Academic Integrity
WCIU 2005-2006 Catalog

Academic Freedom

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the learning context.

Students should be free to take reasoned exceptions to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course or program in which they are enrolled. Students should exercise their freedom with responsibility.

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of representing the work of others as one’s own. This includes copying the work of others on exams and falsifying or not noting sources in term papers, theses, and dissertations. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are subject to strict disciplinary action, according to the following policy and procedure.

It is the responsibility of every faculty member, including mentors and field-based instructors, to inculcate in students an awareness of what constitutes honesty and dishonesty in academic work. Dishonesty in academic work includes plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration or teamwork on assignments, violation of the conditions under which the work is to be done, fabrication of data, unauthorized use of computer data, and excessive revision by someone other than the student.

Students are encouraged to do their own thinking when writing term papers and theses, drawing upon the ideas of others and then synthesizing them in the student’s own words. Excessive copying from other sources, even if the sources are acknowledged, without adequate expression
of the student’s own thinking, is unacceptable and may be considered inadvertent plagiarism, necessitating a rewriting of the paper.

Students are responsible to report to their instructors any dishonest behavior of which they are aware, or any circumstances that tend to encourage dishonesty. Every instructor is responsible to take appropriate measures to correct such situations. If there are mitigating circumstances, lesser sanctions than those noted below may be applied, with the concurrence of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Suspicion of Academic Dishonesty. If a student is suspected of dishonesty, the faculty member shall confront the student discreetly and solicit a response.

If the student admits to dishonesty, appropriate disciplinary action (as described below) will be applied and a report made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The
student will also be informed of his or her right to appeal.

If the student denies dishonesty, but not to the satisfaction of the faculty member, the matter will be referred to the Student Program Evaluation Committee (SPEC), which will advise the Vice President for Academic Affairs on whether there is need to appoint a neutral committee to hear both parties and submit their recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who shall make a determination.

Any further appeals shall be made to the President, whose determination shall be final.

Sanctions for Academic Dishonesty. A faculty member shall assign a grade of F to any individual assignment or test on which a student has been dishonest. The student will be dropped from that course with a grade of F and expelled from WCIU.

In the case of inadvertent plagiarism, a faculty member may, at his or her discretion, require that the assignment or examination be rewritten, and may assign a grade one letter grade lower than it otherwise would have received.

A student who knowingly assists another student in
dishonest behavior is equally guilty and subject to the same sanctions.

Disciplinary Actions

The following is a list of possible disciplinary actions. Other disciplinary actions may be used when deemed appropriate.

Fines – A student may be subject to fines for rule violations and certain behaviors. These may include all costs involving damages to University or others’ property.

Warning – A statement of the standards of conduct is made to the student with an official warning concerning future behavior.

Sanction – A disciplinary action that requires the student to meet certain expectations or complete specific requirements within a stated time frame.

Probation – The student is expected to show development in responsible actions toward WCIU and members of the community for a specified period of time.

Withdrawal – The student is permitted to withdraw from WCIU without the privilege of returning until a time specified by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Suspension – The student is involuntarily separated from the University for a specified length of time. An appropriate notation of the reasons for such termination is placed in the student’s file. No refunds are made and the student will suffer the academic consequences of his or her actions.

Expulsion – The student is permanently separated from the University. An appropriate notation of the reasons for such termination is placed in the student’s file.
No refunds are made, and the student will suffer the academic consequences of his or her actions.

Grievances and Grade Appeals

Grievance Process. Since disputes and misunderstandings do arise between even the most well-meaning persons, the intent of WCIU’s grievance policy is that grievances be handled in such a way as to restore harmony and effectiveness in our common endeavors. This means that matters preferably are dealt with directly and immediately by the aggrieved parties themselves. If the parties are not able to come to mutual understanding and agreement on the matter in dispute, either or both of them may elect to follow the grievance process outlined below. In addition, some matters will be of sufficient gravity or have such significant implications for the general well-being of the community, that wider counsel should be sought.

The student grievance process involves three progressive levels. Should a student have a grievance against a faculty member, staff person, or fellow student, the student shall first discuss the matter with the person involved. If this does not resolve the conflict and the student wishes to pursue the grievance, the student may present the matter to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who shall consult with the alleged offender and may appoint an ad hoc committee to investigate further. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will then decide what action, if any, to take or, if appropriate, to recommend that the President take. If the student is dissatisfied with the action taken by the Vice President, the grievance may be presented to the President. The decision of the President will be final.

Grade Appeals. Grade appeal procedures are designed to protect students against capricious or prejudicial evaluations. The procedures are as follows:

Only final course grades and determination of credit by challenge or portfolio may be appealed. Grounds for appeal are capricious or prejudicial grading. The burden of proof rests with the student.

A grade appeal must be initiated by the student involved within four months of receiving the course grade or determination of credit. An extension of the normal filing period may be granted if the instructor is not available during the time when the student seeks to file the appeal. The appeal must be directed, orally or in writing, to the instructor of the course or the person who evaluated the request for credit.

If further action is deemed necessary, the appeal may be carried through the following sequential levels, as applicable: Vice President for Academic Affairs, then President. Only the instructor, Vice President for Academic Affairs, or President may change a final grade or determination of credit by challenge or portfolio, with written reasons for the change being given to the administrator below and to the instructor, and a copy placed in the student’s permanent file.

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