CCSU Graduate Policy on Academic Misconduct
From the CCSU Graduate School Handbook pp. 33-38
Academic Honesty
Q: Does CCSU have a policy on academic honesty for
Graduate Students?
A: CCSU abides by a strict code of conduct, and
plagiarism is prohibited. The sources for all papers must be
appropriately acknowledged and documented. Any graduate student
found guilty of plagiarism or of academic dishonesty in any form
will be penalized. Penalties include failing the course,
involuntary withdrawal from the graduate program for a specified
period of time and suspension from Central Connecticut State
University. It is the responsibility of each student to become
familiar with what constitutes academic dishonesty and plagiarism
and to avoid all forms of cheating and plagiarism.
The CSU Code of Conduct defines academic misconduct as
including, but "... not limited to providing or receiving
assistance in a manner not authorized by the instructor in the
creation of work to be submitted for academic evaluation including
papers, projects and examinations (cheating); and
presenting, as one's own, the ideas or words of another person or
persons for academic evaluation without proper acknowledgment (plagiarism)."
Cheating may take many forms. It includes, among other
things, the following actions, when not explicitly authorized by
the instructor:
-Use of unauthorized materials or devices during an
examination or any other form of academic evaluating and grading;
e. g., use of signals, notes, books, or calculators during an
examination when the instructor has not approved their use;
-Knowingly allowing another person to copy your paper during an
examination;
-Copying from another person's paper or receiving unauthorized aid
from another person during an examination;
-Use of another person as a substitute for you in any form of
academic evaluation or acting as a substitute for another person
in any form of academic evaluation;
-Acquisition or distribution of improperly acquired examinations;
e. g., stealing examinations before the test period or taking a
copy of an examination from a testing room without permission of
the instructor; (Examinations which have been distributed by an
instructor are considered public domain and are legitimate study
tools);
-Submission of another's material as your own for academic
evaluation;
-Preparation of work for another student to submit for academic
evaluation;
-Unauthorized collaboration in the preparation of materials to be
submitted for academic evaluation; e. g., working with another
student on an assignment when the instructor has not authorized
working together;
-Submission of the same work, or substantially similar work, in
more than one course without prior consent of the evaluating
instructor( s);
-Falsification of misrepresentation of your own academic record or
that of anyone else;
-Unauthorized use of information in University computer records or
the computer files of other students (See Computer Use Policy).
Plagiarism
is presenting another person's work, without
acknowledgment, whether in the same or in slightly modified form.
In academic practice this is regarded as theft, intended to gain
undeserved credit. Like other forms of academic dishonesty,
plagiarism is cheating. To academicians, a well-documented
paper is more impressive than one which arouses the suspicion of a
reader familiar with the student's work and alert to echoes from
other writers. The proper use of outside sources does not
necessarily mean that a paper is lacking in originality, nor does
the presence of quotation marks in the text. In fact, the purpose
of research and documentation is to share useful information with
the reader. The penalties for plagiarism greatly exceed the
unlikely reward of gaining credit by "getting away with
it."
Q. What are the consequences of Academic Misconduct?
A. The Consequences of Academic Misconduct are as follows:
There are significant consequences when a graduate student
engages in
academic misconduct.
In each case the faculty member will initiate a conference
with the student, after which the faculty member who believes that
misconduct has occurred must complete a University Academic
Misconduct Report, which is the record of a faculty member's
determination that the student identified in the report has
engaged in academic misconduct. The content of a University
Academic Misconduct Report shall include all items indicated in
the form attached to this Policy.
A copy of each University Academic Misconduct Report will be
sent to the student, the Department chairperson, the Dean of the
Graduate School, and the University Judicial Officer.
Upon receipt of the University Academic Misconduct Report,
the University Judicial Officer or the Graduate Dean, in
consultation with the faculty member, may initiate further
proceedings, which may result in sanctions, including disciplinary
probation, suspension or expulsion from the University.
The sanctions for academic misconduct available to a faculty
member include any or all of the following:
1. A grade of "F" for the course.
2. A grade of "F" for the material being evaluated.
3. A reduced grade for the material being evaluated.
4. The assigning of additional course work.
When Graduate Students are Suspected of Academic
Misconduct:
1) When a faculty member reasonably believes that there is
sufficient information to demonstrate that a student may have
engaged in Academic Misconduct:
a) The faculty member will discuss the incident with the
student, in the presence of the department chair, if the faculty
member or student so desires.
b) At this time the faculty member shall outline the possible
penalties as specified in the CCSU Student Handbook.
c) The faculty member will indicate that the matter may be
referred to the Graduate Dean or the University Judicial Officer
for possible disciplinary action.
2) Based on the available documentation, the response offered
by the student, if any,
and other relevant information:
a) The faculty member will, within a reasonable period of time,
reach a determination whether the student has engaged in Academic
Misconduct.
b) Should the faculty member determine that Academic Misconduct
has
occurred, the faculty member shall retain evidence of the said
misconduct.
3) If the faculty member determines that Academic Misconduct
has not occurred, no University Academic Misconduct Report need be
prepared.
4) If the faculty member determines that Academic Misconduct
has occurred, the faculty member shall:
a) Impose an academic sanction and,
b) Prepare and forward to the Graduate Dean, a University Academic
Misconduct Report indicating the determination reached and
sanctions imposed and,
c) Inform the student that additional University Academic
Misconduct
Reports may result in more severe penalties.
5) The faculty member:
a) May contact the Graduate Dean or the University Judicial
Officer to request a conference with the student to further
explain the act leading to the University Academic Misconduct
Report. The conference will be facilitated by the Graduate Dean
and include the University Judicial Officer, a Graduate Studies
Committee member not affiliated with the graduate program of the
student, and the graduate student. This meeting will not be a
disciplinary hearing, but consultation with the student to further
explain the misconduct.
b) May request a disciplinary hearing with the Graduate Dean and
the University Judicial Officer in cases of serious forms of
academic misconduct.
6) In accordance with the "Student Records and Disclosure
Policy," "Data from academic, disciplinary, and
counseling files shall not be available to unauthorized persons on
campus or to any person off campus without the express consent of
the student involved, except under legal compulsion." (CCSU
Student Handbook)
Subsequent Violations of the Academic
Misconduct Policy:
When the University Judicial Officer or the
Graduate Dean has multiple University Academic Misconduct Reports
filed on a particular student, a "Pre-Hearing
Investigation" may be conducted in anticipation of
disciplinary action, which may result in disciplinary probation,
suspension or expulsion from the University. If the University
Judicial Officer or the Graduate Dean determines that a formal
hearing is warranted, a faculty member or members may be requested
to provide information.
A Student's Rights When Suspected and or Charged with
Academic Misconduct:
1) A student has the right:
a) To meet with the faculty member, in the presence of
the Department Chair if so desired, before any determination has
been made.
b) To be informed during this meeting of the faculty member's
suspicions and have an opportunity to discuss the matter.
c) To appeal a finding of Academic Misconduct made during the
course of the semester, within 10 school days of being provided
with a University Academic Misconduct Report. A written statement
of appeal must be provided to the faculty member, the Department
chairperson, the Graduate Dean, and the University Judicial
Officer, setting forth the basis of the student's appeal. Upon
receipt of a student's mid-semester appeal, the University
Judicial Officer will consult with the faculty member, the
Department Chair, and the Graduate Dean and communicate to the
student within 10 school days the results of the student's appeal.
2) Once a final grade is awarded, the student may file a grade
appeal in accordance with the "Appeals for Grade Change
Policy," (CCSU Student Handbook).
3) If a student receives a final grade of "F" as a
result of violating the Academic Misconduct Policy, and that grade
is upheld by the grade appeal process, no retroactive withdrawal
from the course will be permitted.
4) All end of the semester appeals must be made in accordance with
the "Appeals for Grade Change Policy."
5) In addition to academic sanctions provided by the faculty
member, if disciplinary proceedings have been initiated by the
University Judicial Officer or the Graduate Dean, a student has
the right to have such proceedings resolved in accordance with the
CSU "Guidelines for Student Rights and Responsibilities and
Judicial Procedures."
Q. What are the Professor's Responsibilities when Academic
Misconduct is suspected During "End of the Semester"
Grading?
A. If a faculty member reasonably suspects academic misconduct
during "end of the semester grading," a grade of
Incomplete may be entered to be replaced by an appropriate grade
once the issue is resolved. The grade of Incomplete allows a
faculty member to complete end of the semester grading and still
follow up on suspected violations of the University Academic
Misconduct Policy.
For Academic Misconduct, reported by a member of the
University Community other than the relevant faculty member,
please refer to "Academic Misconduct" in
"Guidelines for Student Rights and Responsibilities and
Judicial Procedures. ' (CCSU Student Handbook.) |
