To say that the world of higher education is big on integrity is an understatement. Academic communities like Carlow University can only thrive when every member is fully committed to the principles of academic integrity. To ensure students reach their educational goals, Carlow University has enforced a number of rules that serve to preserve and maintain academic integrity in all scholastic endeavors.
Students who break these rules, knowingly or accidentally, will be accused of academic misconduct. Accusations of academic misconduct are serious and will be punished through the school's judicial system. Guilty determinations of academic misconduct have been known to jeopardize students' college careers and affect their professional lives down the line as well.
In this article, we'll address how Carlow University handles allegations of academic misconduct and why you need a student defense attorney to assist you through the process once accused.
How Does Carlow University Define “Academic Misconduct?”
According to Carlow University's student handbook, the following actions constitute academic misconduct.
Cheating
Any coursework, such as (but not limited to) quizzes, tests, exams (in-class, online, or take-home), homework or other assignments, lab work, presentations, and both creative and scholarly forms of expression such as projects and papers, computer programs, artistic, musical, or any audiovisual or multimedia work, is presumed to represent a student's individual, original work (or the original work of all members of a group, in the case of group assignments). Cheating thus involves completing coursework by providing or receiving inappropriate assistance from a person or reference, or using unauthorized material such as notes of any form, texts, test banks, and wireless devices unless otherwise directed or permitted by the course instructor.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism refers to the unauthorized use of copyrighted material or misrepresentation of someone else's work as one's own in any coursework, such as quizzes, tests, exams, homework or other assignments, lab work, presentations, and both creative and scholarly forms of expression such as projects and papers, computer programs, artistic, musical, or any audiovisual or multimedia work. Plagiarism can occur in many ways, including:
- Submitting another's work as one's own
- Not properly citing sources, using exact wording without quotations or proper attribution, paraphrasing without proper citation, or improper paraphrasing
- Attributing citations to inaccurate or misleading sources
Self-plagiarism
Unless otherwise permitted by the course instructor or the nature of the assignment, each submitted work is presumed to be original. Self-plagiarism involves the unauthorized use of one's own work or part of a work, either from the same course or from another course, in more than one assignment.
Academic Deceit
Academic deceit involves the intentional use of false or altered information or the withholding of information critical to the processes of the University such as grade changes, course withdrawals, or other academic procedures. Academic deceit also entails providing false information or documentation with the intent to obtain an exemption, extension or exception to assignments, exams, presentations, and other coursework. In addition, academic deceit involves signing other students into classes or on group reports.
Fabrication of Data
Fabrication of data involves the use of distorted data through either falsification or fabrication, or any sort of forgery or unsanctioned use of documents for research or other coursework.
Interference with Other Students' Learning or Achievement
The interference with the classroom learning or scholarly products of other students is a violation of academic integrity. Examples include, but are not limited to: sabotaging group projects or laboratory work, disrupting in-class work including tests and quizzes, altering computer files or online posts, or making educational materials such as equipment or texts unavailable to others.
Unauthorized Acquisition or Exchange of Coursework
Unauthorized acquisition or exchange of coursework involves not only purchasing, borrowing, stealing, or otherwise obtaining material with the intent to use or represent part or all of the material as one's own coursework, but also selling, lending, or otherwise offering one's own coursework to others with the intent of allowing the recipient to use or represent part or all of the purchased or borrowed work as one's own. In addition, unauthorized acquisition or exchange of coursework entails obtaining a copy of one's own completed tests and exams without explicit permission from the course instructor.
Other Forms of Academic Misconduct
Carlow University reserves the right to act upon other actions that a reasonable person would consider academic dishonesty that may not be listed specifically above.
Violations of Academic Integrity
When academic misconduct is suspected, the faculty should contact the Provost to inquire about previous academic integrity violations by the student.
If the alleged misconduct is the student's first offense of a similar nature, and the faculty believes the misconduct is minor or the result of an honest mistake, the faculty should contact the student within five business days of discovering the violation to arrange a meeting and attempt to resolve the matter with the student directly. The faculty member may impose a sanction at his/her discretion. Also, in the spirit of helping guide the student's learning process, the faculty should refer the student to such resources as the Center for Academic Achievement, as appropriate.
If the faculty and the student are unable to reach a resolution, or if the student denies responsibility for the alleged academic integrity violation, the matter is forwarded to the Academic Integrity Council for a judicial hearing, as described below.
If the alleged misconduct is not the student's first offense of a similar nature, or if the faculty believes the misconduct is serious, blatant, or warrants consideration by a higher authority, the matter is forwarded to the Academic Integrity Council for a judicial hearing, as described below. The Council may collaborate with the faculty to impose further sanctions following the hearing.
Sanctions
If the Judicial Hearing Panel finds the student guilty of violating the academic integrity policy, the Panel will have three business days to consult with the faculty alleging misconduct and the program(s)/department(s) that houses the student's major of study for a decision on appropriate sanctions. In collaboration with the faculty and the program(s)/department(s), the following grade sanctions may be applied:
- Zero credit on the assignment
- Failure of the course
For serious cases of academic misconduct, the Panel may recommend that the Provost apply the following sanctions:
- Suspension from the University
- Dismissal from the University
Appeals
Following the Judicial Hearing Panel's ruling, both the faculty alleging misconduct and the accused student may appeal the decision in writing detailing the grounds of the appeal. Appeals must be submitted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 10 business days of the Panel's ruling. The decision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs is final and a written record of the decision shall be kept on file.
Academic Integrity Attorney
An academic misconduct violation can jeopardize the academic and professional goals you or your college student have set. If you value the investment you've made into your education and your professional future, contacting a skilled student defense attorney is a must. The attorneys of LLF law firm have helped students who've acquired serious academic misconduct charges recover from these allegations, and they can do the same for you. Contact them today for more information at 888-535-3686.
