein referred to as the hearing officer). A student may request that a designee conduct the hearing. (Refer to Section 1.5.I)

Hearings will be held with all parties physically present. In the event not all parties are  able to be physically present,  hearings may be held via video, phone, teleconferencing or other means. Students may bring an advisor of their choice and up to two persons for support to the hearing. However, the advisor or support person may not speak on behalf of the student. If an advisor or support person is determined to be unreasonably interfering with the hearing, they may be asked to leave.

At the hearing, the instructor will present the information supporting the allegation of academic dishonesty, including any supporting factual witnesses or information.  The  student will be afforded the opportunity to respond by submitting a written statement, with any supporting factual witnesses, and to ask questions of the instructor and witnesses called by the instructor. The hearing officer may ask questions of all parties involved in order to understand the full nature of the situation and the evidence presented by both parties.

To the extent possible or necessary, the hearing should serve as an opportunity to have an educational conversation with the student about academic integrity.

If the student fails to attend the hearing, the hearing may be held in the student’s absence.

Sanctioning

Following the hearing, the hearing officer shall review all of the documentation and testimony and determine whether the student has committed an act of academic dishonesty. The greater weight of the  available information is sufficient for the hearing officer to conclude the student committed academic dishonesty.

If the hearing officer concludes that the student is not responsible for committing academic dishonesty, the student, the instructor, the Dean of the Graduate School, and Academic Integrity staff will be notified of this finding. If the hearing officer determines that no violation of the Academic Integrity Policy has occurred, but that the student may benefit therefrom, the hearing officer may direct the student to successfully complete an educational seminar conducted by the Academic Integrity staff within a specified period of time.

If the hearing officer concludes that the student is responsible for committing academic dishonesty, the hearing officer, after conferring with the instructor, will impose one or more sanction(s).

1. The hearing officer will first determine whether the student has been found responsible for any previous act of dishonesty (to include academic dishonesty violations and dishonesty violations of the Code of Student Conduct).      
2. If the student has not previously been found responsible for an act of dishonesty, the hearing officer will impose one or more of the following sanctions:
   1. A letter grade of F, the numerical grade of zero, a percentage grade of zero (0) percent, or a reduced grade or receipt of zero credit for any academic assignment on which academic dishonesty was found to have occurred, or any other portion of the course;
   2. A reduced grade or failure for the entire course. If failure of the course is the sanction, the Office of the Registrar will record the grade of F for the course with a transcript notation of academic dishonesty. If the student officially withdraws from the course and the recommended sanction was failure for the course, a grade of F shall be imposed with a transcript notation of academic dishonesty.
   3.  In significant circumstances, the recommendation for suspension or dismissal may be recommended for a first offense.
3. The following sanctions also may be imposed:
   1. Participation in an online academic integrity workshop. The student will be required to pay for the workshop. Failure to complete the workshop will result in a hold being placed on a student’s ability to register for subsequent semesters, to change a class schedule, or eligibility to graduate.
   2. Completion of an educational seminar other than the online academic integrity workshop, listed above. Failure to complete the workshop will result in a hold being placed on a student’s ability to register for subsequent semesters, to change a class schedule, or eligibility to graduate.
   3. Requirement to attend an additional meeting with their graduate director, advisor, and/or department chair regarding what this means for their program of study.
4. This document recognizes that each case of dishonesty is unique. Sanctions should be appropriate to the offense, and any offense could result in dismissal from the university.
   1. If the hearing officer determines that the student has previously been found responsible for an act of dishonesty as a graduate student, the minimum sanction will be suspension for at least one semester.
   2. If the student has previously been suspended for dishonesty, the minimum sanction will be dismissal from the University.
5. The hearing officer will recommend to the Graduate School Dean or their designee one or more sanctions.
   1. The decision will include the name of the student, the student’s identification number, full details of the case, and the sanction(s).
   2. The decision will include a statement of the student’s right to appeal the decision of the hearing officer as outlined in this policy, and include the instructions for submitting an appeal.
   3. No sanctions will be imposed until after the appeal deadline has passed or an appeal that has been submitted is fully resolved.
6. After acting upon any appeals and giving due consideration to the recommendation of the hearing officer, the Graduate School Dean or their designee will impose the final sanction. Should the Graduate School Dean or their designee disagree with the recommendation of the hearing director, they will consult with the hearing director and faculty member prior to changing the recommended sanction. The Graduate Dean or their designee will send a copy of the final sanction letter to the student, instructor, the hearing officer, Academic Integrity staff, and the Office of the University Registrar if action by this office is required.

Appeals

A student found responsible for an act of academic dishonesty may appeal the decision or sanction(s) in writing within five university class days following the student’s receipt of the decision. The appeal submitted by the student should state the basis for the appeal, include all supporting documents, and be submitted by the student to the Academic Integrity staff. The Academic Integrity staff will forward the student’s appeal documents and all case materials to the Dean of the Graduate School to handle the appeal process, cc’ing the Dean of the division in which the student is enrolled. The Academic Integrity staff also will notify the reporting instructor and hearing officer that an appeal has been submitted. The hearing officer may elect to write a response to the student’s appeal to be considered by the dean when deciding upon the appeal.

1. Appeals may be filed for the following reasons:
   1. inappropriate sanction;
   2. procedural defects in the adjudication of the matter sufficiently substantial to have affected the outcome of the hearing; or
   3. new evidence sufficiently substantial to have affected the outcome of the hearing.
2. If the dean concludes that procedural defects occurred or new evidence is available, either or both of which is sufficiently substantial to have affected the outcome of the hearing, the dean will order a new hearing. The dean shall appoint a new hearing officer.
3. If the dean concludes the sanction was inappropriate, the dean will impose the appropriate sanction.

The dean will send copies of the final decision letter to the student and the hearing officer, as well as any other appropriate persons.

Sanctions

If the sanction is failure for the course with transcript notation of “Academic Dishonesty (class)” and the recording of a grade of either ADF for F or ADY for credit/no credit, the Office of the University Registrar will record the grade of ADF or ADY for the course with a transcript notation of “Academic Dishonesty (class).” If the student officially drops or withdraws from the course, and the sanction is failure of the course, a grade of ADF or ADY will be imposed with a transcript notation of “Academic Dishonesty.” A student may not change their grading option after the date of the academic dishonesty occurrence.

If the sanction is suspension, the Office of the University Registrar will place the notice “Academic Suspension” on the student’s academic record. Similarly, dismissal for academic dishonesty will be noted on the student’s academic record as “Academic Dismissal.”

1. Suspension may begin either immediately or at the close of the current academic semester or term as provided in the final decision. A sanction of dismissal will take effect immediately.
2. Suspensions will not be for less than the remainder of the current academic semester nor more than the remainder of the current academic semester plus up to two succeeding semesters. (Note that a student may not be suspended solely for either winter and/or summer term.) Suspended students may not attend any term or semester at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú during a period of suspension. Dismissals permanently separate the student from the University without any opportunity to re-enroll in the future.
3. Academic credit earned elsewhere during a period of suspension will not be accepted in transfer. Incomplete grades may not be removed during periods of suspension or dismissal.

Graduate students should be aware that their home departments will be notified of the decision and sanction(s), and there could be additional program-specific implications or actions determined at the department level.

Withdrawal

Should a reported student be academically dismissed or withdraw from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University before an academic integrity case has been fully resolved or sanctions completed, the matter may proceed in the absence of the student, and/or a comment may be placed on the student's official transcript indicating “academic misconduct action is pending at the time of withdrawal.”

Academic Dishonesty Records

The Academic Integrity staff, on behalf of the Office of the Provost, is responsible for maintaining records of any adjudication of academic dishonesty. Records of these hearings are kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.

1. Records of hearings regarding academic dishonesty resulting in a finding of not responsible will be maintained in the Office of the Provost until the end of the academic year in which the finding is made at which time they may be destroyed.
2. Records of actions resulting in a finding of responsible and sanctions other than suspensions or dismissals are maintained for seven academic years following the date the finding is made at which time they may be destroyed.
3. Records of actions resulting in a finding of responsible and a sanction of suspensions or dismissals are maintained indefinitely. A notation of suspension or dismissal is reflected on the student’s official University academic record (transcript) maintained by the Office of the University Registrar.

Graduation

All ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University academic dishonesty charges against a student must be resolved and sanctions completed before a student is eligible to graduate.

Interpretation of the Academic Integrity Policy

Any question of interpretation or application of the Academic Integrity Policy shall be referred to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee for final determination.

Any reference to university class days in this policy does not include final exam week or winter or summer terms unless the matter arises during one of these terms.

Any reference to a particular office holder is to be read as including any person serving in an acting or interim capacity for the office and any person designated by the office holder to serve in place of the office holder. The designee must be a full-time tenured faculty member or academic administrator but need not be from the department/program in which the matter originates.

Relationship to Misconduct in Research or Scholarly Activity

This policy applies only to academic dishonesty, as defined above. Anyone who believes a graduate student has engaged in misconduct in research/scholarly activity shall follow the reporting procedures described in the (“Reporting Allegations section). The inquiry, investigation, resolution, and appeal procedures outlined in that policy applies to graduate students. If an allegation involves both research misconduct and academic dishonesty, then both processes may be involved in the investigation or the inquiry. Furthermore, there may be times when referral to other offices for further investigation or procedures become necessary (e.g., the Graduate School and Academic Personnel if a Graduate Assistantship is involved, the Office of Student Conduct if a student conduct policy was violated). In these cases, the investigation and sanctioning processes of those offices will apply.

Related Form(s)

Not Applicable.

Additional Resources and Procedures

Websites

Office of the Provost

FAQ

Not Applicable.

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2023

Responsible Officer

Associate Provost

Legal Authority

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

No

Revision History

 August 2023

Reference ID

Graduate Handbook 1.5

Reviewing Bodies

Administrative