Delaware Valley University is a college that emphasizes how important academic integrity is to the preservation of the intellectual community. Students who are accused of violating the university's rules that maintain academic integrity will be accused of what's known as “academic misconduct” - an allegation that puts your academic and professional career in jeopardy.
As a college student at Delaware Valley University, it's easy to get overwhelmed. You'll be assigned tons of homework, exams, projects, and presentations, leaving you to either sharpen your time management skills and adapt or struggle with completing it all. Unfortunately, the struggle to keep up with studies is the number one culprit behind academic misconduct charges.
In this article, we'll address how Delaware Valley University defines and handles academic misconduct, as well as why you need a student defense attorney to represent you throughout the school's processes.
How Does Delaware Valley University Define “Academic Misconduct?”
Academic misconduct is any action that doesn't align with Delaware Valley University's academic integrity policy. Since this definition leaves much room for interpretation and there are multiple ways to constitute academic misconduct, the school gives some concrete examples of this behavior.
Cheating
- The presence of “cheat sheets” during an exam, test, or quiz
- Programming a calculator or other electronic device with information for an exam, test, or quiz
- Writing information on one's person or clothing
- Unauthorized collaboration with another student to share information in an exam or testing setting or during completion of a take-home assignment
- Glancing at another student's paper during an exam, test, or quiz
- Conversations during a testing setting
- Soliciting information regarding an exam or test from another student
- Obtaining an examination prior to its administration
Plagiarism
- Submitting all or portions of a piece of written work using someone else's words or ideas (including material from an Internet site, material printed in a book or periodical, or another student's work) without appropriate or adequate use or quotation marks or citation
- Use of a source in a paper or presentation—using exact words or paraphrase—without citation
- Citation not correct or complete despite acknowledged use of a source
- Paraphrase that is too close to the wording in the original source
Information falsification or fabrication
- Falsification of research data
- False information regarding the time or date work was submitted, the fact of work having been submitted, or the reasons for missing an assignment or class meeting
- False information regarding another student
Theft or destruction of intellectual property
- Taking the work of another student without permission
- Taking the course materials from an instructor without permission
- Defacing or taking without permission academic materials including library resources, computer software, or laboratory materials
- Hindering other students, faculty, or staff from the use or access to Library or other academic materials
Facilitation of academic dishonesty
- Giving materials such as test or papers to another student without the professor's permission
- Helping another student obtain materials for cheating or plagiarism
- Discussing an exam or test with a student who has yet to take it without the professor's permission
This list is not exhaustive. Students should speak with a faculty member if they have any questions about their allegations of academic misconduct.
Delaware Valley University's Disciplinary Process
It is mostly up to the faculty member to determine the appropriate process for adjudicating instances of academic misconduct. However, if the allegations are more serious, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will take it from there.
The student may request a hearing before a committee if he/she refutes the charges of academic misconduct. At the hearing, both the student and the faculty member must present evidence or documentation to support their positions. The committee will deliberate privately and render a decision based on a preponderance of evidence.
If the committee decides that a violation did, in fact, occur, the penalty assigned by the faculty member will stand. In cases involving serious or subsequent allegations, severe sanctions may be imposed.
Sanctions
First offense: the instructor will either fail the student in the assignment/exam or fail the student for the course. The decision is at the discretion of the instructor based on the policy stated in the instructor's syllabus.
Second offense: automatic failure in the course and subject to suspension from the University upon recommendation by the instructor or Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Third offense: automatic suspension from the University for one or more years as determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
It's important to note that the consequences for an academic misconduct violation can potentially extend outside of a collegiate environment and into a student's professional life. With evidence of this conduct on your academic record, other institutions, jobs, and professions may question your integrity and morale. Government jobs, professions in law, and careers in academia are industries that have been known to disqualify applicants for having academic misconduct on their record.
Appeals
A student who has been found “responsible” for academic misconduct may appeal the decision to the Academic Affairs Committee. Appeals must be submitted within 10 business days of the decision. The decision of the committee is final and a written record of the decision shall be kept on file.
Facing Allegations of Academic Misconduct? Contact the LLF Law Firm
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 LLF Law Firm has helped students who've acquired serious academic misconduct charges recover from these allegations, and he can do the same for you. Contact the LLF Law Firm today for more information at 888-535-3686.
