Statement of Academic Misconduct - Southern State Community College





	Statement of Academic Misconduct Southern State Community College is committed to providing educational opportunities that promote academic, professional and personal growth in students. To these ends, all members of the College are expected to uphold the highest academic and ethical standards. Types of Academic Misconduct Any unauthorized use of material (books, notes of any kind, and so forth) during an examination, test, or quiz. Copying from another student’s work, permitting one’s work to be copied during an examination, test, or quiz. Unauthorized use of equipment (computers, calculators, or any type of educational or laboratory equipment). Permitting a person to pose in one’s place during an examination, test, quiz, or posing as another person during an examination, test, or quiz. Altering an examination, test, quiz, or any other type of evaluated work in an effort to have the work re-evaluated for a higher grade. Plagiarizing or permitting one’s work to be plagiarized. Using unauthorized or improper methods to determine in advance the contents of an examination, test, or quiz. Unauthorized use of computer software during an examination, test, or quiz. Submitting as one’s own work a work of art, a speech or oral report, a musical composition, a computer program, a laboratory project or any other creation done by another person. Plagiarism Defined Plagiarism can be defined as copying someone else’s words or ideas and passing it off as your own. This includes copying material from the World Wide Web, the Internet, books, videos, and all copyrighted material without express permission and documentation. Examples of plagiarism are: Reproducing another person’s words, published or unpublished, as one’s own; Permitting another person to alter substantially one’s written work; Failing to acknowledge the ideas or words of another person, including verbatim use of another’s words without proper documentation or paraphrasing another’s words without proper documentation; Using material from the World Wide Web, Internet, videos, encyclopedias, books, magazines, newspapers, student papers, and copyrighted material without indicating where the material was found. “Proper documentation” is a written acknowledgement, such as the use of quotation marks and footnotes that alert a reader to the fact that the words or ideas are not that of the writer. Plagiarism can result in failure on an examination or paper, failure in a course, suspension for one to three quarters, dismissal from the College for one year, and/or possibly civil penalties. Student Responsibility for Avoiding Academic Misconduct Instructors provide course outlines, which specify all requirements and procedures. Students must familiarize themselves with these documents. Students who have questions about potential academic misconduct on an examination, test or quiz, or other evaluated work must contact their instructors prior to completing the assignment. Possible Sanctions for Academic Misconduct By an instructor: Instructors must state at the beginning of a quarter what sanctions they will apply to cases of academic misconduct. Instructors may choose: F for an individual examination, test, quiz or evaluated project F for the course Refer the case to the Academic Appeals Committee By the Academic Appeals Committee: Drop the matter for lack of evidence F for the individual examination, test, quiz, or evaluated project F for the course Suspension for from one to three quarters Dismissal from the College for one year A sanction mutually agreed upon by the student, the instructor, and a majority of the members of the Academic Appeals Committee By the Vice President of Academic Affairs: Drop the matter for lack of evidence Uphold the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee F for the individual examination, test, quiz, or evaluated project F for the course Suspension for from one to three quarters Dismissal from the College for one year A sanction mutually agreed upon by the student, the instructor, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs Charges of Academic Misconduct An instructor who determines that a student has engaged in academic misconduct will confront the student, explain the evidence he or she has to support the charge of misconduct, and explain the sanction he or she intends to impose. The instructor has the right to impose any sanction listed above under “By Instructor”. The Appeal Process When an instructor confronts a student with a charge of academic misconduct and explains the sanctions he or she intends to impose, the student has the right to appeal the decision. The student must speak directly with the faculty member. If the student does not receive satisfaction from the faculty member, then he/she should appeal in writing to the Academic Appeals Committee. If the student does not receive satisfaction from the Academic Appeals Committee, then he/she should appeal in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. If the student is not satisfied with the above results, he/she may request to see the President of the College. The President’s decision will be final. Documentation of Sanctions for Academic Misconduct The instructor, the Academic Appeals Committee, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, or the President will provide the student with a written explanation of all action to be taken within seven calendar days of the date of the decision. A copy will be maintained in the appropriate files while the sanction is in force; however, no copy will be placed with the student’s academic records.