Academic Integrity Policy

The policy below delineates several types of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, collusion, and cheating. The policy should be read broadly and is not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms; as new technologies and pedagogies emerge, new specific forms of academic misconduct will also emerge to which the basic principles described below will still apply.

Faculty are encouraged to include information about academic dishonesty on their syllabi and to discuss the topic and their expectations in class; however, lack of knowledge of these definitions does not negate the student’s responsibility for upholding them. Faculty may specify in their course syllabi more rigorous criteria than those identified in this document.

Academic Integrity

The School of Graduate Studies assumes that all students attend Salem State with serious educational intent and expects them to be mature, responsible individuals who will exhibit high standards of honesty and personal conduct in their academic life. All forms of academic dishonesty are considered to be serious offenses against the University community. The University will apply sanctions when student conduct interferes with the University’ s primary responsibility of ensuring its educational objectives. All members of the Salem State academic community have a responsibility to insure that scholastic honesty and academic integrity are safeguarded and maintained. Cheating, plagiarism, and collusion in dishonest activities are unfair, demoralizing, and demeaning to all of us. They diminish the learning experience not only for the perpetrators, but also for the entire community. It is expected that Salem State graduate students will understand and subscribe to the ideal of academic integrity and that they will bear individual responsibility for their work. Materials (written or otherwise) submitted to fulfill academic requirements must represent a student’s own efforts.

Academic Dishonesty

Performing, aiding or inciting any of the actions listed below, in courses or other situations involving academic credits, constitutes academic dishonesty and is an offense subject to disciplinary action.

Cheating
Cheating is the intentional, unauthorized use of information or study guides in any academic activity, regardless of the delivery method of the course. The methods of cheating are varied and well-known. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Copying from others during an evaluative exercise;
Unauthorized use of electronic devices during evaluative exercises;
Sharing answers for a take-home examination or evaluative exercise;
Using notes or other resources not authorized by the instructor;
Taking an examination or completing an evaluative exercise for another student;
Asking or allowing another student to take an examination or complete an evaluative exercise for you;
Tampering with any evaluative exercise after it has been corrected, then returning it for more credit than deserved;
Submitting substantial portions of the same academic work for credit in more than one course, without consulting the second instructor (and the first instructor if the courses are offered concurrently);
Falsifying data or results from research or field work;
All forgery.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is academic theft. It is the use of another’s ideas or words without proper attribution or credit. An author’s work is his/her property and its use must be respected through proper documentation. Plagiarism includes allowing others to do the research and writing of an assigned paper or evaluative exercise (for example, an on line service).

Credit must be given for every direct quotation of any length, when another’s work is paraphrased or summarized in whole or in part in your own words, and when information is not common knowledge.

Collusion
Any student who knowingly or intentionally helps another student to perform any of the above acts of cheating or plagiarism is subject to discipline for academic dishonesty. There is no distinction between those who cheat and plagiarize and those who knowingly facilitate these actions.

Procedures

Discipline for academically-dishonest behavior is exercised on two levels: informal process, which results in a written “Report of Academic Misconduct” and a formal process which results in a “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty.”

I. Informal Process Resulting in “Report of Academic Misconduct”

This option is only available in the case of a first offense and consists of two parts.

First, the professor determines the action to be taken in relationship to the course. The professor of the course has the authority to determine which of the following options to pursue and is encouraged to discuss the situation with the student to resolve the problem. Action must be taken within 15 days of the discovery of the alleged offense.

reprimand,
assignment of additional work,
reexamination,
exclusion from the course,
reduction of the grade for the work and/or the course,
failing grade.

Second, while the faculty member may implement any of the above actions, regardless of the action decided upon, the faculty member must also submit a written report of the action decided upon to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, with a copy to the student and the graduate program coordinator. This report may be withdrawn by the faculty member within 30 days of its filing if circumstances warrant reconsideration.

Within 15 days of receiving the report from the faculty member, the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies will notify the student that a “Report of Academic Misconduct” has been filed. No further action will be taken by any of the parties enumerated above (beyond that taken by the professor) unless an additional “Report of Academic Misconduct” is filed.

The student has the option to challenge the “Report of Academic Misconduct” with a request for a formal hearing . This request must be made in writing and dated within 15 working days of receipt of the “Report of Academic Misconduct” from the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. If the student chooses this option, the process follows the formal process described below.

Should a second charge be filed at a later date, a “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty,” as described below, is mandatory.

II. Formal Process Resulting in “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty”

Circumstances resulting in a formal charge

Under any of the following circumstances a “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty” must be registered and must be followed by formal hearing, as described below:

The faculty member finds that the offense, even though a first offense, is so egregious that a formal process is warranted;
The student challenges the faculty member’s “Report of Academic Misconduct” (if this is the first such charge against that student);
There is a second “Report of Academic Misconduct” against a student, whether by the same instructor or another;
A non-faculty member of the university community files a “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty” against a student.

Process for formal charge

Under normal circumstances, a formal charge must be filed, in writing, with the Office of the Provost and Academic Vice President within fifteen (15) working days after discovery of the alleged offense.

Upon receipt of the written formal charge of academic dishonesty, the Office of the Provost and Academic Vice President or designee shall inform the student in writing that a formal charge has been filed and provide him or her with a copy of this academic integrity policy.

After receiving the written notification of the formal charge, the student has a right to a pre-hearing conference with the Provost and Academic Vice President or designee for the purpose of reviewing the academic integrity policy and the hearing procedures.

The student may choose one of two courses of action at this point.

The student may waive his or her right to a hearing and accept disciplinary action from an administrator designated by the Provost and Academic Vice President. Students who choose to accept disciplinary action from the designated administrator waive the right to appeal the administrator’s decision.
The student may challenge the formal charge in writing, dated within 15 working days of receipt of the “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty”from the Office of the Provost and Academic Vice President or designee. If the student contests the formal charge, an ad hoc hearing committee shall be formed and convened by the Provost and Academic Vice President or designee. The hearing committee shall consist of three (3) faculty members appointed by the Salem Chapter of the MSCA/MTA/NEA, the student representative to the Graduate Education Council, and one (1) administrator appointed by the president of the university.

Students who do not choose to challenge the formal charge within 15 working days waive their right to a hearing and accept disciplinary action as described above.

Formal Hearing Procedures

The Provost and Academic Vice President or designee shall convene the committee and designate a chairperson. No member of the committee shall convene the meeting.
All members of the hearing committee must be present for any proceedings.
The members of the hearing committee will be required to convene in closed session immediately prior to the hearing to review the “Report of Academic Misconduct” or “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty,” the specific charges to be considered, and all supporting papers and/or evidence.
The hearing will not be videotaped or audio taped. The hearing will be recorded by a stenographer.
The student charged will be called before the hearing committee, and the designated chairperson will restate the content of the alleged academic dishonesty charge. The person(s) who originally filed the formal charge (or report of misconduct, if the student is challenging that) may be present. Witnesses for either side are excluded from the hearing room at this time.
Opening statements. The student charged and the person(s) bringing the charges are asked to outline briefly the facts they intend to present during the hearing.
Presentation of witnesses and evidence by person(s) bringing charges. The person(s) bringing the charges present the evidence and, if applicable, call witnesses to support the charges. The student charged and members of the hearing committee may question the person(s) bringing the charges and the witnesses as each finishes his or her testimony.
Presentation of witnesses and evidence by the student charged. The student charged presents his or her evidence and calls witnesses, when applicable, to respond to the charges against him or her. The person(s) bringing the charges and the hearing committee may question the student charged and the witnesses as each finishes his or her testimony. Witnesses may be asked to remain or leave the hearing room as required by the hearing committee.
Closing statements. The student charged and the person(s) bringing the charges are asked to summarize their testimony and highlight any specific information they wish the hearing committee to consider in its deliberation.
Deliberation by hearing committee. All persons other than the hearing committee will leave the hearing room, and the deliberations will begin. If the hearing committee needs more information, it may reconvene the hearing within ten days in order to seek necessary clarification.
In those instances where more than one student is charged with academic dishonesty relating to the same instance of misconduct, the hearing committee may wish to consider the cases at the same time. This action will be taken only with the agreement of the students charged.
Voting on the question of whether to uphold the “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty” will be by secret ballot and approval will require a two-thirds vote of the hearing committee.
All hearing committee members and all individuals present will be bound by confidentiality restrictions.

The student shall be sent written notice within five working days following the hearing informing him/her of any recommendations made as a result of the hearing body’s deliberations, including recommended sanctions, if applicable. Student appeals must be made in writing and submitted to the Provost and Academic Vice President within ten (10) working days after the notification of the imposition of sanctions.

Sanctions
Individuals found guilty of violating Salem State University academic integrity policies as a result of the formal charge of academic dishonesty are subject to any of the following sanctions:

Warning: Written notice to the student that continued or repeated violations of specified policies or regulations may be cause for further disciplinary action.

Suspension: Student will lose his or her status for a specified term or terms.

Dismissal: Student will be expelled and may not return to Salem State University.

Other sanctions: Students may receive other sanctions deemed appropriate by the hearing committee.
Violations of any of the conditions imposed under this section can be cause for further disciplinary action, usually in the form of suspension, or dismissal.
Sanctions are assigned with the intent of maintaining consistency and fairness, and the degree of sanction is primarily correlated with the extent and severity of the violation.

Procedural Safeguards

Students have access to the “Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty,” name of accusers and witnesses, and any written evidence or other pertinent papers, which may be used against them. This information will be available in the Office of Academic Affairs.
Students have the right to have their cases heard with all reasonable promptness. Under normal circumstances, hearings will be conducted within twenty-one (21) calendar working days after the Formal Charge of Academic Dishonesty is received by the Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs. The university receives written notification of the student’s desire to have a formal hearing.
Students will receive written notification of the date, time and place of any hearing at least fifteen (15) working days before the hearing to permit a reasonable amount of time to prepare themselves.
At the same time they receive written notice, students will receive a written statement of charges against them, the source of such charges, and the conduct regulations upon which the charges are based.
Students have the right to an advisor of their choice. Such an advisor may be present at any hearing and may counsel the student charged. The advisor may not address the board on the student’s behalf.
All hearings will be closed to the public and press, and all proceedings will be considered confidential.
Students have the right to a Hearing Committee of impartial members, any member(s) of which may be challenged in writing and replaced.
Students have the right to make a written request for postponement of a hearing. Such a request must be submitted to the Provost and Academic Vice President no later than twenty-four hours prior to the date and time of the hearing.
The burden of proof will rest with those bringing charges against any student, and students will be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The hearing will proceed, whether or not the accused student or students choose to participate.
Written notification of the Hearing Committee’s decision will be mailed within seven (7) calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing.
Except where students have waived the right to a formal hearing, students have the right to appeal the decision of the Hearing Committee within ten (10) working days of the date of receipt of the written decision. Such appeals shall be made in writing and submitted to the Provost and Academic Vice President or designee for adjudication.
All students have the right to continue in their student status until the conclusion of judicial proceedings. However, no degree will be awarded until the matter is resolved.

Maintenance of Disciplinary Records

Disciplinary records will be maintained in the Office of the Provost and Academic Vice President for five years and then destroyed unless it is determined there is good reason to retain the records beyond that date. They will not be released to individuals outside the University except:

a) by the written authorization of both the student involved and the person bringing the charges;

b) under the conditions specified in the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and its Amendments, or

c) if otherwise specified by law.

In order to insure that minor and non-recurring infractions do not negatively impact the student’s academic career beyond Salem State University, all disciplinary records will be reviewed by the Provost and Academic Vice President or designee in order to determine whether the student’s records should be expunged. A student may petition for such review approximately two years from the date the initial sanction was imposed, or upon graduation from the university, whichever comes first. It is fairly common for potential employers, governmental agencies, or other institutions of higher education to solicit information about a student’s conduct while attending Salem State University. If the student has signed a release form accompanying such a solicitation, the designee of the Provost and Academic Vice President will review the disciplinary records file to determine if the student has been found guilty of misconduct. In those cases where the student has such a record the information will be provided to the requesting party.

Conduct by Applicants for Admission

Notwithstanding any provision in this policy to the contrary, admission or readmission may be qualified or denied to any person who, while not enrolled as a student, commits acts which, were he or she enrolled as a student, would be the basis for academic dishonesty proceedings. Admission or readmission may be qualified or denied to any person who, while a student, commits acts which are subject to disciplinary action as described above.