The Academic Honor Policy provides principles and procedures for insuring an academic environment that is free of dishonesty and deceit.  Conduct that is prohibited, guidelines for reporting alleged violations of the Policy, and outcomes associated with violation are included.   The full text of the Policy is contained in the Policies for Students  Manual distributed each year by the University.  Common questions and answers related to the Policy follow.

The Academic Honor Policy at UNCG

The University is a community of scholars whose members must hold themselves responsible to the highest standards in the pursuit of knowledge, criticism, and understanding.  If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty.  Deceit and misrepresentation are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated.

In order to promote the growth and dissemination of knowledge, all members of the University community have special responsibilities to do justice to their subject matter, acknowledge the use of the work of others, and care for all materials that are available for common and public use, such as those in libraries, laboratories, and art galleries.

The University values excellence, but can do so only in an atmosphere of trust and only when each of its members is committed to a life of ethical integrity.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of every member of the University community to obey and support the enforcement of this policy.

What is the Academic Honor Policy?

The Academic Honor Policy (or simply the Policy) was enacted by UNCG faculty to provide the principles and procedures for insuring an academic environment such as that described above.  Every member of the university community is responsible for insuring that academic work and related experiences are conducted in accordance with the terms of the Policy.

The Policy is administered under the authority of an Executive Committee on Academic Integrity.  This Committee, composed of faculty, administrative staff and students, is responsible for providing presiding officers at all hearings, receiving all records of negotiations and assessing penalties for infractions resolved between the faculty member and the student, and deciding whether expulsion or suspension for a set period is to be the penalty for those guilty of a second offense.

 Day to day administration of the Policy is the responsibility of the Administrative Coordinator for Academic Integrity, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.  This officer provides information to faculty and students concerning the Policy and receives all forms dealing with offenses, transmitting them to the Executive Committee for review, retains files on such matters, and receives initial requests for hearings, drawing panels and arranging hearing schedules.

What Conduct is Prohibited?

Following the Policy  for most students requires only the exercise of good judgement and respect for the intellectual property of others as well as the resources of this University.  Faculty play a pivotal role in assisting student understanding of this fact and of the fuller implications of the meaning of the Policy.

The Policy clearly addresses faculty obligations.  Faculty members are responsible for knowing the Academic Honor Policy and for requiring students to submit signed copies of the Honor statement for all major written assignments.  Early in their course, they shall state clearly course requirements and expectations including examination procedures and grading rationale as they relate to the Honor Policy.  Most importantly, faculty members recognize their responsibility to exemplify the values of academic integrity in their own conduct and to convey by example as well as precept their expectation that the Policy shall be followed in all University activities in which they have a part.  Students and faculty are encouraged to discuss the policy  at appropriate times in courses and conferences and on other occasions which lend themselves to such discussion.

The following acts are considered violations of the Policy and are regarded as typical, but not exclusive, examples of the kinds of acts which violate the Policy:

Cheating on an examination, test, quiz, laboratory work report, theme, or any other work submitted by a student to fulfill        course requirements.  Cheating includes unauthorized copying from the work of another student, using notes or other materials not authorized during an examination, giving or receiving information or assistance on work when it is expected that a student will do his/her own work, or engaging in any similar act that violates the concept of academic integrity.

Plagiarism on any paper, report, or other work submitted to fulfill course requirements.  Plagiarism is defined as presenting as one's own that work which is, in whole or in part, the work of another person or persons without giving proper credit to the appropriate source.  This includes submitting work done by another, whether a commercial or noncommercial enterprise, as one's own work.

Falsifying data, research, or reports so that either the process of the product is shown to be different from what actually occurred.  This violation includes falsely reporting having met responsibilities of attendance or participation in practicum, internship, or other types of field work experience.

Submitting work to meet the requirements of one course when it was done, in whole or in part, to meet the requirements of another course.  Exceptions to this provision must be given proper approval by the instructor to whom the work is to be submitted.

Utilizing University materials or resources in such ways that they are damaged or made inaccessible by authorized means to others.
 

How Should You Report Alleged Violations of the Policy?

A faculty member who suspects a violation should request a conference with the student suspected to discuss the accusations.  Following this, if the faculty member and the student reach agreement on the offense and a penalty, the faculty member submits the form reporting the offense and the penalty to the Coordinator?s Office.  If the student does not admit to the offense or either faculty member or student prefer not to enter into the conference, a hearing shall be held.  A request for the hearing shall be made by the faculty member to the Coordinator for Academic Integrity.

What is the Result of Reports?

Faculty/Student Conferences or full hearings before a hearing panel may result in similar penalties.  To aid in the assessment of appropriate penalties for various offenses, particularly in cases when the faculty and student negotiate an agreement concerning the offense, a suggested range of lightest to heaviest penalties is suggested in the Policies for Students.  All first offense penalties for which suspension or expulsion is recommended may be reached only as the result of the hearing committee process.  The recommended penalties apply only to the first offenses.  The second proven or admitted offense requires either suspension or expulsion as recommended by the Executive Committee.

How Can Faculty or Students Obtain Additional Information?

The full text of the Policy is contained in the Policies for Students.  The Student Government Attorney General?s office (260 Elliot Center, 334-5720) is the primary point of consultation and counsel for students in Academic Honor matters.  The Administrative Coordinator for Academic Integrity, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, (Room 141 Mossman Building, 334-5553), can also provide assistance to students and is the primary source of information for faculty.
 
 

Adapted from the Academic Honor Policy in the Policies for Students 1996-97