Niagara University Academic Integrity Policy

1. Welcome! Niagara University Academic Integrity Policy

2. USE THE SYSTEM! • AIB system protects the integrity of the University and the faculty; • Not using the system: • Makes it difficult to uncover students with multiple violations; • Undermines the University’s mission; • Undermines the University’s reputation; • Makes it difficult to support faculty if a dispute arises with a student; • Potentially impedes student’s rights and access to review of faculty actions.

3. Define Your Policies • Place Academic Integrity Policies in Your Syllabi • AI policies begin in the class with the professor • Strong Syllabus policies: • Limit frequency of student violations; • Place faculty in strong position to sanction violators; • Place faculty in strong position if an appeal is made to the AIB; • Some Examples

4. Syllabus Policy Examples • Using content of other assignments for this course:Students who want to recycle the content or part of the content of a previous academic assignment from a social work or another University course will need to discuss this with the instructor. The instructor might consult about the work with colleagues and then will provide guidance and determine permission criteria for how the material may be used in the current course. • The Social Work Program cannot permit students to “recycle” previous work without permission from the instructor. Therefore, an alleged incident of unauthorized recycling is reason for the student(s) to be penalized and potentially reviewed by the Niagara University Academic Integrity Board. The typical penalty will be a grade of zero for the assignment and any natural consequence that result from receiving a zero (e.g. lower class average, need to repeat the course if the assignment is one of the four skills workbook assignments) • Plagiarism: Two types of students plagiarize: (1) Students who do not know the meaning of plagiarism; (2) Students who intentionally use another person’s work without giving appropriate credit to the author. The Social Work Program cannot permit either type of student to continue in the program. Therefore, an alleged incident of plagiarism is reason for the student(s) to be to be penalized and potentially reviewed by the Niagara University Academic Integrity Board. • In general, students found to have plagiarized will receive a grade of zero for that assignment and will not be allowed to redo the assignment. • Plagiarism and what it means are extensively covered in WRT100, SWK211, in the Social Work Handbook, and the NU Student Undergraduate Catalogue under “Academic Dishonesty.” However, if you still have any questions, please ask the instructor.

5. Example One Continued • Academic Dishonesty: There are many types of academic dishonesty. Students are expected to have read the Niagara University Academic Integrity Policy and to be aware of what constitutes academic dishonesty. Class discussions will also clarify what behaviors and actions are considered academically dishonest. • In general, students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty in any form will receive a grade of zero for that assignment and will not be allowed to redo the assignment. • Penalties for academic Dishonesty:Typically a violation of the Niagara University Academic Integrity policy will result in a grade of zero for the assignment and the student will not be allowed to redo the assignment. The instructor reserves the right to issue harsher penalties (including failure of the entire course) for violations that he considers to be particularly egregious. • Syllabus Policy: This syllabus is a guideline. It is subject to changes and adjustments. The syllabus may be altered by the instructor to meet the needs of individual students and events that occur during the semester.

6. Another Example • Policy Statement on Cheating and Plagiarism • Jeanne Phoenix Laurel, Ph.D. • The mission of the English Department of Niagara University is to prepare students to use language-based critical thinking skills as a powerful tool in their public and private lives. Students develop and practice these skills by reading, analyzing, and critiquing, both in oral and written formats, a wide variety of texts. • However, students cannot develop such skills if they engage in practices which allow them to avoid thinking and reasoning about assigned coursework on their own. In order to assure that the work of all students is graded fairly, and that grades reflect actual skills and development, I ask that you review this statement about cheating and plagiarism carefully.

7. Example Two continued • I. Definition of Cheating • Cheating can occur in different forms. Items below suggest the kinds of behavior which are considered cheating, but this is not a comprehensive list. Students who are not sure whether their behavior would be considered cheating should consult me. • Observing and/or copying material from another student’s paper during a quiz or test • Observing and/or copying material from another student’s paper during a take-home writing assignment • Obtaining, sharing, being in possession of, or receiving copies or other revealing information about a quiz or test, in advance of the date such quiz or test is administered, and without the instructor’s consent • Changing or forging assigned grades on written documents such as a student’s own paper, in an instructor’s grade book, in an electronic transmission, or on grade reports submitted by an instructor to the university registrar • Submitting a paper containing identical or substantially identical material in fulfillment of two separate assignments, in two different classes, whether to the same instructor or not, whether during the same semester or not, whether at the same school or not • Assisting any other student in cheating, whether by actively writing a paper for another student, or by passively leaving papers or drafts unguarded with the deliberate intent that another student shall use them

8. Example Two continued • II. Definition of Plagiarism • Plagiarism is “the presentation of ideas, words, and opinions of someone else as one’s own work,” according to the Niagara University Student Handbook statement on academic integrity. English department classes are conducted with the expectation that students will learn how to avoid plagiarism in their freshman coursework, and that students in classes above freshman level have mastered the mechanics of attributing words and ideas to another author. Therefore, detailed information on ways to avoid plagiarism will not be presented as a routine part of each and every class above freshman level. Students who do not understand ways to avoid plagiarism should talk with me. • Items below suggest the kinds of behavior which are considered plagiarism, but this is not a comprehensive list. • Including (copying) the exact words of another writer in a student’s paper, without using proper formatting to show that the words are not the student’s own invention • Including nearly-exact words of another writer in a student’s paper, where a few words have been changed within a sentence or grammatical phrase, without using proper formatting to show that the words are not the student’s own invention • Including the ideas or opinions of another writer or speaker in a student’s paper, whether or not that writer or speaker’s own word choices are copied • Purchasing materials from any source, including but not limited to the internet, in order to fulfill in whole or in part a coursework assignment, without using proper formatting to show that the words or ideas are not the student’s own invention • Obtaining free materials from any individual, corporate, or nonprofit source, including but not limited to the internet, in order to fulfill in whole or in part a coursework assignment, without using proper formatting to show that the words or ideas are not the student’s own invention

9. Faculty Penalties • Define Your Penalties and Be Consistent! • Involve your department when possible • Penalty Example • III. Penalties for Cheating and Plagiarism • The procedure for assigning penalties for cheating and plagiarism shall follow the Niagara University Student Handbook statement on academic integrity. If any changes in the Student Handbook statement are made which affect a particular instance of cheating or plagiarism, then the version of the Student Handbook for the academic year in which the instance takes place shall take precedence. • Students are responsible for reading and understanding the Student Handbook statement on academic integrity, since this statement of the policy specifies their rights and responsibilities in this area. • Students who are enrolled in English Department courses should also note that I reserve the right to determine penalties based on information available to me through the department, the college, or the university concerning all instances of cheating or plagiarism that have been documented. In other words, if I know of or find out about documented instances recorded in other classes, by other instructors, in other departments, or at other colleges or universities, I will assign more stringent penalties than I would otherwise. • If you cheat, the minimum consequences will include: • You will receive an “F” for the assignment on which you cheat, without any opportunity to re-do or re-write the assignment for replacement credit. • I will lower your final grade by one full letter grade. For example, if you were earning a “C” (includ­ing the “F” for the assignment on which you cheated), your final grade will be a “D.” • I will provide a detailed written report of your actions to the chairperson of my department, the chairperson of your major department, and your dean. This report may become part of your permanent record with those officials.

10. Academic Integrity Board • Access from MyNU • Left Hand Side, Near Top • USE THE AIB REPORTING SYSTEM! • Log into the AIB web site and report each incident using the system • Keep copies • Keep notes! • Did you meet with the student? • What explanation did the student offer?

11. APPEALS • If you penalize a student, the student can appeal to the AIB • Two violations by the same student trigger an automatic AIB Hearing • If you don’t use the AIB Reporting System we may not know of all of the incidents involving a specific student

12. Conclusion • Know the AIP and reporting system • Have a class policy in your syllabus • Don’t be so rigid that you get stuck enforcing penalties that don’t fit • Don’t be so loose that you are inconsistent • Assume that the student will appeal • Be prepared to substantiate your findings and penalties • When in doubt, give me a call or email • blairkd@niagara.edu