Academic Honesty and Integrity: Policy 2.19
The Mission of Blue Mountain Christian University makes it clear that the University exists to contribute to the growth and development of human beings who understand their lives in terms of Christian responsibility and service. Each professor must take precautions to protect the honest student by making every effort to assure conditions of honesty for all course requirements, including examinations and outside assignments. This does not, however, diminish in any way the student’s ultimate responsibility for observing the principles of academic integrity in all aspects of their conduct. In keeping with the high ideals reflected in its mission, Blue Mountain Christian University expects its students to be scrupulously honest. The University’s commitment to honesty and fairness in academics is given expression in this policy.
1. Definition of Terms
A. Cheating
1) Cheating on examinations shall include (but not be limited to): (a) taking answers from another student’s paper or allowing answers to be taken from one’s own paper during an examination or quiz; (b) the use of notes or any other aid not specifically allowed or approved by the instructor; (c) unauthorized access to an un-administered examination or quiz; (d) collaboration on take-home examinations unless specifically approved by the instructor.
2) Cheating on course assignments shall include (but not be limited to): (a) receiving editorial assistance beyond that expressly allowed by the instructor; (b) collaborating with another person in the preparation of any assignment offered for credit when such collaboration is prohibited by the instructor; (c) submitting the same work for credit in more than one course, regardless of whether or not such submission occurs within the same term. An exception may be granted if the student receives written permission in advance from his/her instructor(s).
B. Plagiarism
No student shall submit as his or her own work any term paper, research paper or other academic assignment of original work that in any part is not in fact his/her own work. Knowingly using the ideas of another person and offering them as one’s own original ideas is prohibited by this policy to the same extent as knowingly using the words of another writer and offering them as one’s own original writing.
Numerous opportunities exist for inappropriate copying and use of copyrighted material from cyberspace including materials that extend into other media including audio, video, graphics files, etc. Therefore, the University expects the use of these materials in a way that is consistent with academic integrity in documenting sources and in obtaining permission to use such materials.
Plagiarism is a threat to academic integrity because of the expansion of the Internet. Any time a student downloads content from electronic documents, there is a risk of plagiarism. Because of the importance of academic integrity, Blue Mountain Christian University has subscribed to an internet-based plagiarism detection service. Instructors are encouraged to submit papers to the scrutiny of the plagiarism detection service in order to assist them in guaranteeing academic integrity.
C. Other Academic Misconduct
Other academic misconduct shall include (but not be limited to):
1) Unauthorized access to and/or the alteration of school records, including but not limited to, transcripts, grade books, class rolls, and grade reports. This prohibition extends to all such records of the University, including those which are stored and maintained electronically;
2) Submitting any assignment for credit which is based in part or in total on data which is either fabricated or manufactured;
3) Misrepresenting one’s self for the purpose of taking an examination for another student or allowing such misrepresentation to occur;
4) The forgery, alteration, and/or misuse of University documents, including student identification cards with intent to defraud, deceive, or mislead; and
5) Providing false or misleading information to avoid penalties for unexcused excessive absences in any class or to obtain permission to drop a course without penalty after the established drop date.
2. Implementation of the Policy
Faculty will inform students of behavior appropriate for maintenance of the Blue Mountain Christian University Honesty and Integrity Policy as it pertains to their particular courses and disciplines as indicated in the procedures for this policy.
If a student who is alleged to have cheated, plagiarized, or been involved with other academic misconduct admits to the charge, the faculty member involved shall apply the appropriate penalty and prepare a report on the incident which the student will be asked to read and sign. The faculty member will send the report to his/her department chair who then transmits the report to the Provost. The Provost will determine if additional reporting is needed. In the case of other University personnel suspecting a student of academic misconduct, reporting should be made directly to the Provost who then reports to the appropriate individuals.
3. Appeals Within the Policy
Students accused of violating the Blue Mountain Christian University Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy or who claim the final grade that they received in a course was determined unfairly may appeal. Students may withdraw their appeal at any time. The appeals process is outlined in the procedures to this policy.
Academic Honesty and Integrity Appeals Procedures
I. Procedures for Faculty in Addressing Breaches of the Policy
A. Faculty will inform students of behavior appropriate for maintenance of the Blue Mountain Christian University Honesty and Integrity Policy as it pertains to their particular courses and disciplines.
B. Any faculty member who suspects a violation of the Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy shall assume the responsibility for confronting the violator(s) immediately about the violation. The faculty member must notify the student in writing, including sufficient details to allow the student to respond in his/her own defense. The faculty member may choose from a grade of “0" for the assignment in question to an F in the course.
C. If the faculty member desires additional input from colleagues, he/she may ask the department chair to convene a committee to discuss the situation. If the incident involves students in courses from other department, the chair may convene a committee including members of other departments’ faculties. The committee may then determine the penalty.
D. If the academic dishonesty is of the most serious nature, the committee may refer the case to the Academic Dean’s Council. The Provost/Vice President may then determine the penalty.
II. Penalties for breaches of the Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy
A. First Offense – The professor may choose from a “0” on the assignment to an F in the course. The offense is reported to the Department Chair and the Provost/ Vice President.
B. Second Offense - The second offense in a single class, department, or in the University will result in an F in the course and additional action may be taken by the Provost up to a recommendation the student be dismissed from the University.
C. Third Offense – The third offense in a single class, department, or in the University will automatically receive an F in the course and be turned over to the Chair of the Department and Provost with a recommendation of dismissal from the University.
ACADEMIC APPEALS PROCEDURE
I. Students accused of violating the Blue Mountain Christian University Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy (AHIP) or who claim the final grade that they received in a course was determined unfairly may appeal. Students may withdraw their appeal at any time.
A Appeal of an Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy Violation
A written appeal must be initiated within six class days of the professor's written accusation and must follow the procedure described under number 2 below.
B. Appeal of a Course Grade
A written notice of intent to appeal a final grade in a course must be sent by the student to the professor awarding the grade no later than 30 days from the end of the semester or summer term in which the grade was awarded. The grade appeal process then must be initiated no later than the first twelve class days of the following semester or summer term and follow the procedure described in number 2 below.
II. The appeal process must follow the procedure outlined below. At each step in the process, the decision-making body or person must respond within six class days.
A. The student must discuss the matter privately with the professor in an effort to resolve the problem.
B. If no satisfactory resolution is reached, the student should appeal in writing to the Provost/Vice President.
C. If the Provost determines that the appeal is not frivolous, the Provost may attempt to resolve the problem, or may call a meeting of the Student Appeals Committee (SAP)*. This group will advise the Provost after determining the merits of the appeal.
D. IF THE APPEAL IS DENIED, THEN THERE CAN BE NO FURTHER APPEALS. If the appeal is upheld, the Provost, with possible advice from the Student Appeals Committee, will appoint an ad hoc review committee from within the discipline in which the course is offered. This review committee will evaluate the student’s work and determine a grade that will be submitted to the Provost. This grade will be reported to the professor and to the registrar’s office in a timely fashion.
If the professor against whom the appeal is upheld feels strongly that the newly determined grade is unjustified, the professor may appeal the decision of the ad hoc committee in writing to the Provost and Vice President, who will present the written appeal and brief the President of the University on the situation for the final resolution. After a decision is rendered by the President, there can be no further appeals.
*The Student Appeals Committee is responsible for recommending, by majority decision, either to uphold or to deny the student’s appeal. The student and professor must present evidence in writing supporting their positions. In the case of a grade appeal, the professor must present the written grading procedure for the course under appeal.
Honor System and Honor Code
In addition to the academic program, personal honor and integrity are developed and emphasized at Blue Mountain Christian University. The ultimate goals in student development are intellectual integrity, academic excellence, social consciousness, and Christian character.
Learning to live with others is an important part of a student’s education at Blue Mountain Christian University. The administration realizes the importance of students’ accepting responsibility for their actions and development. To assist in this process, the University has adopted an honor system based on belief in the individual honor and trustworthiness of every student. To make clear just what is expected of each member of the student body, a formal statement of the obligation has been set forth in the honor code. The object of every pro-vision of the honor code is to promote worthy individual conduct and to maintain a satisfactory system of government.
Besides the obligation of each student to keep the regulations and to report his/her own violations, he/she must use his/her influence with other members of the student body for their development as good citizens. Thus, the code is an expression of the Christian spirit.
Each student is expected to accept responsibility to protect the honor system from actions and attitudes which may weaken it. The exercise of this responsibility involves an obligation for fellow students’ relations to the college life. The unchanging obligation is to prevent the occurrence of detrimental actions and attitudes.
BMCU Honor Code
Accepting my responsibility in a Christ-like manner for my own conduct and for the welfare of my fellow students at Blue Mountain Christian University, I do hereby pledge myself: To keep the rules of Blue Mountain Christian University, to report my own violations, and to use my influence to induce other students to keep the rules of the University and to report their own violations.
The Principle of Honor: I will at all times develop and uphold high standards of honesty in thought, speech, and behavior.
The Principle of Self-Control: I will at all times control my personal desires in harmony with the social good of all, considering the interest of others to be of equal value with my own.
The Principle of Conformity: I will work at all times in accordance with the conventions of cultural society and the traditions of Blue Mountain Christian University.
The Principle of Good Citizenship: I will at all times cooperate with the rules and policies of the University.
The Honor System is one of many ways students learn to live the disciplined life of a Christian. Blue Mountain Christian University is exciting and challenging, but it’s not for everyone.