interfering with someone else’s work; preventing or attempting to prevent another person from utilizing authorized assistance and resources. Fabrication Definition: Presenting or submitting fraudulent information (i.e., information that has been altered or created for the purpose of deceiving one’s audience, readers, instructors or colleagues). Impersonation Definition: Posing or presenting one’s self as another person or stealing the identity of another person. Likewise, coercing or encouraging another person to assume the identity of a third party is similarly offensive to the integrity of the University as an academically and socially responsible community. Improper Collaboration Definition: Attaching one’s name to a group project without: (1) an authentic understanding of the work submitted, (2) a fair and proportional contribution to the efforts of the collaborating group, and/or (3) the ability to defend or interpret individually the work submitted. Improper Use of Computers See Computer Use Policies in Academic Information section. Misrepresentation of Academic Records Definition: Submitting incomplete or altered transcripts, grade reports, standardized test scores, or other records that one knows to be inaccurate or incomplete. Multiple Submission Definition: Fulfilling requirements in a second/subsequent course by submitting substantially similar work from a previous course without advance permission from the second/subsequent instructor. If the same/similar work can be submitted in courses meeting concurrently, permission must be obtained in advance from each instructor. Plagiarism Definition: Appropriating or imitating the words, ideas, data, and/ or thoughts of others and using them as if they were one’s own, i.e. without appropriate attribution.
Right of Appeal on Academic Issues Students with complaints about instructors, a course, or other academic issues should first discuss the situation with the instructor. If the matter is not resolved, informal discussion with the appropriate area chairperson is the next step. If the student continues to feel aggrieved over the issue, a more formal process will be followed. The following summary outlines this process; however, students are encouraged to contact the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) for additional information. 1. Discussion with instructor. 2. Discussion with the area chairperson. In the event #1 is an area chairperson, then #2 becomes a second faculty person as assigned by the Chief Academic Officer (CAO).
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3. Written complaint to the Chief Academic Officer (CAO). This complaint must be made within 30 days of the event causing the student complaint. The decision of the CAO Chief Academic Officer (CAO) shall be given to the student in writing and a written record of the decision and its basis maintained by such Vice President. 4. A student may appeal the decision of the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) by filing a written complaint to the Academic Policies Committee of the faculty. Such appeal must be made within 10 days of the written decision of the Chief Academic Officer (CAO). The decision of this appeal body shall be final. Penalties Because circumstances will vary from one instance of academic misconduct to another, there is no prescribed penalty for each offense. As an alternative to a prescribed table of penalties, faculty members may attempt to match the severity of the penalty with the egregiousness of the misconduct. The following examples suggest a range of penalties that might fit offenses of various kinds: