I. OVERVIEW
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Academic Honor Code sets
forth the standards of academic honesty and integrity for students at UNCP
and describes attendant faculty responsibilities. Students and faculty
are expected to be familiar with its provisions. This Code defines student
behavior which violates the standards (Section III), and enumerates the
penalties for violations and the circumstances under which such penalties
may be imposed (Section IV).
Section V sets forth the procedures for dealing with cases where a violation of the Academic Honor Code is alleged. Those procedures permit a faculty member to address a student's first violation through discussion with the student. If the student freely admits the offense and accepts the penalty assigned by the faculty member, an agreement settling the matter is signed by both, the faculty member imposes the penalty, and the matter ends (Section V.A.). If UNCP records show that the student has previously committed an Academic Honor Code violation, or if the student decides not to admit guilt or accept the penalty, or if the faculty member believes that the seriousness of the offense warrants a more severe penalty than those which may be imposed in the settlement process, the matter must be referred to the Campus hearing Board (Section V.B.) if any penalty is to be imposed. The Campus Hearing Board hears the evidence from the faculty member and student and determines whether the student did commit a violation. If no violation if found, the matter ends and no penalty may be imposed. If the Campus Hearing Board finds that the student did commit a violation, it determines the appropriate penalty (Section V.C.). A student found guilty may appeal the Campus Hearing Board's decision to the Campus Appeal Board (Section V.D.).
II. STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
Academic honor and integrity are essential to the existence of a university
community. Without maintenance of high standards of honesty, members of
the instructional faculty are defrauded, students are unfairly treated,
and society itself is poorly served. Maintaining the academic standards
of honesty and integrity is ultimately the formal responsibility of the
instructional faculty. To meet their responsibilities when academic dishonesty
is suspected, individual faculty members must follow the policies and procedures
stated in this Code.
Students are also members of the academic community. As responsible members of the University, students are obligated not to violate the basic standards of honor, and they are expected to take an active role in encouraging other members to respect those standards. Should a student suspect a violation of the Academic Honor Code, he/she should make the suspicion known to a member of the faculty or University administration.
Commitment to maintaining and encouraging high standards of academic honesty and integrity is demonstrated in many ways. One manifestation is the policies and procedures governing violation of the standards. Herein contained are the provisions of the UNCP Academic Honor Code.
III. DEFINITIONS OF VIOLATIONS
Definitions and/or examples of violations of the Academic Honor Code
are as follows.
A. CHEATING:
Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information,
notes, study aids or other devices in any academic exercise. This definition
includes unauthorized communication (oral and/or written) or receipt of
such information during an academic exercise.
B. PLAGIARISM:
Intentionally or knowingly presenting the work of another as one's
own (i.e., without proper acknowledgment of the source).
C. FABRICATION AND FALSIFICATION:
Intentional and unauthorized alteration or invention of any information
or citation in an academic exercise. Falsification is a matter of altering
information while fabrication is a matter of inventing or counterfeiting
information for use in any academic exercise.
D. ABUSE OF ACADEMIC MATERIALS:
Intentionally or knowingly destroying, stealing, or making inaccessible
library or other academic material.
E. COMPLICITY IN ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to
commit an act of academic dishonesty.
IV. PENALTIES
All acts of academic dishonesty violate standards essential to the
existence of any academic community. Some first offenses are properly handled
and remedied by the faculty member teaching the specific course in which
they occur. The faculty member must use the settlement procedure described
in Section V to handle such an offense. The penalties which may be assessed
are limited to the following: (a) a formal warning/reprimand, (b) a reduced
grade (including F) for the assignment, (c) a reduced grade (including
F) for the entire course. Whatever the penalty, a signed form regarding
the settlement will be kept for five years (or until the student graduates)
in the Office for Student Affairs. The purpose of this record-keeping is
to be sure students who violate the Academic Honor Code a second time are
dealt with appropriately. A second purpose is to deter students from repeating
offenses.
All second offenses and some first offenses have import beyond the specific course in which the violation occurred. The Campus Hearing Board handles such violations, and the possible penalties are greater. In these cases the Campus Hearing Board may impose any of the penalties listed above (a,b,c) and/or the following: (d) disciplinary suspension from the University for a designated period of time (one semester, one year, etc.); or (e) dismissal from University for an indefinite period of time.
In all determinations of penalty, the following factors should be considered:
V. PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING CASES
A faculty member responsible for assigning final grades in a course
may acquire evidence directly, or through information supplied by others,
that a student violation of the Academic Honor Code may have occurred.
After collecting the evidence available, the faculty member should determine
whether it warrants proceeding to the next level of inquiry.
If the faculty member determines that the evidence is sufficient, he/she should contact the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who will determine from his records whether the student has previously admitted to or been found guilty of an Academic Honor Code violation. If the suspected violation would be a second offense, the faculty member must take the case of the Chairperson of the Campus Hearing Board. If the suspected violation would constitute a first offense but one which the faculty member considers the appropriate penalty to be more severe than an F in the course, the case must be brought to the Chairperson of the Campus Hearing Board. If the faculty member believes, however, that the suspected violation would be remedied by a penalty no greater than F in the course, the settlement procedure may be used to conclude the matter and provide a record (see Section IV. Penalties).
Once a student has received notice that he/she is charged with an Academic Honor Code offense, the student is not permitted to withdraw from the course in order to avoid the appropriate penalty.
A. Settlement Procedure: The faculty member meets with the student and presents the evidence of an Academic Honor Code violation, then request an explanation from the student. After hearing the explanation, if the faculty member determines that a violation has occurred, he/she fills out and signs the approved form distributed to all faculty members, noting the penalty to be applied, and gives the form to the student. The student has three school days to consider and seek advice on whether to admit guilt and accept the penalty by signing the form. If the student agrees to sign, he/she does so in the presence of the faculty member who then implements the penalty. The faculty member forwards the settlement form to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who keeps a record of first offenses for five years (or until the student graduates), and thus the matter is ended. If the student decides not to admit guilt or not accept the penalty, the faculty member must take the case to the Chairperson of the Campus Hearing Board, if any penalty is to be imposed.
B. Campus Hearing Board: The Campus Hearing Board is made up of three faculty members and one administrative member appointed by the Chancellor of the University, and three students appointed by the President of the Student Government Association. The conduct of Hearings is outlined in Article IV, Section C.2 of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Student Constitution.
Where a student is not found in violation of the Academic Honor Code, a written report is prepared and sent to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who will maintain a confidential file of materials related to the case. No part of that file becomes part of the student's disciplinary record. The case is closed, and no penalty may be imposed.
Where a student is found guilty of violating the Academic Honor Code, the Campus Hearing Board determines the appropriate penalty. Both student and faculty may submit evidence and make statements concerning the appropriate sanctions to be imposed. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will supply the Student's previous Academic Honor Code disciplinary record.
At the conclusion of the evidence of the appropriate penalty, the Campus Hearing Board determines the penalty, and prepares a written report to the student and the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who notified the faculty member and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of its contents. If a penalty of a grade of F in the course or less is to be assigned, the faculty member imposes that penalty determined by the Campus Hearing Board and no other penalty. If a greater penalty is deemed appropriate, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs implements the penalty indicated in the report. The student will be notified within five days of the Campus Hearing Board's determination of penalty.
C. Campus Appeal Board
A student found guilty has the right of appeal, and is permitted five school days from the date the student receives notice of the report of the Campus Hearing Board to file a written notice of appeal with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Failure to do so will render the decision on the Campus Hearing Board final and conclusive.
If the request for appeal has been timely filed, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs shall deliver this request as well as materials related to this case to the Campus Appeal Board.
The composition of the Campus Appeal Board and its adjudicatory powers are descried in Article V, Section C.1 of the University Student Constitution. For Academic Honor Code violations and their appeals, the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or his designate will represent the Chancellor of the University.
VI. ADVICE TO THE FACULTY
1. Faculty members should outline their expectations pertaining to
the Academic Honor Code at the beginning of each course. In doing so they
might authorize or prohibit specific forms of student conduct which are
unique to their courses of disciplines. They should refer students to this
Academic Honor Code. It is recommended that the following statement be
included in all course syllabi: Student Academic Honor Code: Students have
the responsibility to know and observe the UNCP Academic Honor Code. This
code forbids cheating, plagiarism, abuse of academic materials, fabrication,
or falsification of information, and complicity in academic dishonesty.
Any special requirements or permission regarding academic honesty in this
course will be provided to the students in writing at the beginning of
the course, and are binding on the students. Academic evaluations in this
course include a judgement that the student's work is free from academic
dishonesty of any type; and grades in this course therefore should be and
will be adversely affected by academic dishonesty. Students who violate
the code can be dismissed from the University. The normal penalty for a
first offense is an F in the course. Students are expected to report cases
of academic dishonesty to the instructor.
2. Faculty members should take preventive measures to avoid cases of
academic dishonesty (e.g., examinations should be carefully protected).