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a. Submitting another’s published or unpublished work, in whole, in part, or in paraphrase, as one’s own without fully and properly crediting the author with footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference.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 Vice President of Academic Affairs that he or she has been involved with an academic integrity issue and subject to disciplinary action.

Institutional Academic Integrity Misconduct Disciplinary Action

The college is committed to academic integrity; students must take this issue very seriously.  The intent of this policy is not one of punishment but rather the promotion of ethical, professional and honest behaviors. However, if an academic code of conduct violation is found, this policy was developed to provide a consistent method for institution action. Students who are unclear about the rules governing any aspects of academic integrity should ask the instructor for clarification or guidance.

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 or she must inform the student without unnecessary delay of the alleged misconduct and provide the student the opportunity to respond before taking any action. If convinced that an academic integrity violation occurred, the instructor must complete an academic integrity incident report and forward it to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The student will receive a zero for the assignment.  If a student was aided in the academic integrity event by student who is not in the class, the instructor must also complete an academic integrity incident report for that student and forward it to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

The process of completing an academic integrity incident report and subsequent discussion with the student is completed by the faculty member for each occurrence.  If convinced that an academic integrity violation occurred, the instructor must complete an academic integrity incident report and forward it to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The student will receive a zero for the assignment.  If a student was aided in the academic integrity event by student who is not in the class, the instructor must also complete an academic integrity incident report for that student and forward it to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs shall track all academic integrity violations and act in the following manner:

First Violation and Resolution
The student’s first violation at the college will result in a zero for the assignment. The student will be notified of the violation by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and reminded about the importance of academic integrity at this institution. If a student was complicit in the event and not enrolled in the course where the violation occurred, he or she will be notified of the importance of academic integrity and seriousness of the violation.

Second Violation and Resolution
The student’s second violation at the college will result in an XF grade for the course. The student will be notified of the violation by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and reminded about the importance of academic integrity at this institution. If a student was complicit in the event and not enrolled in the course where the violation occurred, he or she will be notified of the importance of academic integrity and seriousness of the violation.

The XF grade is noted on the student transcript and denotes a failing grade due to a violation of the academic integrity policy. It is possible to have the XF grade changed to an ‘F’ if desired by the student. To have the XF grade removed from his or 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 academic integrity course is one credit hour of length and will be at the student’s expense with no financial aid or scholarship assistance. The academic affairs 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. An XF grade cannot be erased from the Academic Fresh Start program.

Third Violation and Resolution
The third offense of academic misconduct will result in administrative withdrawal from the institution for a period of one academic year.

Due Process

The student so affected by an academic integrity violation and disciplinary action shall have the right of appeal through the academic affairs office. Students suspected of academic misconduct, whether acknowledging involvement or not, shall be allowed to continue the course without prejudice pending disciplinary actions. The student must notify the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 10 days of the event. An appeal hearing committee will be appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs which will include two faculty member and the faculty member’s department chair, one student senate representative and others as deemed necessary. Students will receive written notification of the appeal decision within eight days of the hearing. The appeal committee decision is final.

Adopted June 20, 2005
Revised April 16, 2007
Revised July 21, 2008
Revised June 21, 2010