Academic Integrity

Purpose:

To uphold the academic integrity of the academic programs and courses at the institution and foster a high sense of honesty and social responsibility on the part of the college community.

Definitions:

Advisor: Any one person designated by the accused student to support the student through the conduct process. This person can include, but is not limited to a parent, friend, college faculty or staff member, or attorney (at the student's own expense).

Artificial intelligence (AI): Any software or technology that can perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as learning, decision-making, problem-solving, or composition. Students should only use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in consultation with and/or at the approval of class faculty. Additional usage of AI tools should be discussed with the instructor when applicable.

Academic Dishonesty: This is when a student intentionally engages in deceptive conduct to gain an unfair advantage in their academic work.

Cheating: The intentional use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. Examples may include but are not limited to the following:

• using another person's work and then submitting as one's own work
• allowing another to take an examination in one's name
• having work to be graded that has been completed by a second party
• submitting identical or similar papers in more than one course without obtaining permission from the instructors of all the courses involved
• copying or using notes, examinations, or other instructional material during examinations, tests, or quizzes
• purchasing all or part of examinations, papers, or other assignments
• altering or falsifying examination results after they have been evaluated by the faculty member and returned to the student

Facilitating academic dishonesty: The intentional or knowing help or attempt to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty or seeking unauthorized answers for assignments, quizzes, or tests. Examples may include but are not limited to the following:

• obtaining, using, or possessing unauthorized copies of an examination or any written work to be graded or receiving unauthorized information regarding examinations
• writing, without authorization, the answer to an exam question outside class and submitting that answer as part of an in-class exam
• completing, in whole or part, an examination or project in the name of someone else
• permitting another student to copy one's work during an examination, test, or quiz
• permitting another student to copy one's written work whenever the work is to receive a grade
• illicitly collaborating with another individual or individuals in the completion of course assignments
• taking an examination for someone else
• giving test questions or answers to anyone else
• writing all or part of a paper/assignment for another student
• selling all or part of examinations, papers, or other assignments

Plagiarism: The intentional or unintentional presentation as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source without properly citing the source of the material. Examples may include but are not limited to the following:

• unauthorized use of AI tools
• duplicating an author's work (in part or whole) without quotation marks and/or accurate citations
• duplicating an author's words or phrases or ideas with accurate citations, but without quotation marks as necessary
• using an author's idea(s) in paraphrase without accurate citation(s)
• submitting, without quotation marks, an essay or written work to be graded in which exact words are merely rearranged even though cited

Data Misrepresentation: Fabricating data; deliberately presenting assignment data that were not gathered in accordance with assigned guidelines or are deliberately fabricated; or providing an inaccurate account of the method by which the data were gathered and generated. Examples may include but are not limited to the following:

• falsifying lab results
• inventing survey responses
• misrepresenting experimental methods or data

Formal Hearing: A process that is initiated when no resolution is achieved at the informal process level, or a student has previously violated this policy, a formal hearing committee will be composed to review the case.

Formal Hearing Committee: A committee composed of three (3) members within the college community - one (1) teaching faculty from a similar discipline to the academic integrity case, one (1) staff member from Student Affairs, and one (1) student, who may be a student leader from any recognized student organization or a student trained to hear academic integrity cases.

Informal Process: A process in which the faculty member for the course in which the alleged academic integrity is suspected, will meet with the student to discuss the allegations and determine if the matter can be resolved between the faculty member and the student.

Interim Incomplete (I) Grade: An incomplete grade on the transcript to be used as a placeholder while a case is being adjudicated.

Policy:

Reynolds Community College is committed to ensuring that the integrity of all academic programs and community members is not violated. As such, students are expected to conduct themselves in an honorable manner in all academic work. Students suspected of violating this policy shall be addressed in accordance with the provisions of this policy.

1. Student rights

   Under this policy, students have the right to:

   1. Receive notice of alleged violation(s) in writing;

   2. Review all relevant materials or information that led to the suspicion of an alleged violation;

   3. A pre-hearing meeting that will occur if the matter is not able to be resolved during the informal process, with the dean of the academic school and the dean of students to review processes and materials.

   4. An impartial hearing where the student is able to present information in their defense, unless that right is waived by the student.

   5. Witnesses to speak on behalf of the student regarding a case. The student is responsible for informing the faculty member (for informal processes) or the Dean of Students Office (for formal hearings) of potential witnesses for approval.

   6. Have one (1) advisor accompany the student in a formal hearing to support the student through the process. Advisors may not participate in the hearing by asking questions or cross-examining witnesses, but instead are silent observers.

   7. Appeal a decision as prescribed in the Appeals section of the Procedures for Reynolds Policy 2-07, Academic Integrity;

   8. Continue in the course in question throughout the entire process;

   9. Waive the right to a formal hearing. By waiving the right to a formal hearing, the student accepts responsibility for the alleged acts, accepts the sanction that shall be issued, and relinquishes the right to an appeal. Waiver of rights may be submitted in writing by the student. A failure to respond to charges shall be considered a waiver of rights.

2. Other provisions

   1. A drop or withdrawal from a course by a student where alleged academic misconduct occurs does not prevent a student from being held responsible under this policy.

   2. Faculty members and students are strongly encouraged to meet face-to-face during the informal process. However, in instances where face-to-face meetings are impractical (e.g., an online student or faculty member living a considerable distance from the college), then alternative methods may be utilized to facilitate the hearing. These methods may include video conference or video streaming.

   3. Faculty members are to provide notice of the allegations within ten (10) business days of discovering the possible violation. However, if suspicion of a violation occurs at the end of a term and grades are due, the faculty member should request an interim incomplete (I) grade until the matter is resolved.

   4. In instances where a suspected student has been previously found responsible for violating this policy, the student shall automatically receive a formal hearing.

   5. In instances where grade changes are warranted, procedures outlined in Reynolds Policy 2-06, Grades Plan, shall be followed.

   6. In instances where a faculty member is not available to facilitate a meeting (e.g., no longer employed by the college, sick, etc.), the supervising dean (or their associate dean) may elect to serve on behalf of the faculty member. Where these instances are anticipated, faculty members are strongly encouraged to provide their supervising dean with all relevant materials.

   7. Allegations of academic dishonesty occurring in administrative support areas such as the testing centers or academic support centers shall be referred to the faculty for whom the test(s) or assignment(s) belongs. The staff member who refers the information on the incident shall take measures to identify the student and document the incident.

   8. Allegations of academic dishonesty occurring during the placement process shall be initiated by the testing center where the alleged incident occurred. Any formal hearing shall be handled by the Dean of Students Office, or designee, in accordance with the following procedures.

   9. All matters shall be handled in accordance with Reynolds Policy 1-26, Student Privacy and Release of Student Information.

Procedures:

Procedure for Reynolds Policy 2-07, Academic Integrity

Other Information:

Reynolds Policy 1-26, Student Privacy and Release of Student Information

Reynolds Policy 2-06, Grades Plan

Reynolds Policy 4-38, Record Retention and Disposition

JSRCC Form 75-0020, Academic Dishonesty Report

JSRCC Form 75-0021, Notification of Alleged Academic Dishonesty