Honor Code Student Code of Honor Violations of Honor Code Disciplinary Review Student Code of Honor The University wishes to make it absolutely clear to all students that we accept only the highest standard of academic integrity. It is the responsibility of the student to gain the needed guidance and information to conform their work to acceptable standards. The Honor Code reflects expected values of personal conduct the ideals of integrity, decorum, and scholarship. By accepting an offer of enrollment and matriculate, the student accepts the Honor Code and agrees to abide by it. This acceptance affirms the student's right to have their academic work accepted and respected as their unique contribution to scholastic research. The Student Honor Code applies to undergraduates, graduate students, and non-degree students alike. Plagiarism is an extremely serious offense that is condemned by all scholarly communities. If it is proved through due process that a student has presented work in whole or in part, without proper citations, which was in fact the work of another person, that student will be dismissed from the University. The student's enrollment will be terminated and all tuition and fees forfeited. If such matters come to light after the awarding of the degree, the degree will be declared invalid and the student's transcript imprinted to reflect that action. Students are directed to consult with their primary mentor in seeking guidance on appropriate referencing of the work of others and citations to published literature wherever due in the preparation of scholarly papers and reports and verbal presentations. To avoid problems concerning academic integrity, students are encouraged to form the habit of maintaining journal notations concerning the salient points of all readings, referencing the source of other people's information. Students are also directed to keep a binder of all bibliographic materials (journal articles chapters and sections of books and other printed and recorded materials) with notations clearly crediting the source of the materials. Students are further advised to purchase the approved style manual (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) and remain under the direction of the primary mentor concerning preparation of publishable quality manuscripts. Return to Top Violations of Honor Code The University is committed to enforcing the provisions of the Honor Code, and will not tolerate instances of plagiarism and cheating. Students' work (unless specifically detailed as cooperative efforts) should be entirely their own. Violations of the Honor Code include, but are not limited to the following: Submitting work that is not wholly the result of one's own labor, research, and thought Claiming as one's own, the works, theories, data, words, arguments, organizational patterns, or views of someone else, without proper consent or acknowledgment Falsifying records, data, observations, or time schedules for the purposes of fulfilling assignments or administrative requirements Attempting to access or tamper with University or instructor records/accounts, or attempting to access the records/account of another student Misuse of the computer resources of the University or falsely associating the University name, affiliation, or domain with unauthorized activities Presentation or receipt of materials, information, or consultation for the purposes offering unauthorized, dishonest, or unprincipled advantage in academic work Using or attempting to use deception, theft, fraud, or unprincipled coordination to gain advantage in academic work Unauthorized use of notes, aids, books, data, or information during closed-book examinations or other such assignments Directly witnessing or observing a violation of the Honor Code by another student and not reporting the incident to University faculty or administration Return to Top Disciplinary Review A student suspected of or accused of violating the Honor Code will be referred to an Honor Council. The Council will consist of, at minimum, the faculty member raising the concern, a faculty member uninvolved with the situation, a senior academic officer(Center Director or University Vice President, who will serve as Council Chair), and two volunteer peer members (current students) selected by the University Administration. Students accused of violating the Honor Code, will be allowed to present the details of their case to the Council to be considered with other issues and evidence. Upon review of all relevant issues, the Council will decide whether a violation has occurred, and if so, what the appropriate action will be. Proposed actions will correlate to the relative weight of the offense. Minor offenses may warrant a warning, a letter or reprimand, or a failing grade on an assignment. Moderate violations may warrant a failing grade in the class or suspension from academic activities. Serious violations, such as plagiarism, may result in dismissal from the University and forfeiture of all tuition and fees. The student will retain the right of appeal to the University President. The President, in weighing the plea for appeal with the recommendations of the Honor Code Council will offer a final binding resolution. When a graduate is suspected of an Honor Code violation, such as plagiarism of thesis/dissertation work, a Council will be convened consisting of the current Center Director, the University President, and the student's former academic advisor or designee. Should the graduate contest the verdict or action, an appeal may be made directly to the University's Board of Directors. The Board, in weighing the plea for appeal with the recommendations of the Honor Council will offer a final binding resolution. The Honor Code works to benefit all students, instructors, and administrators in the University and is based on the mutual trust and respect of those bound by it its principles. Matriculation at the University and the acceptance of the University's Honor Code entitles all students to the presumption of academic honesty, until otherwise proven. This presumption of honorable behavior makes it the responsibility of all students and faculty members to promptly report suspected violations of the Honor Code. Return to Top