Graduate School Academic Misconduct Policy

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATING TO ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT OF GRADUATE STUDENTS
DECEMBER 2010


NOTE: The policies and procedures outlined in this document are to be applied to allegations of academic misconduct by graduate students. Allegations of academic misconduct on the part of undergraduate students should be referred to the Associate Dean of the college in which the alleged infraction occurred. Research misconduct, which is generally an instance of academic misconduct, is also governed by the policies of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. That policy can be found at http://www.utulsa.edu/research/Office-of-Research-and-Sponsored-Programs/Research-Integrity-Compliance-and-Certification/Research-Misconduct.aspx.

I. PURPOSE

In keeping with the intellectual ideals and educational mission of the University of Tulsa, all members of the University of Tulsa community are expected to maintain their intellectual integrity at all times and to adhere to all academic policies. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty violate both individual honor and the life of the community. The purpose of this document is to encourage members of the academic community to conduct themselves responsibly toward one another, to ensure that complaints of academic misconduct are treated fairly and in a timely fashion, and to maintain the high standards of conduct required at The University of Tulsa.

II. POLICY

A. This policy prohibits any form of inappropriate conduct that constitutes academic misconduct and applies to all participants in graduate level academic courses or programs offered by The University of Tulsa.
B. The Graduate School and the University of Tulsa will take appropriate actions to prevent, correct, and discipline conduct that violates this policy.
C. This policy shall not preclude faculty, academic administrators, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs or a college from proceeding summarily in appropriate cases.
D. This policy does not preclude anyone from pursuing complaints with any external agency or other entity, such as other institutions when a student participates in an internship, field placement, academic course or program at such institution; when criminal or civil laws may have been violated; and other appropriate situations.

III. DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

A. Academic misconduct includes any conduct pertaining to academic courses or programs that evidences fraud, deceit, dishonesty, an intent to obtain an unfair advantage over other students, or violation of the academic standards and policies of the university. It includes, but is not limited to, plagiarizing1; cheating2 or otherwise violating the procedures for tests and examinations; turning in counterfeit reports3, tests, papers or other work; stealing4 tests or other academic material; falsifying academic records or documents5; turning in the same work to more than one instructor6 without informing the instructors involved; vandalism, unauthorized or inappropriate use of data files or equipment; violation of proprietary agreements, theft or tampering with the programs and data of other users; or assisting others in such activities.

IV. PROMPT ATTENTION

A. All credible accusations of academic misconduct will be taken seriously and will be investigated promptly, thoroughly and fairly.
B. NOTIFICATION BY INSTRUCTOR TO THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. All instructors shall notify, in writing and/or email, the Associate Dean of the Graduate School promptly upon learning, directly or indirectly, about any case of academic misconduct, even in cases where the instructor intends to investigate and address a complaint directly.

V. PROCEDURES

A. INITIATING A COMPLAINT. A complaint may be initiated by an instructor, administrator, staff member, student or anyone else who has reason to believe that academic misconduct has occurred.
B. ACTION BY AN INSTRUCTOR. An instructor may investigate and address any complaint of academic misconduct in the instructor's course or program.

  1. In lieu of addressing a complaint directly, an instructor may choose to refer a complaint to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
  2. A decision by an instructor shall be final and binding when the instructor has notified the student in writing and/or email of that decision. (See Section VII, APPEALS)

C. ACTION BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. The Graduate School may initiate or pursue any case of academic misconduct in order to enforce academic policies and to maintain the academic integrity of the university.

  1. Even when sanctions have been imposed by an instructor for a particular case of academic misconduct, additional sanctions may be pursued by the Graduate School in appropriate cases, such as when a student has committed academic misconduct previously or when the academic misconduct is serious enough to warrant additional sanctions.
  2. A decision by the Graduate School shall be binding when the Graduate School has notified the student in writing of that decision. (See Section VII, APPEALS)

VI. SANCTIONS

A. SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY INSTRUCTOR. An instructor may impose sanctions for academic misconduct that include, but are not limited to, oral and/or written reprimand, counseling, reduced or failing grades for specific assignments or the entire course or program, additional assignments or requirements relating to the course or program, or any combination thereof.
B. SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. In addition to any sanctions imposed by an instructor, the Graduate School may impose sanctions for academic misconduct that include, but are not limited to, oral and/or written reprimand, counseling, reduced or failing grades for a course or program, suspension, probation, termination of assistantships and fellowships, dismissal, notations on a student's official records and transcript, revocation of academic honors or degrees, and any other appropriate sanction or combination thereof.

VII. APPEALS

A. APPEAL TO THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF DECISION OF AN INSTRUCTOR

  1. A student who believes that a decision made by an instructor is unjust may appeal on that ground in writing to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
  2. An appeal must be submitted within 30 days after the student is notified of the final decision of an instructor.
  3. A decision by the Graduate School shall be binding when the student is notified in writing and/or email of that decision.

B. APPEAL TO THE COMMITTEE FOR PETITIONS OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL (see also the Graduate Bulletin)

  1. A student who believes that the decision made by the Graduate School is unjust may appeal on that ground in writing to the Graduate School.
  2. An appeal to the Committee must be submitted within 30 days after the final decision of the Graduate School.
  3. The Committee includes at least one graduate faculty member from each college offering graduate study. The Dean of the Graduate School designates the chair.
  4. Appeals must be in writing and should include all facts and circumstances that have any bearing on the case, together with all relevant documents, evidence, and names of witnesses.
  5. A petitioner shall have the right to request a hearing before the Committee.
  6. The Committee shall have the right to conduct a hearing, to request additional information, and to receive and give such weight to evidence as the Committee sees fit.
  7. A student has the right to present personal testimony and evidence and to have the assistance of a friend or other advisor of his or her choosing in the appeal proceedings.
    Those providing assistance to the student may only offer advice to the appellant. Advisors & advocates do not otherwise participate in the proceedings.
  8. The Committee conveys its findings and recommendations in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School. The petitioner and any accused person may see the final report and may write a response to be kept with the final report.
  9. The Dean of the Graduate School will make a final decision in the case.
  10. A decision by the Graduate School shall be binding when the student is notified in writing and/or email of that decision.
  11. Written materials associated with these decisions will be preserved for a period of at least 10 years.

C. FINAL APPEAL TO THE PROVOST

  1. In the unusual circumstance that the student can make a case that the concept of fundamental fairness has been violated in the appeal process itself, a final appeal may be made to the Provost, who may either consider it or decline to do so depending on the Provost's assessment of the evidence presented. In all such cases, student appeals on academic issues will be final when a decision is rendered by the provost.

ENDNOTES:

1. "Plagiarism" includes presenting as one's own efforts the work of someone else without proper acknowledgment of that source. Paraphrasing where the basic sentence structure, phraseology and unique language remain the same is also plagiarism. The failure to acknowledge unique, unusual, or new ideas or facts not the product of the student's investigation or creativity is also plagiarism. When in doubt regarding these matters, it is the student's responsibility to seek guidance from the instructor of the course or program.

2. "Cheating" includes the use of aids or assistance not allowed in the quiz or testing procedure. The use of notes, charts, books, and mechanical devices not specifically allowed in writing by the examiner constitutes cheating. Visually, verbally or electronically receiving or giving information not allowed in writing by the examiner constitutes cheating.

3. "Counterfeit work" includes work turned in as one's own that was created, researched or produced by someone else and in a manner not allowed in writing by the instructor. Turning in a report of another's research, submitting a paper researched or written by someone else, having someone else take a test, taking a test for someone else, and submitting joint projects as if they were solely one's own are all forms of counterfeit work. Assisting in the production of counterfeit work may also constitute academic misconduct.

4. "Stealing" includes the theft, use or circulation of a quiz, testing procedure or answers specifically prepared for a given course and as yet not used or publicly released by the instructor of a course.

5. "Falsifying" includes knowingly and improperly changing grades on transcripts, grade sheets, class work reports, tests, projects, and related documents; knowingly falsifying documents related to the meeting of academic requirements or academic achievements; and procuring materials that have been falsified.

6. "Instructor" includes members of the faculty, teaching assistants, laboratory assistants, or others who function as teachers or supervisors in connection with academic work.