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College of Arts and Sciences

Academic Integrity Policy

I. Statement

The Department of Biological Sciences will not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty. Infractions will be appropriately penalized; students should understand that suspension or expulsion from the University is a possible result. This policy will apply to each course offered by the department and be included in the course syllabus.

II. Definitions

“Academic Dishonesty” shall be understood to encompass at least the following:

Cheating — whether on tests or on other course assignments, whether by the giving, receiving or taking of information.

Plagiarism — stealing and/or passing off as one's own the ideas or words of another; using without crediting the source. It includes: (1) copying of text/research/assignments; (2) using someone else's papers/research/assignments without permission and citation; (3) representing as one's own work what is really the work of another person. This includes downloading from WEB sources.

III. Penalties

  1. First offense — Written warning will be issued to the student by the instructor with a copy to the Departmental Chair and to the Dean, and the student will receive zero for the grade associated with the specific test or assignment.
  2. Second offense — The offending student will automatically fail the course. Additional disciplinary action including suspension or dismissal may be taken.
  3. If the Departmental Chair finds that a student who has declared a major in biology or is a graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences has been found to have committed acts of academic dishonesty in other departments, each incident will be considered an offense and subject to the above penalties.
All department or instructor actions resulting from suspected violations of this policy will be taken in accordance with the students' due process rights as outlined in the Student's Handbook. Nothing in this policy statement shall be construed to preclude the department from taking appropriate disciplinary action against forms of academic dishonesty not stipulated here.