As an institution of higher education rooted in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition, Washington Adventist University is committed to the search for truth - a search that requires careful compliance with the principles of academic integrity in the discovery, clarification and dissemination of all information.
This commitment to truth assumes that each member of the campus community adhere to the highest standards of honesty and integrity in the completion of his or her academic requirements.
The Academic Integrity Policy set forth below describes the responsibilities of students, faculty and the provost. It also defines and gives examples of academic dishonesty, describes the consequences for violations of academic integrity and provides an appeals process. Finally, the policy is intended to be both educational and redemptive.
Students’ Responsibilities
- Be familiar with and uphold the WAU Academic Integrity Policy and the policy of each instructor.
- Take responsibility to protect academic integrity in their own work and in the university community.
- Avoid both dishonest practices and the appearance of dishonesty.
- Make the necessary effort to ensure that their work is not used by others.
- Be prepared to offer verification of work and demonstrate abilities in a monitored setting.
Faculty Responsibilities
- Be familiar with and uphold the WAU Academic Integrity Policy.
- Include, in every course outline, academic integrity policies relating to the particular course.
- Discuss course policies on first day of each class and reaffirm the importance of academic integrity within the educational process.
- File with the provost a written report of all instances of academic dishonesty (as determined by the instructor after informal discussions with student, even if resolved internally within department) with a copy for the student (as more specifically set forth in the procedures).
Provost Responsibilities
- Oversees the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee (as nonvoting member, except to break a tie vote).
- Maintains student files including all Reports of Academic Dishonesty.
- Refers all multiple reports of academic dishonesty to the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee.
- Determines award of “XF” grade and refers all “XF” grades to the Office of the Registrar.
Academic Dishonesty
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following:
CHEATING: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise.
Examples of cheating may include, but are not limited to:
- Sharing answers or collaborating with another student on any academic exercise, unless specifically authorized by the instructor.
- Possessing unauthorized notes, study sheets or other materials during an examination or other academic exercise.
- Tampering with an examination or other academic requirement after it has been corrected, then returning it for more credit.
- Stealing or attempting to steal an assignment or answer key.
- Submitting substantial portions of the same work for credit in more than one course without the knowledge and approval of all instructors involved.
PLAGIARISM: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.
Examples of plagiarism may include, but are not limited to:
- Copying from another source without quotation marks and appropriate documentation.
- Paraphrasing words, ideas or sequence of ideas from another source without appropriate documentation.
- Using material from the internet or other online service without proper documentation.
- Buying or using the whole or any part of a paper from a current or graduated student, research or term paper service, or any other source not representing your own efforts.
FABRICATION: Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
Examples of fabrication include, but are not limited to:
- Changing or attempting to change academic records without proper authority.
- Altering documents after signatures have been obtained.
- Forging of signatures on any document.
- Obtaining unauthorized files or accounts.
- Facilitating academic dishonesty: intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of this code.
- Providing inaccurate information, misleading information or omission of information on a Washington Adventist University application: provision of inaccurate information, misleading information or omission of information on a Washington Adventist University application shall constitute a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.
OTHER: Any other instance that undermines or has the potential to undermine academic integrity.
CONSEQUENCES: Violations of academic integrity may be imposed singularly or in any combination. Possibilities include:
- Reduction in or failing assignment grade.
- Reduction in course grade.
- “XF” grade (see explanation below).
- Academic Suspension from school, including “XF” grade in course (right of appeal in the following semester).
- Academic Dismissal from school, including “XF” grade in course (right of appeal after two semesters).
- Academic Expulsion from school, including “XF” grade in course (no right of appeal).
- Revocation of degree.
PROCEDURES:
- Upon suspicion of academic dishonesty, the instructor shall, within 10 school days after discovery, hold an informal discussion with the student about the incident, try to reach resolution and, if appropriate, recommend a consequence to the student. This meeting should be promptly documented with a memo from the instructor to the student with a copy to the provost and department chair.
- If the student elects to appeal the instructor’s decision, then within 10 days after the instructor’s memo, the student shall meet with the department chair to discuss the incident, try to reach resolution and, if appropriate, the department chair will assign the same or a different consequence. If the teacher and the department chair are the same individual, then this second discussion will take place with another full-time faculty member in the department. This meeting should be promptly documented with a memo from the instructor to the student with a copy to the provost.
- If the student elects to appeal the department’s decision, the student may, within 10 days after the departmental memo, appeal the situation to the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee.
- The Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee shall promptly investigate the facts of the situation and hear formally from the student and the instructor. The student shall be entitled to one guest (which guest may not be a lawyer) at any and all appearances before the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee. If the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee agrees with the fact-findings of the department, it will affirm the departmental decision. If the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee disagrees, in whole or in part, with the fact-findings of the department, the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee may modify the consequence to include any consequence (equal, lesser or greater than that of the department).
- Until a final decision has been reached (whether within the department or by the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee), the student shall remain an active member of the class in which the alleged instance of dishonesty occurred.
In the event the student elects to withdraw from the class, the alleged act of academic dishonesty will be pursued to its conclusion and any final consequence (including assignment of an “XF” grade, suspension, dismissal or expulsion) shall be unaffected by such drop or withdrawal.
XF Grade
The grade of “XF” is intended to denote a failure to accept and exhibit the fundamental value of academic integrity. The “XF” grade shall be recorded on the student’s transcript with the notation “failure due to academic dishonesty.” The “XF” grade shall be treated in the same manner as an “F” for purposes of computing a grade-point average, course repeatability and determination of academic standing.
No students with an “XF” grade on their transcript shall be permitted to run for or hold any office in any student organization or serve as a member of any campus committee.
The student may file a petition with the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee to replace an “XF” grade with an “F.” The decision to approve or deny the petition shall rest solely with the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee, which shall consider the following minimum criteria:
- At the time the petition is received, at least 12 months have lapsed since the “XF” grade was posted or since a prior petition for the same action was denied;
- An essay submitted by the student with the petition adequately explains why the grade should be changed; and
- The student has not been found responsible of any other act of academic dishonesty or similar disciplinary offense at the university or any other institution.
The Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee is not obligated to approve any such petition.
Revocation of Degree
An awarded degree may be revoked for violations of the Academic Integrity Policy of Washington Adventist University that occur before the awarding of the degree, but are discovered after the degree has been awarded, where the violation is sufficient to justify the awarding of an “XF” grade, or the suspension or permanent dismissal of the student.
In all instances, the investigation of a matter of academic integrity after the awarding of a degree shall be conducted by the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee. A revocation of a degree shall be subject to both a two-thirds majority vote of the full membership of the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee and a two-thirds majority vote of a quorum of the faculty meeting.
Academic Grievance Procedure
A grievance is a complaint in writing made to an administrative officer of the university concerning a decision, made by a person or group of persons acting in an official university capacity. Students who intend to file a complaint/grievance for an academic matter must follow the step-by-step process below:
- Students should go first to the teacher involved to discuss the matter. If the informal means of resolution prove unsatisfactory, the student should submit in writing a statement of the decision made, the rationale for disputing the decision, the adverse effects of the decision, and a proposed remedy to resolve the matter. It is at this point that the complaint becomes a formal grievance. If the student is not satisfied with the written response from the faculty in regards to the decisions made, the student may appeal in writing.
- They may next appeal to the chair of the department. If the teacher involved is the department chair, then the chair must appoint another faculty member in the department or a related department to hear the student’s case. If the grievance relates to an SGPS course or program, the student may appeal next to the dean of SGPS.
- If a satisfactory decision has not been reached, the case may be presented in writing to the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee. To request a review by the committee, the formal written request should be submitted to the chair of the committee.
- The student can appeal the decision of the Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee to the provost. The decision of the provost is final.
- Any appeal of a grade must be initiated within the first semester following the awarding of the grade in question.
For grievances of a nonacademic matter, refer to the Student Handbook.
INFORMATION | Fitzroy Thomas | Chair, Academic Appeals and Academic Integrity Committee | fthomas@wau.edu
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