Integrity of Student Academic Coursework

Board Policy 10.003

1. 1. Statement of Values:
      The principles of truth and honesty are fundamental to a community of learners.  All members of the Delta College Community are expected to honor these principles and are responsible for maintaining the integrity of academic coursework at the College.
      Plagiarism or any misrepresentation of work, unsanctioned collaboration, use of prohibited materials, and participation in any form of dishonesty all constitute violations of this policy.
      Violations of this policy will result in the actions and consequences specified within this policy.
   2. Faculty determine standards of integrity for academic coursework.
      Examples of academic dishonesty that would constitute violations of this policy include, but are not limited to, the following:
      1. Plagiarism [1]
      2. Cheating on tests, quizzes, or any assignments
      3. Aiding and abetting dishonesty
      4. Falsification of records and official documents
   3. Faculty should do the following, where applicable and when appropriate:
      1. Provide clarification about the nature of academic dishonesty.
      2. Clarify expectations for homework, assignments, collaborative student efforts, research papers, exams, etc.
      3. Identify any specific style/format requirements for assignments.
      4. Communicate ethical and professional standards associated with courses and programs.
      5. Honor principles of truth and honesty and in so doing protect the validity of college grades.
   4. Delta College Students are responsible for understanding and following:
      1. All provisions of this policy including, but not limited to, examples under I and II above.
      2. Specific course policies for academic work.
      3. Other College policies as specified in the current Delta College Catalog.
      4. Academic principles of honesty and integrity.
      5. The Disputed Final Grades policy, which gives students the right to appeal any grade affected by a charge of academic dishonesty.
   5. Process for Policy Violations by Students
      Faculty may use their discretion and judgment in any suspected violation of this policy, including limiting the action to a warning in cases where the student’s course grade will not be affected, in which case the faculty member will explain the violation to the student and warn the student of future consequences for similar behavior.  If the faculty member determines that this policy has been violated and the student’s course grade will be affected, then the following process will be followed:
      1. The faculty member will explain the decision in writing to the student within a reasonable time frame, but this notification must take place before final course grades are submitted. The faculty member will then send a copy of the written explanation, with appropriate documentation, to the academic Associate Dean.
      2. The academic Associate Dean is responsible for notifying the student of Board Approved Policy 10.003 Integrity of Academic Work and forwarding the information submitted by the faculty member to the appropriate Academic and Student and Educational Services administrators.
      3. The Chief Academic Officer of the College will determine appropriate consequences beyond the course grade for the student, including, particularly in the case of a repeated violation of this policy, possible dismissal from the College.
      4. The College will maintain permanent records of these violations.

[1] Plagiarism is defined as, “the false assumption of authorship; the wrongful act of taking the product of another person’s mind and presenting it as one’s own.”  As developed by Alexander Lindey in “Plagiarism and Originality” (N.Y.:  Harper, 1952)

Formerly Senate Policy 4.060
Board Action 5457 – August 9, 2022