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Benedictine University Student Academic Honesty Policy
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Purpose
The search for truth and the dissemination of knowledge are the central
missions of a university. Benedictine University pursues these missions
in an environment guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and our Benedictine
heritage.
Integrity and honesty are therefore expected of all University students.
Actions such as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, forgery,
falsification, destruction, multiple submission, solicitation, and misrepresentation
are violations of these expectations and constitute unacceptable behavior
in the University community.
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Student's Responsibility
Though there is no formal honor code at Benedictine University, students
are expected to exhibit academic honesty at all times. Violations against
academic honesty are always serious and may result in sanctions that could
have profound long-term effects. The final responsibility for understanding
the Academic Honesty Policy of the institution, as well as the specific
policies for individual courses normally found in syllabi, rests with
students. If any doubt exists about what constitutes academic dishonesty,
students have the responsibility to talk to the faculty member. Students
should expect the members of their class to be academically honest. If
students believe one or more members of the class have been deceitful
to gain academic advantage in the class, students should feel comfortable
to approach the faculty member of the course without prejudice.
A student has the right to appeal a sanction. In all instances, the appeal
process begins with the faculty member of the course. If all efforts have
been spent to resolve the issue with the faculty member, students may
appeal in writing to the Department Chair/Program Director and subsequently
to the Academic Appeals Board. Written documentation must accompany an
appeal explaining why the student finds the decisions made by the faculty
member and Department Chair/Program Director unsatisfactory.
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Responsibility and Authority of the Faculty
In the classroom, faculty members are responsible for establishing an environment
that promotes honest and ethical behavior. Faculty members will utilize
the course syllabus as a vehicle for informing students about the Academic
Honesty Policy. Faculty members should also explain course-specific rules
and consequences, which will be included in the syllabus. Emphasis should
be placed on educating students on proper academic techniques for work,
study, authorship, and test taking. |
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Violations
The following actions are viewed as violations of the Academic Honesty Policy.
Beyond these specific violations, any action expressly forbidden in a course
syllabus will be treated as a violation of this policy. The syllabus for
a course will detail specific actions encouraged, permitted, and forbidden
in that course. Discussions between faculty members and students on this
topic are healthy and encouraged. |
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- Cheating - using or providing unauthorized materials, information,
study aids in an academic exercise, or copying from other students,
- Plagiarism - in an academic exercise, adopting, reproducing, or representing
the ideas or statements of another as one's own, without proper acknowledgement,
- Collusion - working together with another on an academic exercise
when that is not permitted,
Fabrication - using made-up information or sources in an academic exercise,
- Forgery - knowingly using another person's signature in an academic
exercise, or on any academic document,
- Falsification - altering or misrepresenting information related to
academic research or assignments, internships, clinical experiences,
portfolios and other academic records,
- Destruction - knowingly removing, destroying, or concealing academic
materials belonging to the University, faculty, staff or students
- Multiple submission - using previously completed work to meet a requirement
of a course, or using the same paper or project in more than one course,
without permission from the faculty member(s) teaching the course(s),
- Solicitation - asking another to assist in an act of cheating, plagiarism,
fabrication, falsification, forgery or destruction related to an academic
exercise, document or record, or offering to do so for another, and
- Misrepresentation - knowingly altering or misstating facts for the
purpose of gaining an extension of time or deadline related to an academic
assignment or to influence an appeal related to a grade, course withdrawal,
waiver or academic standing
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Reporting and Communicating |
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1.
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If a faculty member believes that academic dishonesty
has occurred, he/she will first document the actions or behaviors constituting
the violation. The faculty member will discuss the incident with the student
as soon as possible after the incident has been discovered. The faculty
member will inform the student of any penalty that will be assessed at this
time. The student will have seven business days from this meeting to provide
a written explanation to the faculty member supporting the student's case
as to why a penalty should not be assessed. The faculty member has three
business days after receiving the explanation to respond in writing to the
student. If the sanction is not removed, the student can appeal (see Appeals). |
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2.
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The faculty member may assign one or more of the following
sanctions: |
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- A private verbal and/or written warning may be given to the student,
with no other penalty imposed. A written warning will be reported in
writing to the Provost (hereinafter to mean, the Provost or his or her
designee).
- The student may be asked to complete a new assignment or test, and
the incident will be reported in writing to the Provost.
- A reduction in the grade or score (partial or complete) will be given
for the assignment or test that the faculty member deemed to be indicative
of a violation and the incident will be reported in writing to the Provost.
- A grade of "F" may be assigned for the course. Such an action
will be reported in writing to the Provost.
- A grade of "F" may be assigned for the course and the incident
will be reported in writing to the provost. A recommendation may be
made to the Provost requesting further action (see Responsibilities
of the Provost).
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3.
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The faculty member will record, in writing, the following: |
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- The violation, including time, date, place and circumstances,
- Why the faculty member believes the action was dishonest,
- The names and statements of any supporting witnesses,
- All original documents (course syllabus, tests, reports, diskettes,
etc.), and
- Any other notes, supporting documentation, and other relevant materials.
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This record signed and dated by the faculty member, will be
prepared within three business days of the faculty member's final discussion
with the student. The record of the incident will be forwarded to the Provost
at this time. The faculty member should not keep copies of any forwarded
records for his/her own files. |
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4.
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Other Benedictine University students, who are not part of
the faculty member's particular class, but who are detected helping someone
commit academic dishonesty in that class will be subject to the same standards
and, to the extent possible, the same sanctions, and the incident will also
be reported to the Provost. |
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Responsibilities of the Provost |
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The Provost is responsible for maintaining confidential records
concerning academic dishonesty of students enrolled in the University. All
letters reporting faculty-imposed academic penalties for academic misconduct
will be included in these files (see Records). |
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2.
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The Provost will be responsible for identifying all incidents
which represent repeated offenses by a student and may impose a University
sanction because of repeat offenses. |
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3.
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Upon the creation of a student record, the Provost will inform
both the student and his/her academic advisor(s) of the existence of the
record established pursuant to the terms of this Policy. It is expected
the advisor will counsel the student as to the seriousness of this matter
and potential consequences. |
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4.
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The Provost may impose University sanctions.
Sanctions imposed by the Provost are final unless the student requests a
hearing within seven business days of notification. |
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5.
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The Provost is required to notify the student of the appeal
process and to provide the student a copy of this policy or explicitly refer
the student to it. |
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6.
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The Provost may also assign further University sanctions as
follows: |
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- The student may be denied honorary recognitions granted by the University.
- The student may be denied institutional financial aid and/or scholarships
from Benedictine University.
- The student may be ruled immediately ineligible for NCAA athletic
competition or other extra curricular activities.
- The student may be expelled from a major and/or program.
- The student may be suspended from the University.
- The student may be expelled from the University.
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7.
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In those situations where a University sanction is imposed
and the student requests a hearing in writing, the Provost will arrange
a meeting of the Academic Appeals Board. |
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Appeals |
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When a student accused of academic dishonesty wishes to
contest an action by a faculty member, the student, within a seven business
day period after learning the faculty member sanctions, may request mediation
by writing to the Department Chair/Program Director who oversees the program
in which the academic dishonesty has been reported. The Department Chair/Program
Director has seven business days from the date of receiving the request
to attempt to facilitate a resolution. Results of this process will be
sent to the student by certified mail within three business days of the
decision made by the Department Chair/Program Director, with a copy to
the Provost. In addition, the Department Chair/Program Director will notify
the student of the appeal process and provide the student a copy of this
Policy or explicitly refer the student to it.
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If a student wishes to appeal the decision of the Department Chair/Program
Director or appeal a University sanction imposed by the Provost, the student
will have seven business days (after receiving notice by certified mail)
to write a letter to the Provost requesting a hearing before the Academic
Appeals Board. In addition, the Provost will notify the student of the
appeal process (see item 5, Responsibilities of the Provost). Within seven
business days of the receipt of the request for appeal, the Provost will
convene the Academic Appeals Board to hear from all concerned parties
in an appropriate setting.
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Composition of the Academic Appeals Board
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The Academic Appeals Board will consist of three
regular, elected faculty (with one alternate) and two students appointed
by the Provost (with one alternate). The five members will have the right
to vote, with the Provost in the role as a non-voting convener. If the student
is in an adult program, at least one member of the faculty will be affiliated
with an adult program and at least one student will be enrolled in an adult
program. If the student is in a graduate program, at least one member of
the faculty will be affiliated with a graduate program and one student will
be enrolled in a graduate program. |
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Procedures of the Academic Appeals Board |
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The chairperson will be elected by the membership
of the board. The chairperson will gather all of the relevant material available
pertaining to the case at hand and distribute it to the members. In addition,
the chair will contact all of the parties involved in the case and arrange
for a date and time for them to meet with the Academic Appeals Board. All
voting members of the Academic Appeals Board will ordinarily attend the
hearing(s). Participants called before the committee will testify one at
a time and alone. No one outside of the members of the Appeals Board shall
view the proceedings. The student requesting the appeal shall testify first
followed by the instructor involved. Finally, any witnesses to the incident
shall testify. Once testimony is taken from the involved parties, the Appeals
Board may recall any or all of the participants in order to clarify or resolve
conflicting testimony. The committee may also call new witnesses after considering
the accumulated testimony. Every effort will be made by all parties to keep
the proceedings confidential. |
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The Academic Appeals Board has the authority
to confirm the original sanction, reduce the sanction, or increase the sanction.
Within seven business days of the decision by the Academic Appeals Board,
the student will be notified in writing by certified mail of the decision
of the Board. The decision of the Academic Appeals Board is final. See appendices
1 and 2 for a summary of the timeline of the appeals process.. |
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Records
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Any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy that is reported to the
Provost initiates the creation of a student record related to the violation.
This record is considered a confidential educational record subject to
provisions of applicable state and federal laws, and is available only
to authorized personnel.
The student record comprises the following: the initial reporting document
(see Reporting and Communicating), any correspondence with the student
initiated either by the student accused of a violation or by the Provost
related to the incident, and any decisions by the Academic Appeals Board.
If the student is involved in multiple instances of academic dishonesty,
the record shall contain all relevant information pertaining to each violation
as stated above.
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Procedures Pertaining to Access and Use of Student Records
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All requests to view a student record will be channeled directly to the
Provost. The following are considered valid requests to view a student
record:
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Student:
A student has the right to view his/her own documentation related to a violation
of the Academic Honesty Policy under reasonable conditions identified by
the Provost. The student may not remove the record from the Provost's office.
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Institutional boards:
A Benedictine University body vested with the duty of generating student
recommendations for professional or graduate education on behalf of the
University as a whole, for academic honors, scholarships, or for a department
thereof, may ask the student to complete the Academic Honesty File Access
form (appendix 3) to allow full access to the student's records. |
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Academic Appeals Board:
The Academic Appeals Board may view a student's record as a part of its
role in the appellate process as defined in this policy. |
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Faculty/Academic Staff:
Benedictine University faculty and academic staff may view a student record
in the Provost's Office if the student provides written consent. Under these
circumstances, the student will be given the opportunity to complete the
Academic Honesty File Access form in appendix 3. |
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Maintenance of Records |
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The student record will be handled in a confidential
manner and kept in a secure place in the Provost's Office for a period of
six years from the student's last term of enrollment, after which time it
will be destroyed pursuant to the University's procedure related to students'
permanent files. |
