Academic Misconduct
The College of Idaho maintains that academic honesty and integrity are essential values in the educational process. Operating under an Honor Code philosophy, the College expects conduct rooted in honesty, integrity, and understanding, allowing members of a diverse student body to live together and interact and learn from one another in ways that protect both personal freedom and community standards. Violations of academic honesty are addressed primarily by the instructor and may be referred to the Student Judicial Board.
Violations
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
- Cheating on exams or assignments;
- Plagiarism;
- Ghost writing;
- Buying or using a term paper, exam, or project that was not composed by the student turning it in;
- Use of unauthorized notes or information during an exam;
- Taking an exam for another student;
- Collaboration on take-home exams when it has been forbidden; or
- Furnishing false or misleading information on any official College form or the College website.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of another's product, words, ideas, or data as one's own work. When a student submits work for credit that includes the product, words, ideas, or data of others, the source must be acknowledged by the use of complete, accurate, and specific references, such as footnotes. By placing one's name on work submitted for credit, the student certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgments. A student will be charged with plagiarism if there is not an acknowledgment of indebtedness. Acknowledgment must be made whenever:
- One quotes another person's actual words or replicates part of another's product.
- One uses another person's ideas, opinions, work, data, or theories, even if they are completely paraphrased in one's own words.
- One borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials, unless the information is common knowledge (already published in at least three other sources without citation).
Penalties
The burden of proof of student academic dishonesty or misconduct lies with the professor; the imposition of penalties is also the responsibility of the professor. Professors have the discretion to require that the student repeat the assignment or exam, or may give a failing grade for the assignment, exam, or course, or may otherwise deal with the academic dishonesty in a manner in which they determine to be appropriate within the context of their course. Before determining an appropriate disposition of the situation, the faculty member is encouraged to consult with the Provost to see if there are other instances of academic dishonesty by the student on file in the Provost's records.
In any instance, the student has the right to appeal the professor's accusation and penalty by invoking the Grade Mediation Policy.
In the case of repeated or more serious violations of academic honesty, the professor or department chair may also recommend to the Dean of Students and the Provost that the student be referred to the Student Judicial Board. The Student Judicial Board will hear the case, and will make a recommendation back to the Dean of Students and the Provost about any further disciplinary action, including possible suspension or expulsion.