Department of Business Administration and Criminal Justice Policy Statement on Scholastic Integrity

Introduction:

The success of any academic program is dependent upon the perception by students, faculty and potential employers that students are evaluated fairly on the basis of their own work.  While it is impossible to create an environment that is completely free of opportunities and temptations to behave unethically, it is in the best interests of all students to avoid committing acts of scholastic dishonesty and to discourage others from doing so.  The department prepares students for careers in which honesty and ethical behavior are essential.  Acts of scholastic dishonesty lower the value of the degree and the honest work of other students.  It is the responsibility of each student to understand the definition of unethical behavior and to resist the temptation to commit acts of scholastic dishonesty.

Responsibilities of the Students:

1.                  To understand the definition of scholastic dishonesty: “Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying scholastic records, and any act designed to give unfair advantage to the student, or the attempt to commit such an act.

Cheating includes, but is not limited to the following:

a.       Copying from another student’s test paper.

b.      Using during a test materials not authorized by the person giving the test.

c.       Failing to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test.

d.      Possession during a test of materials which are not authorized by the person giving the test, such as class notes or specifically designed “crib notes.” The presence of textbooks constitutes a violation only if they have been specifically prohibited by the person administering the test.

e.       Using, buying, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of an unadministered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program.  Note:  This includes obtaining or providing a solution for current semester assignments that are the same as, or similar to, assignments that were used in previous semesters or were otherwise available.

f.        Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test or other assignment without authority.  Any assistance on a graded assignment is prohibited unless authorized by the instructor in advance.

g.       Discussing the contents of an examination with another student who will take the examination.

h.       Paying or offering money or other valuable thing to, or coercing another person to obtain an unadministered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program.

i.         Falsifying research data, laboratory reports, and/or other academic work offered for credit.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the submission of it as one’s own academic work offered for credit.  A student could commit plagiarism by copying his or her won work without reference it adequately.  For example, if a student completes an assignment, and the uses all or a portion of that assignment as full or partial completion of another assignment, in the same class or in a different class, without disclosing the source of the material for the second assignment, the student has committed plagiarism.

Collusion includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic assignments offered for credit or collaboration with another person to commit a violation of any section of the rules on scholastic dishonesty.  It is the responsibility of the instructor to provide clear instructions on the extent of collaboration that is acceptable, and it is the responsibility of the student to understand and to conform to those instructions.

2.                  To understand the instructions for each assignment, quiz or examination.  It is the responsibility of the student to understand the instructions for each assignment, the degree of collaboration allowed, and to ask the instructor for clarification whenever necessary.

3.                  To refrain from committing any acts of scholastic dishonesty.  Despite the fact that some assignments are extremely challenging, the difficulty of an assignment does not constitute an excuse to behave dishonestly.

4.                  To take appropriate action when acts of scholastic dishonesty are observed.  To remain passive when dishonest behavior occurs is to condone and encourage.  Lack of action allows dishonest students to victimize all of the honest students in the program.  Appropriate actions include confronting the student who has committed the act and reporting the observed behavior to the instructor.

Responsibilities of the Faculty:

1.                  To communicate clearly the instructions for each assignment.  The instructor should clearly indicate to what extent the student may and may not collaborate on out-of-class assignments, and what other resources (books, computers, databases, etc.) may be used on out-of-class assignments.

2.                  To design assignments that minimize the opportunity for scholastic dishonesty while still achieving the educational objectives of the assignments.

3.                  To evaluate assignments on the basis of reasonable expectations given the difficulty of the assignments.

4.                 To actively and consistently enforce the University rules governing scholastic dishonesty.  The appropriate penalty for acts of scholastic dishonesty can range from an “F” on a particular assignment to suspension from the University, depending on the instructor’s evaluation of the severity of the offense, and whether or not the student has committed prior acts of scholastic dishonesty.  Note:  The University Catalog states “Any infraction of academic honesty and integrity shall result in an automatic failure of the course.”