Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy

Clarke University’s mission and Catholic tradition call us to act in ways that foster a more just world. Thus, we recognize academic integrity is fundamental to our work together. As a “caring, learning community committed to academic excellence,” we cannot tolerate academic dishonesty because:

1. A community is built on personal relationships. Any breach of trust disrupts these relationships and weakens our community.
2. When caring individuals recognize value in another’s work or ideas, their choice is to acknowledge and even celebrate it, rather than misrepresenting ownership of the work.
3. Academic excellence depends on a commitment to follow through on our learning. We cannot pretend to be excellent. We must work hard to achieve excellence, and we must assume responsibility to do so.

Students are expected to be aware of and abide by specific principles of academic honesty. Academic integrity specifically prohibits the following forms of academic misconduct:

Cheating

• Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance (e.g., copying another student’s work or using unauthorized notes during an exam; sharing one’s work with another student; presenting work done in cooperation as an individual’s own work).
• Consulting another student’s work from previous semesters, or checking homework or test answers from previous semesters.
• Using unauthorized materials, such as hidden notes, tape recorders, cell phones, cameras, text messages, computers and other equipment.

Plagiarism

• Using another person’s exact language without the use of quotation marks or proper citation.
• Re-arranging another’s ideas or material and presenting them as original work without providing proper citation.
• Submitting another’s work as one’s own; this includes purchasing work from other sources, including the internet.
• Submitting a translation of someone else’s original words claiming them as one’s own.

Other forms of academic misconduct

• Submitting a previously graded assignment without the current instructor’s permission.
• Falsifying, fabricating, or distorting information (e.g., providing an erroneous source, taking a test for another student, altering college documents, forging an instructor’s signature).
• Engaging in misrepresentation (e.g., lying to improve one’s grade; turning in another student’s work as one’s own; falsely claiming to have attended an assigned function such as a theatrical performance, a public speech, a job interview, a home visit, etc.).
• Seeking unfair advantage (e.g., requesting an extension by using a falsified excuse, obtaining an exam prior to its administration).
• Denying access to information or material to others (e.g. stealing or defacing print or non-print materials).
• Stealing, abusing, or destroying academic property (e.g., stealing library materials, vandalism of academic property).
• Bribing, (e.g., offering materials or services of value to gain academic advantage for oneself or another).
• Engaging in misconduct in research and creative endeavors (e.g., failure to adhere to federal, state, municipal, or university regulations for the protection of human and other subjects).
• Making unauthorized copies of copyrighted materials including software and any other non-print media.

Any violation of this policy will be treated as a serious matter. Penalties ranging from failure of the assignment or exam to failure of the course will be enforced. In cases of repeated or flagrant violations, a student may be dismissed from the university. Faculty members will report cases of academic dishonesty to the academic affairs office. If applicable, the student life office will be notified as well for additional disciplinary action.

Students facing allegations of academic dishonesty may not withdraw from the course or courses where the alleged violations occurred. Students should continue to attend classes and meet course requirements at least until a final sanction has been determined. Unauthorized withdrawals, or those posted before the violation is discovered, will be reversed. If in a particular situation the appropriate bodies decide there was no violation of the policy or the sanction was unwarranted, the student will have the option of withdrawing from the course.

Academic Integrity Reporting and Appeal Process

Faculty members report cases of academic dishonesty to the academic affairs office. Although course instructors determine the consequences for most violations of academic integrity, penalties for cases of multiple or egregious offenses will be decided by the Academic Integrity Board (AIB).  This board is also charged with resolving student appeals of academic integrity violations.

Student Appeal of Charge

1. The faculty member reports the violation to the appropriate dean or designated official and to the student within 7 business days of discovering the offense. The AIB process is intended as a formative experience for students. Therefore, the faculty member must submit the Academic Integrity Violation Report no later than four weeks after the assignment was due.
2. The student has 5 business days from the day of being informed of the alleged violation to contact the chair of the board expressing the intent to appeal the charge. The chair will then supply the student with a copy of the appeal form. The student must complete and submit the form to the AIB chair within the next 2 business days.
3. The chair and the vice chair of the Academic Integrity Board will receive paperwork and, within 3 business days of receipt, determine a date and time of the appeal meeting and the composition of the board.  The official meeting will occur within 10 business days of the date when the chair and vice chair receive this paperwork.
4. If the student has materials for the board to review, they must be presented to the chair at least 24 hours before the AIB meeting.
5. Students called before the board may ask one support person to accompany them; however, this person will not be involved in the conversation and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to the meeting.
6. The faculty member who made the initial charge may be required by the AIB to attend the meeting.
7. The student will be notified by the board of its determination/findings within 7 business days of the AIB meeting.

Multiple Offenses and Board-Initiated Meetings

1. The faculty member reports the violation to the appropriate dean or designated official and to the student within 7 business days of discovering offense. The AIB process is intended as a formative experience for students. Therefore, the faculty member must submit the Academic Integrity Violation Report no later than four weeks after the assignment was due.
2. Multiple offenses: The dean will notify the chair and vice chair of the AIB in cases of multiple offenses within 3 business days after receiving notification from the faculty member. The chair and the vice chair will receive all pertinent documentation and within 3 business days of receipt will notify the student, determine the composition of the board, and communicate the date and time of the meeting. The official meeting will occur within 10 business days of the date when the chair and the vice chair receive this paperwork.
3. Board initiated: After the dean shares information with the chair and the vice chair on each student violation of the academic integrity policy reported by faculty, the chair and the vice chair will determine whether or not a meeting should be held. Within 3 business days of receipt, they will notify the student, determine the composition of the board, and communicate the date and time of the meeting. The official meeting will occur within 10 business days of the date when the chair and the vice chair receive this paperwork.
4. In either multiple offenses or board-initiated cases, the student may provide additional material for the board to review. This information must be presented to the chair at least 24 hours before the AIB meeting.
5. In either multiple offenses or board-initiated cases, the faculty member who made the initial charge may choose to attend or not to attend the AIB meeting.
6. Students called before the board may ask one support person to accompany them; however, this person will not be involved in the conversation and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to the meeting.
7. The faculty member who made the initial charge may be required by the AIB to attend the meeting.
8. After reaching a decision, the AIB  makes a recommendation to the vice president of academic affairs. The Academic Affairs Office notifies the student of the final decision within 7 business days of the AIB meeting.