The Ashland University community strives to model leadership which is based upon Judeo-Christian beliefs and virtues which will encourage, develop and sustain men and women of character to serve their professions, their communities, and the world (AU Statement on Ethical Leadership). As members of Ashland University, students hold themselves to the highest standards of academic, personal and social integrity (Ashland University Campus Creed). In keeping with the Ashland University commitment to the highest standards of academic, personal and social integrity, students are expected to abide by the academic integrity standards outlined in this policy.

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

Academic integrity is as important to our mission today as it was at the University's founding. The founders declared that Ashland "would develop students intellectually," and our current mission speaks to "the purpose of leading meaningful lives in the world community." Since the educational and social environment is built upon a long-standing commitment to Judeo-Christian values, it is clear that academic integrity is an essential part of students' personal and intellectual growth.

At Ashland University, academic integrity is to be revered, honored and upheld. Therefore, an academic integrity infraction is considered a very serious matter, as it corrupts the educational process and undermines the foundation of our community.

SECTION 2. CONDUCT WHICH VIOLATES ACADEMIC INTEGRITY-ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Ashland University expects each student to advance the University's mission by furthering an environment that is both challenging and supportive. In such an environment a student will neither seek nor offer improper assistance. All students have an obligation to be forthright in their academic endeavors and to respect ethical standards. The work that one submits for academic evaluation must be his/her own, unless an instructor expressly permits certain types of collaboration. Academic integrity requires that each student will use his/her own capabilities to achieve his/her fullest potential and will neither offer nor accept aid that is not in keeping with regularly accepted standards of academic integrity. Failure to conform to this conduct shall constitute academic dishonesty.

SECTION 3. FORMS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Proper acknowledgment of ideas and sources is central to academic honesty. To insure academic honesty, it is important to examine that which constitutes academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes:

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional presentation of someone else's words, ideas or data as one's own work. In the event the faculty member deems the plagiarism is unintentional, he/she shall typically require the student to rewrite the assignment. In the event the faculty member believes the plagiarism is willful, the sanctions in this document will apply. If the work of another is used, acknowledgment of the original source must be made through a recognized reference practice, and, if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks as well. To assure proper crediting, a student will acknowledge the work of others,

1. Whenever one quotes another person’s actual words.
2. Whenever one uses another person’s idea, opinion or theory, even if it is completely paraphrased in one’s own words.
3. Whenever one borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials, unless such information is of such common knowledge so as not to be questioned.

Fabrication
Fabrication is the intentional falsification or invention of research, data, citations, or other information. Examples of fabrication include:

1. Citing information not taken from the source indicated.
2. Including in a reference list sources which have not been consulted.
3. Inventing or altering data or source information for research or other academic exercise.
4. Submitting as his/her own any academic assignment (e.g. written work, painting, sculpture, etc.) prepared totally or in part by another.
5. Using a portion of a piece of work previously submitted for another course or program to meet the requirement of the present course or program without the approval of the instructor involved.
6. Permitting one’s work to be submitted by another person as if it were his or hers.
7. Taking a test (or other evaluation) for someone else or permitting someone else to take a test for oneself.
8. Other offenses of this form which incorporate dishonesty for academic gain.

Cheating
Cheating is an act of deception in which a student represents mastery of information that he/she has not mastered. Cheating may be suspected if an assignment that calls for independent work results in two or more solutions, sequences, or language so similar as to merit the charge. Cheating may be suspected if there is a statistical inconsistency in the student's performance and the student cannot explain or reproduce both the intricacies of the solution and the techniques used to generate the solution; or in the case of an essay examination, the student cannot explain or reproduce the thought-processes used to generate the writing.

Examples include:

1. Copying from another student's test paper.
2. Allowing another student to copy from a test paper.
3. Using notes, textbooks or other information in homework, examinations, tests or quizzes, except as expressly permitted.
4. Securing, giving or exchanging information during examinations without authority to do so.
5. Other offenses of this form which incorporate dishonesty for academic gain.

Other Forms of Academic Misconduct
Examples include:

1. Obtaining confidential information about examinations, tests or quizzes other than that released by the instructor.
2. Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining all or part of an unadministered test in which the origins of the materials are suspect.
3. Selling or giving away all or part of an unadministered test including answers to an unadministered test.
4. Inducing any other person to obtain an unadministered test or any information about the test.
5. Changing, altering, or being an accessory to the changing and/or altering of a grade in a grade book, computer file, on a test, a "change of grade" form, or other official academic record of the University which relate to grades.
6. Cooperating with another person in academic dishonesty, either directly or knowingly, as an accessory.
7. Using computing resources in a manner which violates University academic integrity policies.
8. Other offenses of this form which incorporate dishonesty for academic gain.

These examples are not meant to be exhaustive. Further, they refer only to academic areas; appropriate action may also be undertaken by other agencies.

SECTION 4. PROCEDURES FOLLOWING AN ALLEGATION OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL

1. When a faculty member has observed a student violating any of the policies stated herein, an allegation of academic dishonesty, with supporting documentation, shall be filed with the appropriate administrator.
2. When a proctor has observed a student violating any of the policies stated herein, the faculty member, under whose authority the proctor oversaw the academic activity, shall file an allegation of academic dishonesty, with supporting documentation, with the appropriate administrator.
3. When a faculty member has not observed a student violating any of the policies stated herein, but has a firm conviction of academic dishonesty, based on probative evidence, the faculty member shall file an allegation of academic dishonesty, with supporting documentation, with the appropriate administrator.
4. Upon the filing of an allegation of academic dishonesty, the faculty member, or the appropriate administrator shall inform the student of the nature of the allegation and supply the student with documentation.
5. Within ten business days of receiving an allegation of academic dishonesty, the appropriate administrator shall notify the student of the procedures for refuting such allegation and for appealing any resulting penalty, and shall forward the allegation of academic dishonesty, with supporting documentation, to the appropriate committee.
6. Within ten business days of receiving an allegation of academic dishonesty, the appropriate committee shall schedule a hearing and inform the student of his or her right to refute the allegation at the hearing.
7. Time frames for taking actions may be extended upon agreement of the parties.

SECTION 5. PENALTIES AND PENALTY DETERMINATION

1. In addition to submitting the allegation of academic dishonesty to the appropriate administrator, the faculty member may assign a grade of zero for the assignment or test involved and/or assign an F for the course. Any grade appeal in process will be suspended until any integrity violation is resolved.
2. The appropriate committee shall determine the penalty, adhering to the stated policies of the program, up to and including permanent dismissal from the graduate program, without opportunity to reapply. Within ten business days of the hearing, the committee shall notify the student of its decision, and report its decision to the College Dean. In determining the penalty, the committee shall take into consideration the seriousness of the offense, including:
   1. the willfulness of the incident; e.g., an error in the form of a citation is less serious than no attempt to credit the work of another;
   2. the extent to which the student had been previously instructed or warned about the academic integrity policy;
   3. previous violations of academic integrity.
3. The action taken pursuant to paragraph B. above does not prevent any additional action taken pursuant to stated policies of individual colleges, departments or programs.

SECTION 6. STUDENT APPEAL PROCEDURE

1. The student shall have an opportunity to attend the appropriate committee's hearing and refute the allegation of academic dishonesty.
2. Within ten business days of receiving notice of the committee’s decision, the student may appeal the decision to the College Dean. The Dean shall review the information presented, make such inquiries as necessary and render judgment. If dissatisfied, the student may appeal to the Dean of the Graduate School within ten business days of receiving notification of the College Dean’s decision.
3. The Dean of the Graduate School shall review the information presented, make such inquiries as necessary and render judgment, which shall affirm, modify or overturn the decision of the College Dean. If the decision of the College Dean is overturned, the Dean of the Graduate School shall remand the matter to the College Dean for action not inconsistent with the decision of the Dean of the Graduate School.
4. Students may appeal a decision of the Dean of the Graduate School to permanently dismiss a student from the program to the Provost by submitting an appeal to the Provost’s Office within ten calendar days of notification of the decision.