Academic Integrity is expected and required of all students. Students and faculty are responsible and accountable for personally upholding that integrity. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty will be disciplined/face consequences according to this policy.
Definition of Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:
- Cheating:
- Copying from another student during an exam or other academic work.
- Using unauthorized materials or aids during an exam or other academic work.
- Possessing unauthorized materials during an exam or other academic work.
- Allowing another person to take an exam on one's behalf or taking an exam for someone else or other academic work.
- Fabrication:
- Falsifying data, information, citations, including artificial intelligence (AI) generated citations, in academic work.
- Submitting false medical, academic, or other documentation required by the college.
- Unauthorized Access to Exam Materials:
- Obtaining exam papers or materials through purchase, theft, bribery, collusion, or other unauthorized means before the exam.
- Plagiarism and Misrepresentation:
- Aiding, assisting, or encouraging another person to commit academic dishonesty.
- Presenting someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property as one’s own without proper citation.
- Submitting another person’s work as one’s own.
- Failing to document information, wording, or images taken from the internet or other sources.
- Violating federal copyright laws by duplicating copyrighted materials without authorization.
- Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Aiding, assisting, or encouraging another student to engage in dishonest behavior, allowing another person to take a test in one’s place; taking a test or examination in another person’s place.
- Self-Plagiarism:
- At the instructor’s discretion, so-called “self-plagiarism,” or submitting work that was written or completed for one instructor or class to a different instructor or class without the receiving instructor’s knowledge and approval.
AI Usage and Academic Integrity
Instructors are required to clearly outline their policies regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in the course syllabus. This includes specifying whether or not AI-generated content is permitted and under what conditions.
Instructor Responsibilities:
- Clarify AI Usage: Instructors must clearly communicate their expectations regarding AI use for assignments, projects, and assessments in the course syllabus. This includes specifying whether students are allowed to use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Translate, writing assistants, etc.) and under what conditions.
- Transparency: If AI-generated content is allowed, students should be instructed on how to properly disclose the use of AI and cite AI tools in their work.
Student Responsibilities:
- Disclose AI Use: Students must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the syllabus and must disclose the use of AI technologies in their work when required.
- Avoid Plagiarism: Submitting AI-generated content as one’s own work without disclosure is considered a violation of academic integrity and will be treated as academic dishonesty.
Procedure for Addressing Academic Dishonesty
1. General Guidelines
- Instructor Definition: For the purposes of these procedures, the term "instructor" refers to any faculty member or administrator who has reason to believe that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty.
- Multiple Students: If multiple students are involved in a single case of academic dishonesty, the situation may be addressed collectively.
- Student's Rights: While these procedures are being carried out, the student will be allowed to continue in their academic program without penalty, until the procedures have been completed. However, the College reserves the right to take any action permitted by College policy for conduct unrelated to this process.
2. Steps for Instructors to Follow
When an instructor believes a student has engaged in academic dishonesty, the following steps must be taken:
1. Initial Conference with Student:
- The instructor must confer with the student to explain the suspected academic dishonesty.
- The instructor should provide evidence or reasoning supporting their belief that dishonesty has occurred.
2. Student's Explanation:
- The student will be allowed to provide their explanation, including any supporting evidence they may have.
3. Evaluation:
- The instructor will evaluate the student's explanation and any provided evidence to determine whether a violation of the Academic Dishonesty Policy has occurred.
4. Decision and Documentation:
- If no violation is found, the matter will be considered resolved, and the student will be notified in writing.
- If a violation is found, the instructor will:
- Complete the Academic Dishonesty Documentation Form (in collaboration with the dean/graduate program director, if applicable).
- Check with the Vice President of Academic Affairs’ Assistant to determine if the student has previous violations of the Academic Dishonesty Policy.
5. Penalty Determination:
- First Offense: If the student has no prior violations, the instructor will apply an appropriate penalty (refer to the "Penalties" section below).
- Second Offense: If the student has one prior violation, the instructor will consult with the dean or graduate program director to determine the appropriate penalty.
- Third Offense: If the student has two prior violations, the automatic penalty is expulsion from the College. The Vice President of Academic Affairs should be notified immediately.
6. Notification of Decision:
- The student will be notified in writing about the decision, including any penalties imposed.
- The Academic Dishonesty Documentation Form will be completed and presented to the student, who must sign it as verification of receipt. The student may also provide a written response on the form.
7. Distribution of Documentation:
- Copies of the documentation will be provided to the student, dean/chair/graduate program director (if requested), and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Penalties for Academic Dishonesty
The penalty imposed for academic dishonesty will vary depending on the nature and seriousness of the offense. A record of all cases will be maintained in the Vice President of Academic Affairs' office. A second offense will result in a more severe penalty than the first. The following penalties may be applied:
1. Minor Penalties:
- Reprimand: A formal warning to the student.
- Reduction in Grade: The student’s grade for the assignment may be reduced without the opportunity to resubmit.
- Repeat and Resubmit: The student may be required to repeat and resubmit the same or an alternate assignment, with the grade reduced at the instructor’s discretion.
- Plagiarism Tutorial: The student may be required to complete the Plagiarism Tutorial available on the student’s Learning Management System (LMS) platform.
2. Moderate Penalties:
- Zero on Assignment: The student may receive a grade of “0” for the assignment, with no opportunity to resubmit. This could result in failure of the course.
- Lowered Final Grade: The student’s final course grade may be lowered by one full letter grade, which could result in course failure.
3. Severe Penalties:
- Failing Grade in Course: The student may receive a failing grade (F) for the course.
- Automatic F Grades: The student may receive failing (F) grades in all courses for the semester, with no refund of fees. This penalty can only be imposed by the student's dean or graduate program director, with approval from the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
4. Expulsion:
- Expulsion: For a third violation of academic dishonesty, the student will be automatically expelled from Missouri Valley College. This will be permanently recorded on the student’s academic record. The student will also receive failing (F) grades in all courses in which they are registered, and no fees will be refunded for the semester.
Record Keeping
- All cases of academic dishonesty will be documented and a record will be maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs, overseen by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
- Penalties will escalate with each subsequent violation, ensuring a more serious consequence for repeat offenders.