Aurora University
Policy Statement F1: Code Of Academic Integrity
Aurora University's core values include integrity and ethical behavior.
A community of learners, Aurora University students and faculty share
responsibility for academic honesty and integrity. The University expects
students to do their own academic work. In addition, it expects active
participation and equitable contributions of students involved in group
assignments. Aurora University's Code of Academic Integrity (henceforth,
the Code) prohibits the following dishonest and unethical behaviors, regardless
of intent.
Cheating. Cheating is obtaining, using or attempting
to use unauthorized materials or information (for example; notes, texts,
or study aids) or help from another person (for example looking at another
student's test paper, or talking with him/her during an exam), in any
work submitted for evaluation for academic credit. This includes exams,
quizzes, laboratory assignments, papers and/or other assignments. Other
examples include altering a graded work after it has been returned, then
submitting the work for regrading; or submitting identical or highly similar
papers for credit in more than one course without prior permission from
the course instructors.
Fabrication. Fabrication is unauthorized falsification,
invention or copying of data, falsification of information, citations,
or bibliographic references in any academic course work (for example,
falsifying references in a paper); altering, forging, or falsifying any
academic record or other University document.
Plagiarism. Plagiarism is representing someone else's
work (including their words and ideas) as one's own or providing materials
for such a representation, (for example, submitting a paper or other work
that is in whole or part the work of another, failing to cite references,
presenting material verbatim or paraphrased that is not acknowledged and
cited).
Obtaining an Unfair Advantage. This is (a) stealing,
reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining access to examination materials
before the time authorized by the instructor; (b) stealing, destroying,
defacing, or concealing library materials with the purpose of depriving
others of their use; (c) intentionally obstructing or interfering with
another student's academic work; or (d) otherwise undertaking activity
with the purpose of creating or obtaining an unfair academic advantage
over other students' academic work.
Unauthorized Access to computerized records or systems.
This is unauthorized review of computerized academic or administrative
records or systems; viewing or altering computer records; modifying computer
programs or systems; releasing or dispensing information gained via unauthorized
access; or interfering with the use or availability of computer systems
of information.
Facilitating academic dishonesty. This is helping or
attempting to assist another commit an act of academic dishonesty in violation
of this Code (for example, allowing another to copy from one's test or
allowing others to use or represent one's work as their own).
Notes: Examples provided are illustrations only and
are not inclusive. Other behaviors, not exemplified, apply.
The above is in part adapted from "Issues and Perspectives on Academic
Integrity," a pamphlet distributed by the National Association of Student
Personnel Administrators.
Academic programs, colleges, and departments within the University may
have additional guidelines regarding academic dishonesty that supplement
this Code.
Policy Statement F2: Procedures to be Followed When an Act of Academic
Dishonesty is Identified
First violation: A faculty member who identifies an
act of academic dishonesty shall meet with the student to address the
violation and articulate the nature of the violation in writing. At this
time the faculty member will, at his/her discretion, impose consequences
and sanctions as they relate to the course in which academic dishonesty
is identified.
The faculty member shall also report the violation to the Registrar.
The faculty member must provide the Registrar with a written summary along
with material evidence of the violation, if such evidence exists. This
material is placed in an academic dishonesty file identified to the particular
student and maintained with confidentiality by the Registrar.
The Registrar will then send the student a certified letter, notifying
him/her that a violation has been reported and advising the student of
future sanctions on the part of the University in the event of subsequent
violation. The letter also shall inform the student of the appeals process
for academic dishonesty, (see Policy Statement F3). In the event that
a student appeals successfully under Policy Statement F3, the faculty
member's allegation shall be removed from the academic dishonesty file.
The contents of the academic dishonesty file will not be shared with
faculty members and staff, with the exception of members of the Academic
Standards Committee in the event that the student appears before that
body. The academic dishonesty file shall be destroyed upon the completion
of the degree by the student.
Second violation. In the event that a second violation
is reported to the Registrar, the Registrar shall inform the student of
the allegation via certified letter. This letter shall inform the student
that s/he has ten business days from the date of the letter to contact
the Registrar's Office to arrange a hearing before the Academic Standards
Committee. Failure to do so shall be taken as an admission of guilt and
shall result in dismissal from the university. The student shall be permitted
to attend class and other university-sponsored activities during the ten
business days following the mailing of the certified letter by the Registrar
to the student. If the student schedules a hearing, s/he shall be permitted
to attend classes and other university-sponsored activities while the
hearing is pending.
The committee shall determine whether the violation occurred. The Provost
shall not participate in the hearing. If the committee finds that a violation
occurred, the student shall be immediately dismissed from the university.
If the committee finds that the violation did not occur, the allegation
shall be expunged from the student's record.
Note: In unusually serious cases, the judiciary procedure
normally initiated by the second academic dishonesty violation may be
triggered in the event of a first violation by specific request of either
a faculty member or the registrar. This would occur only in cases that
are particularly egregious. The term egregious means here that the act
is both premeditated and, by itself, potentially damaging to the academic
culture of the university if not immediately redressed. Examples of egregious
academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to misrepresenting a
degree-completion work like a doctoral dissertation, master's thesis,
or senior capstone project as one's own; committing an act of academic
dishonesty intended to cause harm to another person or group; committing
a crime while committing an act of academic dishonesty intended to result
in direct material gain from the act; and others. This list of examples
is illustrative and not exhaustive. Other behaviors may also apply.
Policy Statement F3: Appeals Process for Academic Dishonesty
First violation. A student who believes that he/she
has not violated the Academic Honesty Code as reported by the faculty
member, may appeal to the Academic Standards Committee. This must be done
in a written letter to the Registrar, within
one week after the certified letter from the
Registrar informing the student of the opening of an academic dishonestly
file was sent.
The Academic Standards Committee will review all relevant materials.
It will meet with the student who will present his/her response to the
academic dishonesty charge(s). The committee may also question the faculty
member who reported the dishonesty.
The Academic Standards Committee shall make one of two decisions:
- violation of the Code took place and the report remains in the academic
dishonesty file;
- Violation of the Code is not substantiated and the faculty member's
allegation shall be removed from the academic dishonesty file.
The decision of the Academic Standards Committee shall be final.
Appeal procedure for second or egregious violations.
A student who has appeared before the Academic Standards Committee
for an egregious first violation or second violation and been found guilty
and dismissed from the University may appeal the decision to the Provost
of the University. This must be done in the form of a written request
to the Provost within one week after the Academic Standards Committee
has informed the student of its decision.
The Provost will appoint two faculty members to serve with him/her as
an ad hoc committee to review the student's appeal. This committee will
review all relevant materials and meet with the student and others, as
it deems necessary. The decision of this committee to either uphold or
overturn the decision of the Academic Standards Committee shall be final.
Readmission to the University
A student who has been dismissed for violation of the Code of
Academic Integrity shall not be readmitted to the University. The student's
transcript shall indicate that the student was "dismissed with cause."
Approved by Faculty Senate 21 May 2004
Approved by Board of Trustees 5 June 2004
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