ACADEMIC CONDUCT
Academic Conduct Policies
Students are responsible for understanding complying with the policies listed below, as well as those described within individual program sections, student handbooks, and policy manuals.Code of Academic Conduct
Honesty and integrity are expected of all students in class participation, examinations, assignments, patient care and other academic work. Students have the obligation to conduct themselves as mature and responsible participants in this community. Towards this end, the University has established policies, standards and guidelines that collectively define the Student Code of Conduct; it includes all policies, standards and guidelines included in, but not limited to:- The University Catalog
- The University Handbook
- The Student Handbook
- Professional program policy manuals
- Residence Hall Handbook and Contracts
Statement of Students' Rights and Responsibilities
Students have a right to conditions favorable to learning. Students have the right to pursue an education free from discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, age, sexual orientation or physical handicap. Students enjoy the freedoms of speech, expression, and association and the rights to privacy, to freedom from harassment, to due process in judicial matters, and to appeal judgments and penalties for alleged misconduct.
Students have the responsibility to conduct themselves, both individually and in groups, in a manner that promotes an atmosphere conducive to teaching, studying and learning. Students are expected to uphold academic and personal integrity, to respect the rights of others, to refrain from disruptive, threatening, intimidating, or harassing behavior, or behavior that is harmful to themselves, other persons or property. Students have the responsibility to abide by the standards, policies and regulations of the University.
Policy of Academic Integrity
Pacific University is an academic community where the pursuit of knowledge, understanding and skills unites us as its members and depends on the integrity of its members to fulfill its mission. Every one of us has reasons to be concerned about academically dishonest practices. Among such reasons are the following:
1. Academic integrity is at the core of our community values.
2. Academic dishonesty can undermine the value of Pacific University diplomas by weakening the reputation of Pacific University, associating it in the public mind with institutions whose students have little integrity and a poor work ethic.
3. Academically dishonest practices are corrosive of individual and community integrity.
4. In the long run, such practices harm the perpetrator, who fails to give himself or herself the opportunity to develop ideas and skills.
5. Academic dishonesty is unfair because it gives the cheater an advantage over other students who rely on their own work and knowledge.
6. Dishonesty weakens the link between grades and work, undermining the immediate incentive of students to put in the hard work necessary to develop skills and knowledge.
7. Certain forms of academic dishonesty, because they infringe on copyrights, are illegal.
8. Academic dishonesty is a violation of the Pacific University Code of Academic Conduct and will be punished according to University and College policies.
Forms of Academic Dishonesty
CheatingCheating is an attempt to use deception to portray one 's knowledge and skills as better than they really are. Behaviors that fall under the label of cheating include, but are not limited to:
1. giving or receiving unauthorized aid in academic work such as the improper use of books, notes, or other students ' tests or papers.
2. taking a dishonest competitive advantage, for instance preventing others from obtaining fair and equal access to information resources.
3. using work done for one course in fulfillment of the requirements of another, without the approval of the instructors involved.
4. copying from another student's paper.
5. allowing another student to benefit from your test paper or other materials.
6. collaborating on projects or exams that are clearly meant to be individual enterprises.
7. using any unauthorized materials during a test.
8. taking a test for someone else or allowing someone else to take a test
for you.
9. stealing another student 's work, including material in a computer file, and submitting it as your own.
Plagarism
Plagiarism is the use of someone else 's words, ideas, or data as your own without proper documentation or acknowledgment. It may also entail self-plagiarism. Quotations must be clearly marked, and sources of information, ideas, or opinions of others must be clearly indicated in all written work. Plagiarism can be unintentional; nevertheless, in all cases it will be treated as a violation. Behaviors that fall under this category include, but are not limited to:
1. quoting another person 's actual words, complete sentences or paragraphs, or an entire piece of written work without acknowledgment of the source.
2. using another person 's ideas, opinions, or theories, even if they are presented entirely in your own words, without proper acknowledgment of the source from which they were taken.
3. using facts, statistics, or other material to support an argument without acknowledgment of the source.
4. copying another student 's work.
5. submitting in a course or for a project all or portions of a work prepared or submitted for another or previous course without proper acknowledgement and approval of the instructors involved.
Fabrication
Fabrication is the intentional use of invented information or the use of falsified results or data with the intent to deceive. Behaviors that fall under this category include, but are not limited to:
1. citation of information not taken from the source that is cited.
2. listing sources in a bibliography not used in the academic project.
3. submitting a paper or lab report or any other kind of document based on falsified, invented information, or the deliberate concealment or distortion of the true nature of such data.
4. forging a signature on a University document.
Other Forms of Academic Misconduct
These address the intentional violation of University policies, including but not limited to:
1. tampering with grades or helping another to tamper with grades or any other part of a student 's academic record.
2. furnishing to a University office or official a document based on information that you know is false or which has been tampered with in an unauthorized fashion.
3. stealing, buying or otherwise obtaining all or part of an unadministered test; also the unauthorized use of a previously administered test.
4. changing a grade in a faculty member 's records, on a test or on other work for which a grade has been given.
5. using electronic information resources in violation of the "Acceptable Use Policy."
Sanctions and Procedures for Handling Cases of Academic Dishonesty
It is Pacific University policy that all acts of academic dishonesty be reported to the Dean. Students always have the right to appeal a charge of academic misconduct.Sanctions
The range of possible sanctions includes, but is not limited to, those listed below; it is general policy that sanctions should be consistent with the severity of the violation.
1. An "F" for the assignment.
2. An "F" for the course.
3. In case of violations of the "Acceptable Use Policy," sanctions range from being barred from the campus electronic network to suspension from the University.
4. In particularly serious breaches of the academic honesty code, or in repeat offenses, suspension or dismissal from the University may be imposed, as well as other appropriate sanctions. In all instances, violations shall be reported to the Deans Office, and records of such violations will be kept in students' confidential files. Records and reports in these files will be maintained according to the University's Records Retention Policy.
Procedures
In the College of Arts and Sciences, faculty members will follow the following procedures when they believe that an instance of academic misconduct has occurred. The timelines outlined herein will be adhered to unless there are compelling extenuating circumstances that would require an extension.
1. The faculty member will review the evidence to ensure that there is a preponderance of evidence supporting a charge of academic misconduct. Faculty members involved are strongly encouraged to consult with the Dean's Office to help determine what course of action to pursue. They may also consult with colleagues while ensuring the anonymity of the student(s) involved.
2. If the faculty member is fairly certain that academic misconduct has occurred, he or she must initiate action within five school days of discovery. The faculty member will meet with the student(s) involved as soon as possible to discuss the situation. When a faculty member believes that a student has violated the academic honesty code during the final examination period and cannot discuss the issue with the student in question (because he or she has left campus for the holiday or summer), the faculty member will assign the student an "L" grade to show that the actual grade will be turned in late.
3. If after meeting with the student(s) the faculty member believes academic misconduct occurred, the faculty member will fill out and hand deliver an academic misconduct report form to the Deans Office within five school days. This form is available on the web at the Arts and Sciences faculty resources page or through the Dean's Office. It will contain a brief report of the incident, the sanction to be imposed, and a catalog of any supporting documentation related to the incident. The faculty member will collect all available evidence until after the appeals period in order to provide photocopies to the Dean's Office if needed.
4. The Dean's Office will send to the student(s) written notification of the determination of academic misconduct and the sanction imposed within five school days. This notice also will inform the student(s) of his or her rights to appeal the decision and of the right to examine the evidence in the case.
5. Student Appeal Process
a. The student may appeal the decision of the faculty member by submitting a request in writing to the Dean's Office within five school days of receiving his or her notification.
b. After reviewing the evidence and consulting with the student(s), the Dean's Office will determine whether or not academic misconduct occurred and, if so, will impose a sanction commensurate with the nature of the offense. Normally, the sanction proposed by the faculty member is upheld, if it is in line with University policy and no new evidence has come to light.
c. The student may appeal the decision of the Dean's Office to the Standards and Advising Committee by submitting a request in writing to the Dean's Office within five school days of receiving his or her notification. The representative of the Dean's Office will not attend the hearing of the appeal. If the committee finds against the student, it normally will uphold the sanction proposed by the faculty member, if it is in line with University policy and no new evidence has come to light.
6. Procedure for initiating college-level action:
a. After a case of academic misconduct has occurred, the Dean's Office will send a warning to the student alerting him or her that a second case may result in suspension or dismissal from the College.
b. After a second case of academic misconduct, the Dean's Office will bring the case to the Standards and Advising Committee, which will consider whether to impose college-level action (suspension or dismissal) because of the multiple nature of the offense.
c. The Dean's Office may request that the Standards and Advising Committee consider college-level action for a single case of misconduct, if this is warranted.
University Level Appeals
Appeals of rulings by the Standards & Advising Committee shall be submitted in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within ten school days after the student receives the ruling. Appeals are considered by the University Standards and Appeals Board, a standing committee of the University. Appeals must be explicitly justified by at least one of the following reasons:
1. Evidence of error in procedure by the Standards & Advising Committee.
2. New evidence, sufficient to alter a decision.
3. Evidence that the sanction(s) imposed was not appropriate to the severity of the violation.
Following receipt of the appeal, the Board convenes to consider the appeal. On the basis of the available evidence, the Board will deny the appeal, call for a hearing, or when deemed appropriate, return the appeal to the Standards & Advising Committee for reconsideration. Decisions of the University Standards and Appeals Board are final. The Vice President for Academic Affairs shall appoint alternate members in cases of conflict of interest or if a regular member is unavailable.
Things Students Can Do to Avoid Charges of Academic Dishonesty
1. Prepare in advance for examinations and assignments; don 't let yourself get too far behind in your reading and studying for any of your courses.2. Prevent other students from copying your exams or assignments. Try to choose a seat during an exam away from other students. Shield your exam. Don't distribute your papers to other students prior to turning them in.
3. Check with your instructor about special requirements that might pertain to that particular course or assignment. If you cannot find a written section in the syllabus or on the actual assignment to answer your questions about what is acceptable, ask the instructor about his or her expectations.
4. Use a recognized handbook on source citation. Many professional organizations have style manuals for this purpose; for example, there is the APA Style Manual for psychology or the MLA Style Sheet for the humanities. Be sure to ask your professor what an acceptable style guide is for the written work you will be submitting in her or his course.
5. Discourage dishonesty among other students.
6. Refuse to help students who cheat.
7. Protect your rights and those of other honest students by reporting to your professor incidents of cheating you have observed.
8. Remember that ignorance of rules, laws and policies is no excuse.
9. Do nothing that gives you an unfair advantage over your peers.
