For more information or questions contact Conni Marquez at
(517) 264-7103 or cmarquez@sienaheights.edu.
A. Definition
Academic dishonesty is unethical behavior which in any way violates the standards of scholarly conduct. It includes such behaviors as cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing, submitting the same or essentially the same papers for more than one course without the consent of all instructors concerned, misappropriating library materials, or the destroying of or tampering with computer files. Also included in academic dishonesty is knowingly or intentionally helping another violate any part of this policy.
Plagiarism is the failure to give credit for the use of any material from outside sources, including the Internet. It includes, but is not limited to: verbatim use of a quote without quotation marks and adequate documentation; submission of a paper, prepared by another person, as one’s own work; using the ideas, facts, words, photographs, pictures, graphics, or data of someone else and claiming them as your own; or not documenting ideas, facts, words or data gathered during research.
B. Faculty Responsibilities and Penalties
Faculty must explain dishonesty and plagiarism at the start of each semester and/or state in the syllabus the policies, procedures, and penalties for such behavior. Since academic dishonesty is often more difficult to prove than prevent, each faculty member is encouraged to take every reasonable measure to prevent academic dishonesty from occurring. Faculty are encouraged to explain why academic dishonesty is critical to scholarly endeavor and to provide examples of academic dishonesty that are germane to their classes.
Faculty members who suspect a student of academic dishonesty may settle the case directly with the student. In cases where guilt is substantial or admitted, the instructor may penalize the student in any way deemed appropriate, including the failure of the course. When a student is penalized, the faculty member reports the incident in writing to his/her department chair or site director. A copy of the report will be sent to the appropriate Dean and to the Chief Judicial Officer. If the Dean receives more than one report of academic dishonesty about a specific student, the Dean will review the reports, and in cases of serious offenses, could take steps to suspend the student from the University.
C. Student Responsibility
Students should familiarize themselves with the Siena Heights University Academic Dishonesty Policy, which can be obtained from the instructors. Students are not excused from adherence to the policy even if they have not read it (Instructors may include this policy in their syllabi).
D. Appeal Procedures
- For failure of an assignment or a course, as levied by an instructor. Any appeal by a student must be made in writing to the instructor within five (5) University working days from the time the student is notified that a penalty has been levied against him/her. If the appeal is denied, the student may submit a written petition to the department chair or site director with his/her concerns. The department chair or site director should then consult the faculty member involved before rendering a decision. If the student wishes, he/she may make a final appeal to the appropriate Dean.
- For suspension from the University. A student who is suspended from the University for plagiarism or academic dishonesty may make a written appeal of the suspension to the Academic Review Board within five (5) business days of notification of suspension. The decision of this board regarding the appeal will be final.