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Saginaw Valley State University

Office of Student Conduct Programs

Academic Integrity Policy

Article 1

Academic Rights and Responsibilities

Appropriate conditions and opportunities for learning are important measures of the quality of an educational institution. The university assumes several essential responsibilities in order to achieve academic excellence and to preserve the ideals of academic freedom for students. As members of the academic community students similarly accept certain responsibilities.

1.1 Academic Integrity Policy

Statement of Philosophy
The primary purposes of a University are to produce new knowledge and to share knowledge acquired from others. These purposes can be achieved only when intellectual property rights are recognized by everyone within the University. Thus, academic integrity is essential; University citizens must take responsibility for their own work and give credit when using the work of others.

Student Honor Code
One effective way for an individual to maintain academic integrity is to accept and follow a code of honorable conduct. The Honor Code authored by the Academic and Leadership Development Committee of the Student Association is as follows:

As a student at Saginaw Valley State University:

I am committed to upholding a high standard of academic integrity in all of my work, inside and outside of the classroom. Out of respect for my peers, professors, institution, and self, I will complete all tasks honestly and to the best of my ability.

I am guided by my conscience as I work toward my educational and professional goals, and I expect my fellow students to practice that same moral judgment.

I take pride in my academic accomplishments and therefore will not give or receive unauthorized assistance on any assignment, project, exam, or other university requirement. 

I seek to maintain the honor of a Saginaw Valley State University degree, and I will preserve its value throughout my professional career.

Definitions

Academic integrity is undermined whenever one is dishonest in the pursuit of knowledge. Dishonesty takes many forms, including cheating, plagiarism, illicit acquisition or selling of academic material, and other activities for undermining the educational process:

Cheating is defined as using unauthorized materials or receiving unauthorized assistance during an examination or other academic exercise. Some examples of cheating include: copying the work of another student during an examination or other academic exercise (including computer programming), or permitting another student to copy one’s work; taking an examination for another student or allowing another student to take one’s examination; possessing unauthorized notes, study sheets, examinations, or other materials during an examination or other academic exercise; collaborating with another student during an academic exercise without the instructor’s consent; and/or falsifying examination results.

Plagiarism involves intentionally or unintentionally presenting another person’s expressions –ideas, opinions, illustrations, data, style–as one’s own expression. Examples of plagiarism include: failing to use quotation marks when directly quoting from a source; failing to document distinctive ideas from a source; fabricating or inventing sources; and copying information from computer-based sources, e.g.., the Internet.

Unauthorized possession or disposition of academic materials may include: purchasing or selling examinations, papers, reports or other academic work; taking another student’s academic work without permission; possessing examinations, papers, reports, or other assignments not released by an instructor; and/or submitting the same paper for multiple classes without advance instructor authorization and approval.

Undermining the educational process occurs whenever one attempts to prevent another’s learning or subverts the recognized means by which learning occurs. Some examples include: a student signing in or indicating a student is in attendance when they are not or asking another individual to sign in or impersonate the student in any way.

Procedures for Dealing with Instances of Academic Dishonesty

Faculty may elect to consult with a department chair, academic dean or the Office of Student Conduct Programs to determine a course of action with respect to academic dishonesty.  The first step to be taken by a faculty member should be a review of the evidence to ensure there is a sufficient reason(s) to warrant a charge of academic dishonesty.  Faculty members are encouraged to employ all available resources (e.g., Turnitin.com, Google searches, etc.) in developing a set of evidence.  

Faculty may elect to refer the matter to the Office of Student Conduct Programs for adjudication of academic sanctions.   Referrals to the Office of Student Conduct Programs for academic sanctions are independent of an instructor’s evaluation of academic performance.   The Office of Student Conduct Programs requires evidence of academic dishonesty prior to imposing any academic sanctions.  When the violation involves the use of a computer(s) or SVSU’s network, faculty members should contact the Office of Student Conduct Programs. The Office of the Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students will work with Information Technology Services to gather and provide additional evidence.

Disciplinary Process for Incidents of Academic Dishonesty

When faculty elect to refer the matter of academic sanctions to the Office of Student Conduct Programs, the faculty member will submit a Report Form.   The link to the form is as follows: http://www.svsu.edu/studentconductprograms/ .  Faculty are given the option to file a Formal or Informal Report.

Formal Report means the student will be charged with a violation of academic integrity, will meet with the Office of Student Conduct Programs.

Informal Report means the case is only for the record, no action will be taken by the Office of Student Conduct Programs.

For the Student Grade Grievance Procedure go to http://svsu.edu/academicandstudentaffairs/ .

Procedural Guidelines for Formal Resolutions of Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy

A. Notification: The student will be notified by the Office of Student Conduct Programs that he/she is accused of violating the Academic Integrity Policy by means of a Notice of Charge. This official notification will contain adequate information enabling the student to prepare a response to the charge(s) including the action(s) in question and name of complainant and witnesses, if known.

B. Response: The student will have the opportunity to accept or deny responsibility for the charge(s). Failure to respond to the charge(s) will be considered the same as admission of responsibility. If a student denies the charges, a Hearing Panel of two (2) faculty members and two (2) students from the Academic Integrity Board will review the charge(s) of academic dishonesty and will have the authority to determine a student’s accountability for the charge(s) and to impose appropriate sanctions. In case of a tie, the Associate Dean of Students/Student Conduct Programs or designee will cast the deciding vote. If a student admits the charges, a Hearing Panel of one (1) faculty member from the Academic Integrity Board and a Student Conduct officer will review the charge(s) and impose appropriate sanctions.

C. Sanctions: The Hearing Panel may impose sanctions upon any student determined to be accountable for violations of the Academic Integrity Policy. Sanctions are cumulative and may be increased based on a past disciplinary record, the severity of the violation, and the impact upon the academic community. There may be circumstances that are cause for exception as determined by the Hearing Panel. The range of sanctions that may be imposed by the Hearing Panel for violations of the Academic Integrity Policy include:

  • Mandatory attendance at one or more workshop(s) on academic integrity;
  • A letter of apology written to the course instructor;
  • Anonymous letter of apology to all other students attending the same class;
  • Submit a written paper on academic integrity;
  • University probation;
  • Withdraw student from the course;
  • University suspension;
  • University expulsion;
  • Other developmental sanctions deemed appropriate and commensurate with the violation.
  • A first-time offense will include the minimum sanctions of attendance at a workshop on academic integrity and university probation for up to two semesters.

D. Appeal: Written appeals must be submitted within three (3) class days of the written notification of the decision of the Hearing Panel, through the Office of Student Conduct Programs. Appeals will be reviewed jointly by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Associate Provost for Student Affairs/Dean of Students.

The decision of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Associate Provost for Student Affairs/Dean of Students is final. The imposition of regular disciplinary penalties does not preclude an evaluation of academic performance by the instructor.

Records

All cases concerning academic dishonesty must be recorded in the Office of Student Conduct Programs. Additionally, student grade grievance proceedings that occur due to academic dishonesty must be recorded in the Office of Student Conduct Programs. This means that faculty, academic chairs or deans must notify the Office of Student Conduct Programs when a student’s grade is changed for reasons of academic dishonesty.

Revised
12/13/19