Academic Integrity (A-9.1)
Original Implementation: Unpublished
Last Revision: January 29, 2008
Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism.
Education
Faculty members are responsible for providing information about academic integrity and education for maintaining academic honesty during their regular coursework. Course syllabi provide information about penalties and the appeal process.
Definition of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit.
Procedure
A faculty member who has evidence and/or suspects that academic dishonesty has occurred shall gather all pertinent information, approach the student or students involved, and initiate the following procedure.
The faculty member shall review all evidence of cheating or plagiarism and discuss it directly with the student(s) involved. After hearing the student(s)' explanation or defense, the faculty member will determine whether or not academic dishonesty has occurred and will decide what penalty will be imposed. The faculty member will consult with his/her academic chair/director and dean in making these decisions. Penalties may include reprimand or no credit for the assignment or exam, or re-submission of the paper, or make-up exam, or failure of the course.
After a determination of academic dishonesty, the faculty member shall notify the office of the dean of the student's major by submitting a Report of Academic Dishonesty form, along with supporting documentation as noted on the form. This report shall be made part of the student's record and shall remain on file with the dean's office for at least four years. The faculty member shall also inform the student of the appeals process available to all SFA students. (Academic Appeals by Students, policy A-2). Upon second or subsequent offenses, the dean of the student’s major will determine a course of action. Actions may include referring the case to the college council for review and recommendations.
The Student File
A student's file on academic dishonesty will not be available to faculty members. The purpose of the file is for the dean to track a pattern of multiple cases of academic dishonesty during a student's academic career at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Students who are found to have demonstrated academic dishonesty and have withdrawn prior to the award of a grade will continue to have the determination of the infraction within their student records.
Appeals
A student who wishes to appeal decisions related to academic integrity follows procedures outlined in Academic Appeals of Students, policy A-2.
Cross Reference: Student Handbook; Academic Appeals by Students, Policy A-2; and Add/Drop, Policy A-5
Responsible for Implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Contact for Revision: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Forms: Report of Academic Dishonesty Form