Appendix 1.18: Handling Academic Misconduct
ACADEMIC CODE OF CONDUCT
This policy is directly related to the first Testimony, which is part of the Student Code of Conduct. “I will practice personal and academic integrity.” The initial responsibility for dealing with academic misconduct lies with the individual faculty member in whose classroom or course of study the offense occurs. The responsibility includes determination of the consequences for the offense. The goal is for faculty to confront cheating and plagiarism, to teach ethical behavior, and to provide an appropriate consequence based on the nature of the incident. Faculty are encouraged to explicitly address academic misconduct and its consequences in the course syllabus.
EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
A. Examination offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.Taking unauthorized materials into or out of the examination room.
2.Leaving the examination room without authorization before completing an examination.
3.Talking in the examination room without authorization.
4.Discussing the examination outside the examination room during the course of the examination.
5.Attempting to observe the work of another student.
6.Taking an examination for another person or permitting someone else to do so.
7.Collaborating improperly by discussion, joint research, or joint effort in any way expressly prohibited by the instructor. This includes using a cell phone or other device to access information from another source or another student.
8.Improper knowledge of contents of an examination - No student shall knowingly acquire unauthorized knowledge of an examination or any part of an examination, or solicit, offer, or give information about any part of an examination.
B. Student work offenses include, but are not limited to, the following, which are expressly prohibited in the absence of prior written approval of the instructor or instructors involved:
1.Resubmission of work - Submitting work which has been previously submitted for credit.
2. Plagiarism - Submitting work done wholly or partly by another, including the unattributed copying of all or parts of a published work or internet document. Using generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) sources to produce work (when not expressly permitted) is also a form of plagiarism. Some instances of plagiarism are the result of ignorance rather than dishonesty. When plagiarism is encountered, the instructor should be sure that the student knows proper procedures for attributing content.
3.Prohibited sources - Consulting material or persons contrary to the directions of the instructor.
4.Improper collaboration - Engaging in any discussion, joint research, or joint effort of any kind expressly prohibited by the instructor.
5.Deception - Misrepresenting the authenticity of sources, citations, or principles in any written work.
6. Sharing work – Students who share their work with others are responsible for how that work is used. For example, if a student shares a paper with another student to help him or her understand an assignment, and that student submits the work as their own, the author of the paper shares responsibility for the plagiarism committed by the other student.
D. Other misconduct - Engaging in any other improper conduct as specified by the instructor.
E. Lying – deliberately providing false information relevant to academic matters, such as misrepresenting the inability to take an examination because of illness.
F. Disruptive or disrespectful classroom behavior – causing a disturbance in the classroom, interrupting instruction, speaking rudely or threatening students or faculty.
GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING ACADEMIC OFFENSES
1.Confront the student within ten working days of knowledge of the incident when the college is in session, or within the ten days of the start of the next semester.
2.Determine if the offense is substantiated. Also, determine if the offense falls under the “plagiarism” category (defined under B.2 above) or not.
3.Document incident and consequence in writing (letter or email) and send to student. Ideally, the course syllabus should provide a statement related to academic misconduct and its consequences.
4.Submit a copy of the letter or email sent to student to Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs (AVPAA) . If the offense is deemed to fall under the “plagiarism” category, then explicitly indicate this in the letter/email. The faculty member may email the student or send a letter to the student’s campus or home address. The Office of Academic Affairs will maintain a copy of this letter in the student’s file for reference should additional incidents of academic misconduct occur.
If the offense is deemed to fall under the “plagiarism” category (defined under B.2 above), then proceed to steps 8-10 below. If it is not deemed “plagiarism”, then proceed with steps 5-7 below.
5.The Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs will meet with the student and review the Academic Misconduct Policy. If the student has no prior incidence of academic misconduct, no further action will be taken.
6.If the student has committed a prior offense, the student must appear before the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee (ASA). The student may also be required to appear before the committee if the faculty member and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs determine the offense is serious enough to warrant additional review.
7. Any additional consequences will be determined by the ASA. Consequences could include academic probation, ineligibility for academic honors, or suspension.
8. For a first violation of the “plagiarism” type, the instructor will decide if this violation is of a minor or major type. This determination is up to the instructor’s discretion. If the plagiarism violation is “minor”, then the instructor will abstain from grading the assignment and ask the student to redo and resubmit it in their own words/work. Once resubmitted, the assignment will be graded. If a student refuses to redo the assignment or does not complete it in the allowed time, then the instructor is free to give the student a zero for the work.
If the plagiarism violation is deemed “major”, then the violation will be treated per the instructions in step 9 below.
9. For a second infraction of plagiarism, or for a “major” plagiarism violation, the student must take and pass the Plagiarism Workshop, which is an approximately 4-hour, non-credit-bearing course. For a second infraction or a major infraction , the grade for the assignment will be at the instructor’s discretion.
10. If a student does not pass the Plagiarism Workshop course within the designated time period, or has additional infractions of Academic Misconduct, then those offenses would be directed to the process outlined in steps 6 and 7 above (referral to the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee).
STUDENT APPEAL PROCESS
If a student wishes to appeal the charge of academic misconduct and/or the sanctions for the offense, he/she may do so in writing within five (5) school days of receipt of the letter or email from the faculty member. Students should send their appeal in writing (letter or email) to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. A hearing will be set in front of the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee in as timely a manner as possible.
Students who appear before the committee on appeal may be assisted by a support person, who may be any member of the college community or a parent. Students are responsible for presenting their own case; however, the support person is permitted to speak and should assist the student in understanding the academic appeals process. Hearings will be confidential. Admission of any person to the hearing who is not a support person, or a witness shall be at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may restrict testimony that is irrelevant or redundant.
Pertinent records, exhibits, and written statements may be accepted as evidence at the discretion of the Committee. There shall be a single verbatim record, such as an audio recording of all hearings before the Committee. The appealing student shall have access to a record of the hearing. All recordings are destroyed either after appeals are completed or after the time allotted for appeals has passed.
After the hearing, the Committee shall determine (by consensus) whether the level of academic offense and/or the sanctions should be decreased. Review of the level of academic offense and/or sanctions may not result in a more severe level of offense or sanction. The Committee may render its decision without deference to the faculty member’s initial determination.
Students who are required to appear before the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee due to a second offense (or a serious first offense) may also appeal the committee’s decision to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA)/Dean of the Faculty under the circumstances outlined below.
FINAL REVIEW
Final appeals may be made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of the Faculty within five (5) school days of the decision of the Academic Standards and Appeals Committee. An appeal to the VPAA/Dean of the Faculty is only appropriate under at least one of the following conditions:
- The original hearing was not conducted fairly in light of the charges and evidence presented, and in conformity with prescribed procedures.
- The decision was not based on substantial evidence.
- The sanction imposed was not appropriate for the violation.
- There is new evidence that was not presented at the original hearing.
Appendix 1.9: Syllabus Form
Faculty members at Wilmington College are not required to use any specific form for syllabus preparation. However, the following information must be included in all syllabi. A copy of your syllabi must be sent to the Office of Academic Affairs and your Area Coordinator each semester. A sample syllabus template is available on the Academic Affairs page of WC@ Home.
• Your name and contact information such as office #, office phone and e-mail address and office hours (minimum of 5 hours per week should be posted and observed per Faculty handbook).
• The course number, credit hours and section number for the course.
• Course description from the catalog with prerequisites and infused skill(s), if applicable.
• Semester and year of course.
• Course location (building and room number) and time.*
• Course Goals and Objectives/Learning Outcomes.
• Skills statement, including how the skill will be taught, practiced, and assessed. Current infused skills policies and guidelines may be obtained from the appropriate skills director.
• Tentative course schedule and assignments.
• Statement that says that a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face course format. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week.
• Basis for assigning grades in the course. Grading policy must include your use or non-use of +/- grades in the course as well as how infused skills will be assessed, if applicable.
• Instructor’s penalty for academic misconduct, as well as this statement: “See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges.”
• Instructor’s policy for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the course. Instructors have discretion as to when/how students may use AI in coursework. The statement in the syllabus can be general (e.g., “The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions.”) or as detailed as needed.
(Consider a cell phone/texting policy.)
• Instructor’s attendance/absence policy, as well as this statement: “See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Attendance policy especially as it pertains to excused absences.”
• Textbook and other required materials.
• Final examination date and time (required to meet during assigned final examination period even if some activity other than testing is planned per faculty handbook).*
• A.D.A. statement: “Americans with Disabilities Act: If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, contact the Disability Services Director, 937-481-2444, Robinson Communications Center Room 114”.
• Optional: college mission and/or relationship of course to the mission.
*Not required for online courses.
