Academic Integrity Policy

Part I (Basic Violations)

Summary

This document defines the principles of Academic Integrity as detailed in the values statement below. It contains, by reference, the expectations, rights and responsibilities, sanctions, and related processes essential to maintain the standards academic integrity within the College.

Purposes

Upon the recommendation of the faculty, Temple College adopts the following values statement1 :
"Academic Integrity is a commitment … to fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action." Specifically, these values are defined as follows:
  • An academic community of integrity advances the quest for truth and knowledge by requiring intellectual and personal honesty in learning, teaching, research, and service.
  • An academic community of integrity fosters a climate of mutual trust, encourages the free exchange of ideas, and enables all to reach their highest potential.
  • An academic community of integrity establishes clear standards, practices, and procedures and expects fairness in the interaction of students, faculty, and administrators.
  • An academic community of integrity recognizes the participatory nature of the learning process and honors and respects a wide range of opinions and ideas.
  • An academic community of integrity upholds personal responsibility and depends upon action in the face of wrongdoing.
1 As stated in The Center for Academic Integrity handbook, "The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity," p. 4. Des Plaines, Illinois.

Honor Code

On all course work, assignments, or examinations undertaken by students at Temple College, the following pledge is implied by virtue of admission:

On my honor as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this assignment.

Basic Violations of Academic Integrity

Basic violations of academic integrity shall include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
  • Consultation of textbooks, library materials, or notes in examination where such materials are not to be used during the test;
  • Use of "crib sheets" or other hidden notes in such an examination;
  • Looking at another student's test paper to copy strategies or answers or allowing another to do so;
  • Possessing a confederate supply of questions or answers for any assignment or examination;
  • Having a person other than the one duly registered and taking the course stand in at an examination or any other graded activity;
  • Deliberate falsification of any graded activity;
  • Collaboration with others except where such collaboration is permitted or encouraged;
  • Submission of previously-graded work for a new assignment (without instructor's consent);
  • Use (either in part or whole) of documents obtained from internet sources designed to encourage dishonesty and which are not the immediate result of the student's own academic effort;
  • Continuing work on an examination or assignment after the allocated time has elapsed; and/or
  • Plagiarism (in any form) defined as taking of another person's intellectual work and using it as one's own
  • Use of any unauthorized electronic device.

Related Sanctions

As the primary arbiters of academic integrity, individual faculty members Academic may address incidents of academic misconduct on a "case by case" basis. Specific sanctions include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Verbal Warning/No grade-related action;
  • 0/F on the assignment/quiz/examination (with the possibility of makeup);
  • 0/F on the assignment/quiz/examination (with no possibility of makeup);
  • 0/F in the course (no prohibition of future enrollment);
  • 0/F in the course (prohibition of future enrollment);
  • Designation of "XF" grade (with or without prohibition of future enrollment); and/or
  • Recommendation for administrative academic sanction(s).

Faculty Rights Responsibilities

As an academic matter, faculty retain all rights of grade assignment and related academic sanctions. Course grades assigned (including the "XF") may not be altered without the consent of the originating faculty member. Faculty members are encouraged to report incidents of academic dishonesty (as well as assigned sanctions) to the VPES and shall function within the parameters of this policy and stated processes when deliberating and recommending sanctions and/or disciplinary action.

Part II (Capital Violations)

Summary

This document defines the principles of Academic Integrity as detailed in the values statement below. It contains, by reference, the expectations, rights and responsibilities, sanctions, and related processes essential to maintain the standards academic integrity within the College.

"Capital" Violations of Academic Integrity

Violations of academic integrity which occur in the context of other violations (which may or may not be subject to disciplinary or criminal charges) are considered "capital" offenses against academic integrity. As such, these cases shall be considered on the totality of the evidence, and primarily as academic offenses. Examples of such violations include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Committing an act of academic dishonesty in collaboration with another;
  • Attempting to gain unfair academic advantage for oneself or another by bribery or by any act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to another for such purpose;
  • Changing or altering grades or other official educational records;
  • Obtaining or providing to another an unadministered test or answers to an unadministered test;
  • Gaining unauthorized access into a building or office for the purpose of obtaining any course related information or examination; and/or
  • Repeated acts of basic violations of academic integrity.

Related Academic Sanctions

Upon the recommendation of the faculty and/or discipline committee, the College may effect such academic sanctions and/or disciplinary action as deemed appropriate including, but not limited to:
  • Verbal warning/No grade related action
  • 0/F on the assignment/quiz/exam (with or without possibility of makeup)
  • 0/F in the course (with or without prohibition of future enrollment)
  • Designation of the "XF" grade
  • Course Specific Enrollment Prohibition;
  • Formal Reprimand;
  • Probationary Status;
  • Suspension (of one semester or more);
  • Reduction of college-awarded scholarship;
  • Retraction of college-awarded scholarship;
  • Suspension from participation in activities which represent the College;
  • Requirement of community service hours;
  • Denial of graduation application;
  • Expulsion; and/or
  • Any other reasonable actions as deemed appropriate by academic administration.

Student Rights

As an academic matter, basic violations of the academic integrity policy result in academic sanctions applied by the respective faculty member. However, capital violations require a hearing of the discipline committee, under the leadership of the VPES or their designee when the recommended academic sanction and/or disciplinary action is more severe than the application of the "XF."

Students are guaranteed, by virtue of their 14th amendment rights, the following:

(1) notification of the allegation(s) and possible sanctions,
(2) notification as to how their alleged actions violated college policy,
(3) opportunity to meet with the faculty member and hear the evidence to be applied as justification for academic sanctions and/or disciplinary action,
(4) notification as to the recommendation to be made by the faculty member and/or discipline committee, and
(5) opportunity to appeal the application of academic sanction and/or disciplinary action (within ten days of the original decision).

 

 

Drafted in consultation with the Academic Integrity Task Force Committee (July 7, 2005)

       

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Copyright © 2005 by Temple College. All rights reserved.
Last update 9/1/2005