402.00 ACADEMIC CODE OF CONDUCT

Cowley College is committed to instilling in its students a high level of academic integrity. Integrity in the classroom is a definite expectation. Students who compromise the integrity of the academic process are subject to disciplinary action by the college.

A violation of academic honesty includes, but is not limited to:

A: Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of another person’s distinctive ideas or words without acknowledgment. The incorporation of another person’s work into one’s own requires appropriate identification and acknowledgment, regardless of the means of appropriation. The following are considered to be forms of plagiarism when the source is not noted:
1. Word-for-word copying of another person’s ideas or words.
a. Submitting another’s published or unpublished work, in whole, in part, or in paraphrase, one’s own without fully and properly crediting the author with footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference.
b. Submitting as one’s own, original work, material obtained from an individual or agency without reference to the person or agency as the source of material.
c. Submitting as one’s own, original work, material that has been produced through unacknowledged collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators.

B. Cheating
Cheating involves the possession, communication, or use of information, materials, notes, study aids, or other devices not authorized by the instructor in any academic exercise, or communication with another person during such an exercise. Examples of cheating are:
1. Use and/or possession of unauthorized material or technology during an examination (any written or oral work submitted for evaluation and/or grade), such as tape cassettes, note tests, calculators, cell phones, or computer programs.
2. Obtaining assistance with or answers to examination questions from another person with or without that person’s knowledge.
3. Furnishing assistance with or answers to examination questions to another person.
4. Possessing, using, distributing, or selling unauthorized copies of an examination, or computer program.
5. Representing as one’s own an examination, paper or project taken by another person.
6. Taking an examination in place of another person or turning in another’s work on a paper or project.
7. Obtaining unauthorized access to the computer files of another person or agency, and/or altering or destroying those files.

C. Fabrication and Falsification
Fabrication involves inventing or counterfeiting information, i.e., creating results not obtained in a study or laboratory experiment. Falsification, on the other hand, involves the deliberate alteration or changing of results to suit one’s needs in an experiment or other academic exercise.

D. Multiple Submission
This is the submission of academic work for which academic credit has already been earned, when such submission is made without instructor authorization.

E. Misuse of Academic Materials
The misuse of academic materials includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Stealing or destroying library or reference materials or computer programs.
2. Stealing or destroying another student’s materials in one’s possession without the owner’s permission.
3. Receiving assistance in locating or using sources of information in an assignment when such assistance has been forbidden by the instructor.
4. Illegitimate possession, disposition, or use of examinations or answer keys to examinations.
5. Unauthorized alteration, forgery, or falsification of academic records.
6. Unauthorized sale or purchase of examinations, papers, or assignments.

F. Complicity in Academic Dishonesty
Complicity involves knowingly contributing to another’s acts of academic dishonesty If a student is ever in doubt about the specific guidelines governing individual or group work with respect to a particular course or assignment, be sure to ask the instructor for clarification.

Any Cowley College student who assists another student in an act of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary action whether or not the complicit student is enrolled in the class for which the dishonest act occurred. The complicit student will be notified by the college CAO that they have been placed on immediate academic probation and that expulsion proceedings may be initiated. Student shall have the right to appeal the expulsion and must notify the CAO of their intent to appeal within 10 days of being served the expulsion notification. An appeals hearing committee will be appointed by the CAO, which will include at least one faculty member and one Student Government or student representative. Students will receive written notification of the committee decision within eight days of the appeal hearing. The appeals committee decision is final.

Students who are unclear about the specific guidelines governing individual or group work with respect to a particular course or assignment should ask the instructor for clarification.

G. XF Grade
In accordance to the Academic Code of Conduct, an XF grade may be given to: Students who are guilty of academic misconduct on tests or major assignments. Students who knowingly facilitate classmates in academic misconduct on tests or major assignments (will be based upon the decision of the Appeals Committee). Students who commit repeat violations of the Academic Code of Conduct on any class assignments. The Academic Code of Conduct will be used to define academic misconduct. If an instructor determines a student should receive an XF grade: The instructor will meet with the student and follow the Academic Code of Conduct to ensure that the student has an initial opportunity to respond. If the instructor still believes the student should receive an XF grade, the instructor will notify the Instructional Office and complete an XF form. The student will then be notified of his/her right to appeal by the Appeals Committee, which will be scheduled as needed. If the student chooses to appeal the X portion of the grade, the Appeals Committee (which includes the Chief Academic Officer, faculty, staff and an SGA officer) will have the final authority. The student will have the opportunity to remain in the class until the appeal process has been completed. Formal withdrawal from the class will not prevent the student from receiving a grade of XF. A student may not withdraw from a class after receiving a grade of XF. The decision of the Appeals Committee will be the final decision. The student, teacher and advisor will be notified within 4 business days. To have the first XF grade removed from his/her transcript, the student must perform 20 hours of community service and successfully complete a short course on academic honesty by the end of the following semester. The community service will be arranged through A.C.E.S. and will be completed at the discretion of the A.C.E.S. sponsor. The short course will be for one credit hour at the student’s expense with no financial aid or scholarship assistance. The instructional office may keep internal records that show the student received an XF grade that was later converted to an F after completion of the required community service and short course on academic honesty. If a student receives an XF grade for a second time, that grade will remain on his/her transcript with no opportunity for removal. An XF grade cannot be erased from the Academic Fresh Start program.

Academic Misconduct
First Level Resolution
The original jurisdiction of any case involving academic misconduct shall be with the faculty member whose course the alleged misconduct occurred. If a faculty member suspects a student of academic misconduct, he/she must inform the student without unnecessary delay of the alleged misconduct and provide the student the opportunity to respond before taking any action. Students suspected of academic misconduct, whether acknowledging involvement or not, shall be allowed to continue the course without prejudice pending disciplinary actions. If the faculty member takes no action within 10 days after informing the student, the allegations shall be considered dismissed. The faculty member may take one or more of the following actions: alter a grade or assign a grade of “F” in the assignment, examination or the course/ and or recommend an additional sanction up to and including suspension and/or dismissal from the course. The action taken by the faculty member should be reported to their department chair and the instructional office. The student so affected shall have the right of appeal through the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Second Level Resolution
If a second offense of academic misconduct occurs during the student's academic career this WILL result in administrative withdrawal from the institution for a period of one academic year. The student so affected shall have the right of appeal through the Vice President of Academic Student Affairs.

Third Level Resolution
After one academic year the affected student may re-enroll with the understanding if a violation of the Academic Code of Conduct occurs during their tenure at Cowley College the result will be permanent expulsion from the institution with no right of appeal.

Adopted June 20, 2005
Revised April 16, 2007
Revised July 21, 2008