Academic Integrity Policy for Graduate Students

• INTRODUCTION
• JURISDICTION
• AUTHORITY
• ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES
• DEFINITIONS
• SANCTIONS
• ACADEMIC INTEGRITY VIOLATION REPORTING PROCEDURE
• HEARINGS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
• HEARING APPEAL PROCEDURES
• RECORD KEEPING PROCEDURES
• EXCEPTIONS TO THE POLICY

I. INTRODUCTION

Institutions of higher education are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and truth. In this pursuit, academic honesty is of fundamental importance. Bridgewater State University faculty, students, administrators, and staff all have a responsibility to demonstrate and safeguard academic integrity as one of the university’s most essential institutional values.

When students, faculty, administrators and staff follow and support academic integrity values, teaching and learning can proceed in an environment of trust and respect. When such standards are violated, teaching and learning are impaired. Therefore, the best interests of the university community require that cases of alleged violations of academic integrity be addressed seriously and equitably.

Students are admitted to BSU with the expectation that they will accept and abide by the standards of conduct and scholarship established by the faculty, administration and student governing boards. The university reserves the right to require students to withdraw who do not maintain acceptable academic standing. The university also reserves the right to dismiss, with due process, students who do not meet the requirements of conduct and order or whose behavior is inconsistent with the standards of the university.

II. JURISDICTION

The policy is applicable to any academically related experience involving BSU graduate students whether on or off the campus, including but not limited to, field placements, internships or study abroad.

Please see the undergraduate policy section of the catalog for all information regarding academic integrity and the undergraduate experience.

III. AUTHORITY

The Academic Integrity Policy is one of three formal policies governing student conduct at BSU. This policy is overseen by the Graduate Education Council (for graduate students). The Academic Integrity Policy governs student conduct related to the academic experiences undertaken as an enrolled student of the university and is in effect during all phases of a student’s academic life.

The second formal policy is the Student Code of Conduct which addresses general student conduct, usually excluding academic-related matters or issues and is overseen by the Office of Community Standards (OCS). The Student Code of Conduct details the due process and requirements for student conduct proceedings. If the violation could be handled by the Code of Conduct or the Academic Integrity policy, the OCS Director,  the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and the Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies will confer to determine jurisdiction. The Student Code of Conduct is intended to complement the purposes of the Academic Integrity policy and the graduate or professional proceedings related to colleges, departments or professions.

The third formal policy is the Classroom Conduct Policy which addresses student conduct that occurs in the classroom or other academic environment. This policy prohibits students from engaging in behaviors or activities that causes the disruption of teaching, learning, research or other academic activities.

NOTE: Graduate or professional schools within the university may initiate charges against students for alleged violations of professional standards or ethics as a separate issue or as an extension of alleged Academic Integrity policy or Student Code of Conduct violations. In resolving cases of alleged violations of professional standards or ethics, the colleges and departments are responsible for devising procedures appropriate to their programs and for provision of due process for all students. Double jeopardy is not involved since the student is accountable to separate jurisdictions - i.e., institutional standards of academic integrity, general conduct and/or the ethical standards of the particular profession.

IV. ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES

The Graduate Education Council (GEC) ensures the quality of the graduate educational experience by providing a vehicle for review and oversight of the graduate curriculum and academic policies through rigorous dialogue and evaluation by administrators, faculty, librarians, and students. It is convened to hear cases of academic integrity violations by graduate students.

The Dean of Undergraduate Studies oversees the university-wide implementation of the Academic Integrity Policy. The dean may also advise students and faculty seeking assistance on matters pertaining to the Academic Integrity Policy and its processes.

The Associate Dean in the College of Graduate Studies oversees the implementation of the Academic Integrity policy within the college and works closely with the GEC and Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

The Executive Vice President and Provost receives and considers all appeals of the decisions made by the GEC. Their decision is final.

V. DEFINITIONS

Academic dishonesty is an attempt to misrepresent one’s efforts on any academic assignment or exercise submitted for evaluation.

Academic programs generally provide an explanation of academic integrity to students in their courses. Reiteration of the policy is encouraged. Students are responsible for a basic knowledge of the principles of academic integrity and the procedures for avoiding violations (doing their own work, correct citation of sources, appropriate collaboration with other students and appropriate use of technology, etc.).

Academic dishonesty may be defined as, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism: Presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e., without proper acknowledgment of the source). The sole exception to the requirement of acknowledging sources is when the ideas, information, etc., are common knowledge.

Typical Examples: Submitting as one’s own work that of a “ghost writer,” commercial writing service or AI text or image generator; directly quoting from a source either in hard copy or from the Internet without citation in the text and in the reference list; paraphrasing or summarizing another’s work without citations; using facts, figures, graphs, charts, illustrations, computer code (i.e., source codes, HTML), or mathematical or scientific solutions without correctly citing the source; stealing, destroying, or altering any student academic work used to complete, in part or in whole, assignments in university courses, programs, or sponsored activities; or using all or part of a literary plot, poem, film, musical score or other artistic product without attributing the work to its creator.

• Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use prohibited materials or information in any academic exercise. This definition includes prohibited communication of information during or after an academic exercise.

Typical Examples: Copying from another student’s paper or receiving assistance without the instructor’s permission during a quiz, test or examination; using books, notes, the Internet or other devices (e.g., calculators, human or online translators) without the instructor’s permission; procuring tests or examinations before the scheduled exercise without the instructor’s permission; copying reports, laboratory work, computer programs or files and the like from other students; collaborating on laboratory or computer work without the instructor’s permission and without indication of the nature and extent of the collaboration; using the handheld device of another student to submit electronic answers to a quiz or test; sending or soliciting a substitute to take an examination or to do work that one represents or plans to represent as one’s own; offering bribes for grades, transcripts, or diplomas.

• Fabrication and falsification: Intentional and unauthorized alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic matter. Falsification is a matter of altering information, while fabrication is a matter of inventing or counterfeiting information for use in any academic exercise.

Typical Examples – Fabrication: inventing or counterfeiting data, research results, information or procedures; inventing data or fabricating research procedures to make it appear that the results of one process are actually the results of several processes; counterfeiting a record of internship or practicum experiences.

Typical Examples – Falsification: altering the record of data or experimental procedures or results; altering the record of or reporting false information about practicum or clinical experiences; altering grade reports or other academic records; submitting a false excuse for absence or tardiness in a scheduled academic exercise; altering a returned examination paper and seeking regrading; forging a signature on an academic document.

• Abuse of academic materials: Intentionally or knowingly destroying, stealing, or making inaccessible library or other academic resource material.

Typical Examples: Stealing or destroying library or reference materials needed for common academic assignments; hiding resource materials so others may not use them; destroying computer programs or files needed in academic work; stealing or intentionally destroying another student’s notes or laboratory experiments; receiving assistance in locating or using sources of information in an assignment where such assistance has been forbidden by the instructor. (NOTE: Any alleged abuse of academic materials will be handled by this policy only when the abuse has an impact on students’ academic efforts in a course or experience for which academic credit is awarded.)

• Multiple submissions: The submission of the same work (including oral reports) in more than one course without prior permission of both instructors.

• Complicity in academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to misrepresent their efforts on any academic assignment or exercise submitted for evaluation.

Typical Examples: Knowingly allowing another student to submit one’s academic work as their own work; knowingly allowing another to copy from one’s paper during an examination or test; knowingly distributing test questions or substantive information about the material to be tested before the scheduled exercise; collaborating on academic work knowing that the collaboration will not be reported; taking an examination or test for another student, or signing a false name on an academic exercise; posting class materials on a site such as Course Hero or Chegg without the written permission of the faculty member.

VI. SANCTIONS

The faculty member responsible for teaching the course will determine the initial sanction for an observed academic integrity violation. Generally, the sanction will be based on the level of the course, its content, and the context of the situation in which the violation occurred.

Sanctions given by faculty may include but are not limited to:

• A verbal or written (or emailed) warning
• The assignment of additional course or remedial work
• A grade of “F” or zero for the assignment being evaluated
• A grade of “F”, “No Pass (N)”, or “Unsatisfactory (U)” (as appropriate) in the course

Sanctions administered by the university may include those listed above and:

• Dismissal from degree program, where applicable, with the opportunity to apply to return
• Dismissal from the university, with the opportunity to apply to return
• Permanent dismissal from the university

NOTE: BSU reserves the right to implement any one of the sanctions above even if the student has withdrawn from the course, passed the course, or graduated. Where applicable, a formal written (or emailed) notice will be sent to the Registrar’s Office so that the student’s record can be adjusted.

VII. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY VIOLATION REPORTING PROCEDURE

The following are procedures for reporting a possible violation of the Academic Integrity Policy – in cases where sanctions involve reduction of a student’s grade or additional coursework:

A. NOTIFICATION PROCESS OF POSSIBLE VIOLATION: GRADUATE STUDENTS

1. Within seven calendar days after a faculty member suspects or is informed of a possible academic integrity violation, the faculty member notifies the student of the charge via BSU email. This notification may include a request for a discussion (either face-to-face or by phone) between the faculty member and the student about the alleged violation and its consequences. The department chairperson is copied on this message.
    
2. If a BSU student or other employee (administrator, faculty or staff) suspects a student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy in a course, the alleged violation is to be reported to the faculty member teaching the course or to the department chairperson who oversees that course.
    
3. The student will be given seven calendar days after the date of the faculty member’s email notification in which to respond. The response could be any of the following: a face-to-face meeting, a telephone call, or an exchange of BSU email messages. In the event a student does not respond, the faculty may still report the violation as outlined below. The report will need to include a note about the unsuccessful effort to discuss the matter with the student.

B. FACULTY MEMBER-STUDENT DISCUSSION AND SANCTION PROCESS: GRADUATE

1. The faculty member meets with the student and presents the evidence of an alleged academic integrity violation, and then requests an explanation from the student. (This meeting could also be done by telephone with the evidence shared via email.) Together, the faculty member and student review the class policies, including the Academic Integrity Policy, as well as the chosen sanction for the violation. Next steps can also be discussed.

2.The faculty member and the student may each request that the DGCE Chair or other party from the university (and who is not a relative) be present at this meeting (or on the telephone call) to serve in an advisory role. Invited persons may not participate in the discussion between the faculty member and the student.

3. After hearing the explanation, if the faculty member determines that a violation has occurred, then they can complete the Academic Integrity Policy Violation Report Form and provide all supporting documentation. This report form will be sent to the Associate Dean in the College of Graduate Studies for further processing and to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies for university recordkeeping

4. The student has up to seven calendar days following the meeting or call to consider the faculty member’s violation report and seek advice on whether to contest the findings or accept the sanction.

5. If the graduate student decides to accept the sanction, the student notifies the faculty member by email of the acceptance.
 

6. If the graduate student does not notify the faculty member of a decision, then the sanction will stand.
 

7. If the graduate student decides not to accept the sanction:

a. The student notifies the faculty member and the Associate Dean by email of the decision not to accept the findings or sanction. This notification will serve as a request for a GEC hearing within 30 calendar days.

Student requests for a GEC hearing will be considered on the basis of inappropriate sanctions, violation of due process, procedural error that negatively impacted the outcome of the meeting with the faculty member, or new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of the meeting. The student will submit a written (or emailed) statement addressing the reasons for the appeal and any new information. Note that throughout this policy, all mentions of written materials may be fulfilled through written emails.

b. Based upon the merits of the student’s rationale for non-acceptance, the Associate Dean will decide whether an appeal will proceed to a GEC hearing.
 

VIII. HEARINGS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Graduate Education Council (GEC) hearing process is as follows:

1. The GEC will convene a hearing usually within 21 calendar days during the academic year following notification from the Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Prior to the meeting, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies will compile significant documents related to the case and distribute them to the GEC members, the student, and the faculty member. The documents may be distributed electronically or printed.
    
2. The GEC chairperson will invite the student and the reporting faculty member to present additional information in the scheduled hearing.
    
3. The faculty member and the student may each request that the DGCE Chair or other party from the university (and who is not a relative) be present at this panel hearing to serve in an advisory role. This person may not participate in the panel hearing discussion.
    
4. The hearing will be held even if the faculty member or student cannot or will not attend.
    
5. The GEC will review all documentation related to the academic integrity violation and discuss it in a closed session. All evidence given to the GEC is kept strictly confidential.
    
6. Based upon the evidence received and reviewed, the GEC may decide in favor of further sanctions, no change in sanctions or a reduction in sanctions.
    
7. The GEC will consider any previous infractions only after it concludes its investigation of the presented case. Multiple offenses by the student may have a bearing on the sanctions imposed which may include academic suspension or dismissal.
    
8. The GEC’s decision will be forwarded in writing to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies within three calendar days of the hearing. Any printed materials made available for the hearing will be shredded at the end of the hearing. Digital files will be deleted.
    
9. The Associate Dean will inform the student and the faculty member of the GEC’s decision in writing by email within three calendar days of the hearing. A copy of this letter will be sent to the student’s graduate DGCE Chair and will be saved in the academic integrity violation report record.
    
10. The student and the faculty member will be given seven calendar days from the date of the notification letter to request an appeal in writing. (See below for the appeal process.)

IX. HEARING APPEAL PROCEDURES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Students and faculty have the right to appeal the sanction and/or the decision made by the GEC. The following outlines the steps need to make an appeal:

1. To file an appeal, the student or faculty member must do so in writing to the Executive Vice President and Provost within seven calendar days of the date noted on the GEC’s hearing notification letter.
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2. The appeal letter must clearly state the reason(s) for the appeal. Students or faculty members who appeal the hearing decision must also clearly state their explanation of the academic integrity violation and their academic goals.
    
3. The letter must be sent via email to the Executive Vice President and Provost with a copy to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.
    
4. The Executive Vice President and Provost will review all documentation related to the academic integrity violation and notify the student, faculty member, graduate DGCE Chair (if appropriate), department chair, college dean, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and the chairperson of GEC of the final decision. In the event of a course grade change, suspension or dismissal sanction, the registrar will also be notified. This decision will be sent in writing within seven calendar days upon receipt of the appeal letter.

X. RECORD KEEPING PROCEDURES

All academic integrity violation report forms and related documentation are kept within Maxient, the official university database used for this purpose. All materials will be kept strictly confidential for five years after graduation or last enrollment before destruction in accordance with the Commonwealth record retention policy unless the violation resulted in either academic suspension or dismissal. In these instances, the records will be kept permanently.

XI. EXCEPTIONS TO THE POLICY

1. While every effort will be made to comply with the deadlines established in this policy, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies may extend deadlines for such reasons as semester breaks, illness of one of the parties, or personal emergencies. In such cases, the Associate Dean will notify the student, the faculty member, and the Chair of the GEC by email of changes to the deadline.
    
2. The BSU personnel named in this policy (the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, the Chair of the APC or GEC, etc.) may be replaced by another person to be named by the Executive Vice President and Provost should a conflict of interest, personal emergency, position vacancy, or similar situation arise.
    
3. The meetings mentioned in the above policy, including the GEC hearings and meetings between the student and faculty member, may be held in-person, over the telephone, or virtually.
    
4. Any question of interpretation of this policy should be discussed with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies who, in consultation with the Chair of GEC, will determine the most equitable way of proceeding.