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
