Official University Policy Manual

File Code: PRO.ACADINTEGRITY.POL
Approved: 01/10/05
Revised: 05/04/05
Approved by: President

Student Academic Integrity Policy

Preamble

Western Illinois University, like all communities, functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. Students have rights and responsibilities (http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students/) and students should realize that deception for individual gain is an offense against the members of the entire community, and it is the student's responsibility to be informed and to abide by all University regulations and policies on Academic Integrity.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty constitute a serious violation of University conduct regulations. Students who engage in dishonesty in any form shall be charged with academic dishonesty.

It is a duty of faculty members to take measures to preserve and transmit the values of the academic community in the learning environment that they create for their students and in their own academic pursuits. To this end, they are expected to instill in their students a respect for integrity and a desire to behave honestly. They are also expected to take measures to discourage student academic dishonesty, to adjust grades appropriately if academic dishonesty is encountered, and, when warranted, to recommend that additional administrative sanctions be considered. Grading policies are the exclusive prerogative of the faculty; administrative sanctions are under the authority of the Director of Student Judicial Programs. This document provides policies and procedures to be followed when academic dishonesty is encountered.

Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

The following definitions and examples are not meant to be exhaustive. The University reserves the right to determine, in a given instance, what action constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

  1. Plagiarism
    1. Plagiarism is intentionally or knowingly presenting the work of another as one's own. Plagiarism occurs whenever:
      1. one quotes another person's actual words or replicates all or part of another's product without acknowledgment. This includes all information gleaned from any source, including the Internet.
      2. one uses another person's ideas, opinions, work, data, or theories, even if they are completely paraphrased in one's own words without acknowledgment.
      3. one uses facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials without acknowledgment.
      4. one fails to acknowledge with a citation any close and/or extended paraphrasing of another.
      5. one fails to use quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it is a few words, a sentence, or a paragraph.
    2. Typical examples: Submitting, as one's own, the work of another writer or commercial writing service; knowingly buying or otherwise acquiring and submitting, as one's own work, any research paper or other writing assignment; submitting, as one's own, work in which portions were produced by someone acting as tutor or editor; collaborating with others on papers or projects without authorization of the instructor.
    3. In addition to oral or written work, plagiarism may also involve using, without permission and/or acknowledgment, computer programs or files, research designs, ideas and images, charts and graphs, photographs, creative works, and other types of information that belong to another.
    4. Because expectations about academic assignments vary among disciplines and instructors, students should consult with their instructors about any special requirements related to citation.
  2. Fabrication and Falsification
    1. Fabrication or falsification is intentionally and knowingly making unauthorized alterations to information, or inventing any information or citation in an academic exercise. Fabrication (inventing or counterfeiting information) and/or falsification (altering information) occur whenever:
      1. one alters or falsifies a graded work after it has been evaluated by the instructor and resubmits it for re-grading.
      2. one invents data in a piece of work or provides a false account of the method by which data were generated or collected.
      3. one misrepresents by fabricating an otherwise justifiable excuse such as illness, injury, accident, etc., in order to avoid timely submission of academic work or to avoid or delay the taking of a test or examination.
    2. Typical Examples: Fabrication--inventing or counterfeiting data, research results, information, or procedures; inventing data or fabricating research procedures to make it appear that the results of one process are actually the results of several processes; counterfeiting a record of internship or practicum experiences.
    3. Falsification--altering the record of data or experimental procedures or results; false citation of the source of information (e.g., reproducing a quotation from a book review while indicating that the quotation was obtained from the book itself); altering the record of or reporting false information about practicum or clinical experiences; altering grade reports or other academic records; submitting a false excuse for absence or tardiness in a scheduled academic exercise; altering a returned examination paper and seeking regrading.
  3. Cheating
    1. Cheating is intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids, solution manuals, or other devices in any academic exercise, test, or quiz. This includes unauthorized communication of information during an exercise. Cheating includes:
      1. possessing unauthorized notes, crib sheets, additional sources of information, or other materials during an examination.
      2. preparing a written answer to an exam question outside of class and submitting that answer as part of an in-class exam.
      3. possessing term papers, examinations, lab reports, or other assignments which were supposed to be returned to the instructor.
      4. altering test answers and then claiming the instructor improperly graded the test or examination.
      5. giving or receiving answers by use of any signals or technology during a test.
    2. Typical Examples: Copying from another student's paper or receiving unauthorized assistance during a quiz, test or examination; using books, notes, or other devices (e.g., calculators) when these are not authorized; procuring without authorization tests or examinations before the scheduled exercise (including discussion of the substance of examinations and tests when it is expected these will not be discussed); copying reports, laboratory work, computer programs or files and the like from other students; collaborating on laboratory or computer programs or files and the like with other students; collaborating on laboratory or computer work without authorization and without indication of the nature and extent of the collaboration; sending a substitute to take an examination.
  4. Complicity in Academic Dishonesty
    1. Complicity in academic dishonesty is intentionally or knowingly helping, or attempting to help, another commit an act of academic dishonesty. Complicity includes:
      1. permitting another student to copy one's work during an examination or allowing another student to copy one's paper, lab report, computer program, or other assignments.
      2. taking an examination or any portion of a course for another student; writing a paper, lab report, computer program, or other assignments for another student.
    2. Typical Examples: Knowingly allowing another to copy from one's paper during an examination or test; knowingly and without authorization distributing test questions or substantive information about the material to be tested before the scheduled exercise; collaborating on academic work knowing that the collaboration will not be reported; taking an examination or test for another student, or signing a false name on an academic exercise. (Note: Collaboration and sharing information are characteristics of academic communities. These become a violation when they involve dishonesty. Instructors should make expectations about collaborations clear to students. Students should seek clarification when in doubt).
  5. Abuse of Academic Materials
    1. Abuse of academic materials is intentionally or knowingly destroying, stealing, or making inaccessible library or other resource material.
    2. Typical Examples: Stealing or destroying library or reference materials needed for common academic exercises; hiding resource materials so others may not use them; destroying computer programs or files needed in academic work; stealing or intentionally destroying another student's notes or laboratory experiments; receiving assistance in locating or using sources of information in an assignment where such assistance has been forbidden by the instructor. (Note: The offense of abuse of academic materials shall be dealt with under this policy only when the abuse violates standards of integrity in academic matters, usually in a course or experience for which academic credit is awarded).
  6. Multiple Submissions
    1. Multiple submissions occurs when one intentionally or knowingly submits substantial portions of the same academic work (including oral reports) for credit more than once without the explicit authorization of both instructors.
    2. Typical Examples: Submitting the same or substantially the same work for credit in more than one course without prior permission of both instructors. Building upon or reworking prior work is acceptable with permission of both instructors.

Reporting Academic Dishonesty

All members of the University community share the responsibility and authority to challenge and make known acts of apparent academic dishonesty. Any student, faculty member, or staff person who has witnessed an apparent act of student academic dishonesty, or has information that reasonably leads to the conclusion that such an act has occurred or has been attempted, has an ethical responsibility for reporting said act(s). Confronting and reporting academic dishonesty can be done in a variety of ways, and people should choose the manner most appropriate for the circumstances. Acts of apparent academic dishonesty that occur in the classroom should be reported directly to the course instructor, and/or the course instructor's Department Chair, and/or the instructor's College Dean. The Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS) or the Graduate Council will not accept or act upon anonymous reports, but will hold in strict confidence the identity of any person reporting a suspected instance of academic dishonesty, unless that person consents to having his/her identity revealed.

Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Integrity Procedure, Step One: Informal Resolution

  1. Preliminary discussion
    1. A faculty member responsible for assigning final grades in a course may acquire evidence, either directly or through information supplied by others that a student violation of academic integrity may have occurred. After collecting the evidence available, the faculty member must meet with each student involved to present the evidence of a violation and request an explanation. If the faculty member accepts the student's explanation, no further action is taken.
    2. If the faculty member determines that a violation has occurred, the faculty member must inform the student, in writing, of the academic penalty and of the student's rights of appeal within five working days. The faculty member will at the same time send a copy of the letter, an Academic Integrity Incident Report, together with any additional information, to the Department Chair and (for record-keeping purposes) to the Council on Admission, Graduation and Academic Standards (if the case involves an undergraduate student) or to the Graduate Council (if the case involves a graduate student.) The letter will include:
      1. the nature of the charge/evidence against the student;
      2. a brief summary of the meeting with the student;
      3. the faculty member's decision; and
      4. information regarding the right to appeal to the department Academic Integrity Committee.
    3. Once a faculty member has charged a student with academic dishonesty, the student may not withdraw from the course. Faculty members will inform the Registrar of the charge of academic dishonesty.
    4. Any student who withdraws from a course after the charge is made may be reregistered by the Registrar for the course so that appropriate action can be taken.
    5. An incomplete will be given to the student(s) by the instructor in the event that a charge of academic dishonesty cannot be resolved before the submission of the final course grade(s).
    6. If the student wishes to appeal the faculty member's charge of academic dishonesty, he or she must file a written appeal with the Department Chair within 5 working days following receipt of the faculty member's letter. In cases where a student does not file a written appeal with the department chairperson, then the faculty member will assign an appropriate grade for the course.
  2. Assignment of Penalty
    1. All acts of academic dishonesty violate standards essential to the existence of an academic community. Most offenses are properly handled and remedied by the faculty member teaching the course in which they occur. The penalties that may be assessed by the faculty member are course related and may include the following:
      1. a revision of the work in question and/or completion of alternative work, with or without a grade reduction;
      2. a reduced grade (including "F" or zero) for the assignment;
      3. a reduced grade (including "F") for the entire course;
      4. referral to the Student Judicial Program.
    2. The use of grades to address questions of academic dishonesty is at the sole discretion of the faculty member. A second violation of this policy will automatically result in formal judicial charges being brought against the student.

Undergraduate and Graduate Procedure, Step Two: Formal Hearings

Constitution of Academic Integrity Committees:

Each academic department and college within the University will establish an Academic Integrity Committee whose sole responsibility is to determine whether there has been a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, but not to determine any penalty, in accordance with the procedures outlined below.

Faculty members and students should be aware of potential conflicts of interest and excuse themselves from service. If the impartiality of a committee member is questioned, the committee itself must reach a decision as to the continuance of the individual so questioned. If a member is disqualified, another individual from the same constituency will be appointed to serve in his or her place. Department Chairs and administrators (assistant dean, associate dean, dean, etc.) of any college will not serve on any Academic Integrity Committee.

Department Academic Integrity Committee

Each department will establish a standing Academic Integrity Committee comprised of an odd number of members. If the Academic Integrity Committee consists of the minimum of three members, then one member must be a student who was not in the course from which the allegation originates and is not currently a student in any course taught by the faculty member bringing the allegation. (If the case involves an undergraduate student, then the student representative must be an undergraduate student. If the case involves a graduate student, then the student representative must be a graduate student.) If the committee consists of more than three faculty members, then the committee must have two student members that were not in the course from which the allegation originates and are not currently in any course taught by the faculty member bringing the charge. Department Chairs will notify each faculty member on the Academic Integrity Committee of the first meeting at the beginning of the semester, before an Academic Integrity report is filed. At this meeting, the chairperson will be elected by the members of said committee.

College Academic Integrity Committee

The College Academic Integrity Committee will consist of five persons: two voting students selected according to the criteria for Department Committees and three voting faculty members appointed by the Dean from the chairpersons of Department Academic Integrity Committees (or their designees) within the College but not from the academic department from which the Academic Integrity case originated. The chair will be appointed by the Dean of the College.

University Academic Integrity Committee

The Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS) will serve as the Academic Integrity committee for undergraduate students at the University level. The Graduate Council will serve as the Academic Integrity committee for graduate students at the University level.

Procedures for All Committees

Within five working days following the receipt of a student's written request to appeal a charge of academic dishonesty, the appropriate Academic Integrity Committee will arrange a hearing. All hearings (department, college, and University) will be held on the Macomb campus for Macomb students and by CODEC for the WIU Quad-Cities Campus, unless the committee decides otherwise. Academic Integrity hearings are normally heard during the Fall/Spring semester unless all parties agree to an earlier hearing. At least five working days in advance of any hearing, the Chairperson of the Committee will notify the student and the faculty member involved of the time and place of the hearing, the specification(s) of the complaint (including any written documentation that was provided by the student or faculty member), and the right of each individual to be accompanied by an advisor, but not legal counsel. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate the class schedules of students and faculty members when setting committee meetings and hearings.

One advisor for the student and one for the faculty member may be present when evidence is presented to the committee. Advisors are not allowed to ask questions or present material and cannot serve as witnesses. All committee hearings will be confidential; witnesses will be excluded except for the period of their questioning. All participants will conduct themselves in a professional and collegial manner. Anyone failing to comply with this requirement can be excluded for the remainder of the hearing.

Agreement or disagreement with the charge of academic dishonesty shall be determined by majority vote of those present on a secret ballot. A written report of the proceedings will be prepared by the Chairperson of the Committee and submitted to the members for their approval. This report should include the basis for the charge, conclusions reached by the committee, and a report of the voting which reflects the majority and minority points of view.

Formal Hearing

Department Level Hearing

The Department Academic Integrity Committee will consider the facts of the case at a meeting which should be attended by the student (with an advisor of the student's choice, if he or she so desires) and the instructor making the allegation. Either party may submit written materials to support his or her position, and either party may have witnesses testify either in writing or before the committee.

The hearing at the department level will be completed within 20 working days after the submission of the Academic Integrity Incident Report or the student's request to appeal, whichever is later.

Within five working days after the departmental hearing, the Chairperson of the Committee must inform the faculty member, student, chair of the department, and (for record-keeping purposes) either the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (if the case involves an undergraduate student) or the Graduate Council (if the case involves a graduate student) of the decision in writing. If the Academic Integrity Committee finds that no violation has occurred, the faculty member must inform the Chairperson of the Committee in writing as to whether or not he or she will appeal the decision within five working days.

The Chairperson of the Committee must then inform the student and the chair of the department in writing of the faculty member's decision within five working days. If the faculty member fails to reply within the specified time limit, it will be assumed that he or she has decided not to pursue a charge of academic dishonesty. If either the student or faculty member does not agree with the recommendation of the department's Academic Integrity Committee, the chairperson must inform both parties, in writing, of their right to appeal the decision to the college level. If the faculty member does not respond to the committee, then the student must request in writing that the appeal be forwarded to the College level.

In cases where the faculty member does not become a party in the proceedings and the Departmental Academic Integrity Committee makes a decision in favor of the student, the allegations will be dismissed and the Incomplete (if one is recorded) will be changed to the appropriate grade. The Chairperson of the Committee will submit a change of grade form and indicate that the change is due to an Academic Integrity appeal.

College Level Hearing

If the result of the decision of the Departmental Academic Integrity Committee is unsatisfactory to either party, that person will have the right to appeal to the Dean of the College in which the department involved is located. The written appeal must be filed with the Dean's Office within 20 working days after the Chairperson of the Department Committee has notified the student of the faculty member's decision. The Chairperson of the Department Committee will forward the committee's report, and all written material considered by the committee, to the Dean's Office upon being notified by the Dean that there will be an appeal at the College level. This material will also be sent to both the faculty member and student involved with the Academic Integrity hearing.

A hearing will be held within 10 working days after receiving the appeal using the same procedures provided for at the department level. The College Committee will also include in its deliberations the written report of the Departmental Academic Integrity Committee and any other written materials forwarded to the Dean from the Chairperson of that Committee.

Within five working days after the College hearing, the Chairperson of the Committee must inform the faculty member, student, chair of the department, and (for record-keeping purposes) either the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (when the case involves an undergraduate student) or the Graduate Council (when the case involves a graduate student) of the decision in writing.

If the appeal is upheld, within five working days the faculty member must inform the Chairperson of the Committee in writing as to whether or not he or she will abide by the decision. The Chairperson of the College Committee must then inform the student and the chair of the department in writing of the faculty member's decision within five working days.

If the faculty member fails to reply within the specified time limit, it will be assumed that he or she has decided not to pursue a charge of academic dishonesty. If either the student or faculty member does not agree with the recommendation of the College Academic Integrity Committee, the Chairperson of the Committee must inform both parties, in writing, of their right to appeal the decision to the University level. If the faculty member does not respond to the committee, then the student must request in writing that the appeal be forwarded to the University level.

In cases where the faculty member does not become a party in the proceedings and the College Academic Integrity Committee makes a decision in favor of the student, the allegations will be dismissed and an appropriate grade will be assigned. The Chairperson of the Committee will submit a change of grade form and indicate that the change is due to an Academic Integrity appeal.

University Level Hearing--Undergraduate Student

If the decision of the College Academic Integrity Committee is unsatisfactory to either the undergraduate student or the faculty member, that person will have the right to appeal to the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS). The written appeal must be filed with the Chairperson of the Council within 10 working days after the Chairperson of the College Academic Integrity Committee has notified the student of the faculty member's decision to pursue a charge of academic dishonesty. The Chairperson of the College Academic Integrity Committee will forward all reports and written materials that had been forwarded to the College Academic Integrity Committee to the Chairperson of the Council upon being notified that there will be an appeal.

The Chairperson of the Council shall review the case and shall then appoint a sub-committee of the Council to review the case and bring a recommendation to the Council. The subcommittee may request additional information and/or hear from both parties involved. The Council shall decide whether or not to approve the appeal. No member of CAGAS from the department in which the appeal originated may participate in the deliberations or vote on the case.

The Chairperson of CAGAS will then inform the student, faculty member, chair of the department, and dean of the college in writing of the decision in the case. If CAGAS finds no violation has occurred, the charge of academic dishonesty will be dismissed. The student may then either remain in the course without penalty, or withdraw from the course regardless of any published deadlines. If CAGAS finds that a violation has occurred, then the faculty member will assign the appropriate grade.

University Level Hearing-- Graduate Student

If the decision of the College Academic Integrity Committee is unsatisfactory to either the graduate student or the faculty member, that person will have the right to appeal to the Graduate Council. The written appeal must be filed with the Chairperson of the Graduate Council within 10 working days after the Chairperson of the College Academic Integrity Committee has notified the student of the faculty member's decision to pursue a charge of academic dishonesty. The Chairperson of the College Academic Integrity Committee will forward all reports and written materials received by the College Academic Integrity Committee to the Chairperson of the Graduate Council upon being notified that there will be an appeal.

The Chairperson of the Graduate Council shall review the case and shall then appoint a sub-committee of the Council to review the case and bring a recommendation to the Graduate Council. The subcommittee may request additional information and/or hear from both parties involved. The Council shall decide whether or not to approve the student's appeal. No member of the Graduate Council from the department in which the appeal originated may participate in the deliberations or vote on the case.

The Chairperson of the Graduate Council will then inform the student, faculty member, chair of the department, and dean of the college in writing of the decision in the case. If the Graduate Council finds no violation has occurred, the charge of academic dishonesty will be dismissed. If the Graduate Council finds a violation has occurred, then the faculty member will assign the appropriate grade.

Records

Individual records of academic dishonesty shall be kept by the Registrar's office for all students and an additional file will be maintained by the Graduate office for graduate students. The only persons having immediate access to these records shall be the President, the Academic Vice President, and the Chairperson of CAGAS (for undergraduate students) and the Chairperson of the Graduate Council (for graduate students). Any other person(s) wishing to view these files must have the permission of the Chairperson of CAGAS (for undergraduate students) or the Chairperson of the Graduate Council (for graduate students).

The purpose of this record keeping is to ensure that students who violate the University's Student Academic Integrity Policy a second time are dealt with appropriately. A second purpose is to deter students from repeating offenses.

Interpretations and Exceptions

Any questions concerning the interpretation or execution of the Academic Integrity Policy will be resolved by the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards for undergraduate students and the Graduate Council for graduate students. CAGAS will be informed of all decisions regarding undergraduate student Academic Integrity hearings. The Graduate Council will be informed of all decisions regarding graduate student Academic Integrity hearings.

Download the Academic Integrity Incident Report (pdf)