Academic Integrity Policy

Academic integrity requires that each student acknowledges that the work represented in all assignments and all examinations is their own or is properly cited, and that the student has neither given nor received unauthorized information or assistance. Membership in the academic community of Saint Elizabeth University implies a high regard for human dignity and the expectation that ethical conduct be understood and practiced. Consequently, academic integrity is a vital part of the relationship among the University's faculty, administrators, staff and students.

Members of the academic community must recognize their individual responsibility to uphold academic integrity. The University does not tolerate academic dishonesty.

The Academic Integrity policies and procedures set forth below apply to all programs in the University. Some programs or departments may have additional policies on academic integrity and professional behavior as required by their professional accrediting agencies. SEU reserves the right, at any time, to suspend or dismiss a student who does not meet academic and/or ethical standards.

Purpose of Policy

This policy describes the observance of academic integrity among the University's faculty, administrators, staff and students.

The Policy

The University is committed to maintaining academic integrity throughout the University community. Cheating compromises the learning process; provides an unearned advantage; with the intent to deceive an instructor who is assigned to evaluate the student work.

Having academic integrity is important because it offers peace of mind knowing that an individual is doing the right thing, and tries to act consistently with those beliefs. Acting with integrity can reduce unnecessary stress in one’s life, and can make you happier, healthier, and more productive. xThe list of academic integrity violations is not limited to just plagiarism. Academic Integrity violations include, among other actions, the following; cheating in any form, theft of educational materials; purchase or obtaining in any other way a class paper or other assignment and submitting it as one’s own work; the unauthorized use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create a class paper or other assignment; the falsification of data; and illegal production of computer and audio/video software; including using a camera phone, text messaging, instant messaging or any other unauthorized method or communication of any sort, to give or receive assistance on a test or examination without the express permission of the instructor.

Students must abide by all quiz, exam, lock-down browser, and/or proctor instructions per the direction of the course/instructor. Sanctions will be imposed for violations of academic integrity. All faculty have access to plagiarism detection software, which can be used with or without a student’s knowledge in any Saint Elizabeth University course.

The following practices are illegal and/or violations of University policy: (this is not an exhaustive list; there may be additional scenarios not presented below)

• Plagiarizing is the use of the work of another person or group without giving the author(s) credit. Plagiarism includes: using all or part of another student's paper, journal, lab report, computer program or file; buying a paper, or trading goods or services for a paper; and using ideas, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or pages from an article, essay, book, newspaper, magazine, or any other reference source without properly citing that source, either deliberately or through neglect, including the unauthorized use of Large Language Models (LLM)
• Cheating is a form of academic dishonesty in which the person misrepresents their mastery of the course content or clinical experiences. Cheating applies to examinations, labs, written assignment, clinical experiences, online discussions, and any other form of student assessment. Cheating on tests includes:
• Copying answers from another student or using impermissible information on an examination.
• Forging the name of a student or member of the faculty, administration, or staff on exams, projects, or University documents.
• Sabotaging the work of another student by deliberately destroying, harming or altering material or projects.
• Making, receiving or using unauthorized copies of computer or audio/video software.
• Removing institutional copies of computer or audio/video software from the library laboratories, or offices without permission from Instructional Technology.
• Copying all or part of another's computer program, assignment, file, database or audio/video material.
• Using technology to obtain illegal access to another computer.
• Unauthorized use of generative artificial intelligence technology, known as Large Language Models (LLM) such as ChatGPT
• Altering educational versions of software in a manner that violates an existing license or agreement.
• Providing falsified excuses, documents, or other information to excuse late or missed assignments.
• Falsely documenting experiential and/or internship opportunities that did not occur.
• Facilitation of dishonesty is deliberately or carelessly allowing one’s work to be used by other students without prior approval of the instructor or otherwise aiding others in committing violations of academic integrity.
• Violating copyright laws and/or using the work of others via computer or other technological means without express permission and/or clear attribution demonstrates disrespect for the creative work and personal expression of others. Although electronic and/or magnetic information is easily produced, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, trade secret violations, and copyright violations are illegal (1987 EDUCOM and AADAPSO and copyright laws). Most computer and audio/video software is protected by copyright laws. It is incumbent upon the user to be familiar with the license agreement between the editor or publisher and the purchaser.
• Violations of research or professional ethics in this category include both violations of the code of ethics specific to a particular profession and violations of more generally applicable ethical requirements for the acquisition, analysis, and reporting of research data and the preparation and submission of scholarly work for publication. This also include, but is not limited to medical documentation such as charting, patient notes and other clinical records.
• Fabrication is a form of dishonesty by which the person deliberately invents or falsifies information or research findings with the intent to deceive. Falsifying data includes describing experiments that did not take place, presenting results that were deliberately altered, and/or citing data or references that do not exist. This also includes but is not limited to medical documentation such as charting, patient notes and other clinical records.
• Removing books, journals, periodicals, and other resources from the library without authorization is a form of stealing, and it is illegal.
  
   

Consequences of Violations

*These levels are not sequential; a Level One violation does not have to precede a Level Two Violation. For example, an egregious Level One violation may be escalated to a Level Two violation. The severity and repetitive nature of the violations will determine which level and sanction may be applied. The decisions regarding sanctions enacted may be made by applicable administration, faculty and staff.

Level One (I) Violations

A Level One Violation occurs when there is reason to believe that a violation of academic integrity might have resulted from a student's lack of awareness, and is often characterized by a relatively low degree of premeditation or planning on the part of the student committing the violation. The faculty member may address this on a one-to-one basis using discretion in adopting an appropriate course of action, but with the understanding that all Level One Violations must be documented and submitted.
In cases involving repeated occurrences of Level I violations, additional Level I violations may be considered a Level II or Level III violation.

Examples of Level One Violations:

• Improper footnoting and/or use of sources
• Quoting a passage directly without citation such as the unauthorized use of AI, (e.g., chatGPT)
• Paraphrasing without proper attribution
• Unauthorized use of an electronic device during a test or examination.
• Prohibited collaboration with another student on a homework assignment

Recommended Sanction(s): (at the discretion of the Instructor; in consultation with the Dean, Chair or Director of the Program (if appropriate)):

• Redoing the assignment
• Failing the assignment or examination
• Participation in a workshop or seminar on Academic Integrity (via Student Success Center)
• In all instances, the instructor will report the episode utilizing the Navigate system and its resolution to the Director of Retention Initiatives.

Level Two (II) Violations

Level Two Violations are characterized by deliberate action, substantial premeditation or planning and clearly dishonest or malicious intent on the part of the student committing the violation even if this is the first instance.

In cases involving repeated occurrences of Level I, Level II violations may be considered a Level II or Level III violation.

Examples of Level Two Violations:

• Cheating on a test, mid-term, or examination
• Using impermissible material during an examination
• Submitting another’s work as one’s own on an assignment paper, test, lab report, or project of any kind, such as the unauthorized use of AI, (e.g., chatGPT)
• Unauthorized preprogramming of and/or access to devices or learning management systems
• Submission of an assignment purchased from a company. (e.g. term papers, software program, etc.)
• Substantial plagiarism on a major assignment

Recommended Sanctions: (at the discretion of the Instructor; in consultation with the Dean, Chair or Director of the Program (if appropriate))

• Failing the assignment or examination
• Participation in a workshop or seminar on Academic Integrity
• In all instances, the instructor will report the episode utilizing the Navigate system and its resolution to the Director of Retention Initiatives.

Level Three (III) Violations

Level 3 violations are serious breaches of conduct, may involve a serious violation of a professional code of conduct, and may include extreme cases of dishonesty and maliciousness, even if this is the first instance of an academic integrity violation.

In cases involving repeated occurrences of Level I or Level II violations, subsequent Level II violations may be considered a Level III violation

Examples of Level Three Violations

• Theft of an examination or another student’s project
• Forgery of any kind
• Having a substitute take an examination
• Sabotaging another’s work.
• Repeated occurrences of Level I and/or Level II Violations
• Cheating and/or plagiarism on a capstone project, thesis, or dissertation
• Flagrant disregard for academic integrity policy, or egregious violations of the policy
• A serious violation of a professional code of conduct

Recommended Sanctions: (at the discretion of the Instructor; in consultation with the Dean, Chair or Director of the Program (if appropriate)):

• Documentation of the episode utilizing the Navigate system and its resolution to the Director of Retention Initiatives (where applicable).
• A failing grade in the course
• Suspension or dismissal, as determined by the Provost, in consultation with the Dean, Chair or Director of the Program (if appropriate))
  
   

Definition(s)

Academic Honesty is defined as the quality or condition of having or displaying strong moral principles; fair dealing; truthfulness, integrity.

Academic Integrity is important because dishonest behavior undermines learning and the credibility of the University. High standards of academic integrity safeguard one’s reputation, reflects well on the University and contributes to the well-being of society.

Academic assignments exist to help students learn; grades demonstrate a measure of how this goal is attained. Therefore, all work and all grades should result from the student’s own personal understanding and effort.

Academic Integrity Values: Honesty, Trust, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility and Courage. (ICAI, 2013).

Academic misconduct, broadly speaking, is any action which gains, attempts to gain, or assists others in gaining or attempting to gain unfair academic advantage. It includes, among other things, plagiarism, collusion, contract cheating, including purchasing or obtaining in any other way a class paper or other assignment and submitting it as one’s own work and fabrication of data as well as the possession of unauthorized materials during an examination.

Students’ motivation to cheat, whether online or face-to-face, emerges from several factors including:

• Unfamiliarity with what constitutes academic dishonesty

• Lack of understanding about consequences

• Inadequate preparation

• Pressure to raise grades

• The availability of assistance in cheating from peers

• Procrastination or poor time management

• Self-justification habits