Dishonest scholarly practices include, but are not necessarily limited to, taking, using, or copying another's work and submitting it as one's own, intentionally falsifying information or taking another's ideas with the intention of passing ideas in class as one's own.
The judgment regarding a dishonest scholarly practice should, in most cases, be made by the individual instructor. The basic criterion that will be used in judging the dishonest scholarly practice is the intention of the student to enhance his own position within the class by employing a dishonest or unacceptable scholarly practice.
A few examples would include (but are not limited to):
- Work copied verbatim from an original author.
- Work copied practically verbatim with only a few words altered from the original without proper credit being given.
- Copying answers from another's test paper.
- Evidence of a deliberate and calculated plan to engage in a dishonest academic practice such as gaining access to examinations prior to the time the exam was to be given or the extraction of information regarding an examination from other students.
- Falsification of clinical records.
Consequences for proven cases of dishonest scholarly practices - The course instructor will determine the appropriate penalty for proven cases of dishonest scholarly practice in his/her class.
Minimum penalties are as follows:
- The first offense may result in an equivalent grade of "E" being given for the particular test, project, paper, course, etc. on which the cheating has occurred. The instructor may require the student to demonstrate mastery of the objectives for the particular test, project, paper, course, etc.; the grade will remain as "E."
- The second offense (two total offenses, not necessarily in one course) will result in the student being assigned a failing grade for the course in which the second offense occurred.
- Any student involved in three total offenses (not necessarily in one course) will be immediately dismissed from the college for one full academic semester.
The student has the right to appeal this disciplinary action within 10 days of the occurrence.
The instructor shall report all incidents of dishonest academic practice to the dean, at the same time informing the chairperson of the department in which the course is offered. The dean shall maintain a file consisting of all reports of incidents of dishonest academic practice. The student shall be notified in writing by the dean in all cases; the students should be notified of the consequences and his right to appeal.
The information will be placed in the student's official record. In all cases the dean shall see that the appropriate action is taken and shall notify the instructor and chairperson of the action taken.