Academic Honesty Violations and Penalties
Academic Honesty Violations include but are not limited to the following examples:
Cheating
- The presence of “cheat sheets” during an exam, test, or quiz
- Programming a calculator or other electronic device with information for an exam, test, or quiz
- Writing information on one’s person or clothing
- Unauthorized collaboration with another student to share information in an exam or testing setting or during completion of a take-home assignment
- Glancing at another student’s paper during an exam, test, or quiz
- Conversations during a testing setting
- Soliciting information regarding an exam or test from another student
- Obtaining an examination prior to its administration
Plagiarism
- Submitting all or portions of a piece of written work using someone else’s words or ideas (including material from an Internet site, material printed in a book or periodical, or another student’s work) without appropriate or adequate use or quotation marks or citation
- Use of a source in a paper or presentation—using exact words or paraphrase—without citation
- Citation not correct or complete despite acknowledged use of a source
- Paraphrase that is too close to the wording in the original source
Information falsification or fabrication
- Falsification of research data
- False information regarding the time or date work was submitted, the fact of work having been submitted, or the reasons for missing an assignment or class meeting
- False information regarding another student
Theft or destruction of intellectual property
- Taking the work of another student without permission
- Taking the course materials from an instructor without permission
- Defacing or taking without permission academic materials including library resources, computer software, or laboratory materials
- Hindering other students, faculty, or staff from the use or access to Library or other academic materials
Facilitation of academic dishonesty
- Giving materials such as test or papers to another student without the professor's permission
- Helping another student obtain materials for cheating or plagiarism
- Discussing an exam or test with a student who has yet to take it without the professor’s permission
This list is not exhaustive. Students should speak with a faculty member if they have any questions.
Penalties
For the first violation of Cabrini’s Honesty Policy, the faculty member will determine the appropriate penalty using guidelines set forth by Cabrini University.
- A student found by a faculty member to have two violations in the same course will fail the course without the privilege of withdrawal.
- For a second or subsequent violation during a student's academic career at Cabrini University, the Academic Honesty Board shall conduct a hearing.
Students have the right to request an Academic Honesty Board hearing to challenge the charge of violating the Academic Honesty Policy. If the Academic Honesty Board sustains the charge, the Board will not overturn the decision of the faculty member assigning the penalty at the course level.
If the Academic Honesty Board overturns the charge, the penalty is removed and all records of the alleged violation destroyed.
Instances of academic dishonesty may be unrelated to a specific course. Any members of the administrative, teaching, or support staff may report such instances directly to the dean for academic affairs who will initiate an Academic Honesty Board hearing, if appropriate.
Faculty-Level Penalties
(assigned by faculty for first offenses)
Depending on the nature of the violation, a faculty member will assign one of the following penalties:
- Rewriting a paper; retaking an exam, test, or quiz; or redoing an assignment
- Reduction in course grade
- Failure (no credit) or reduction in grade given for paper, exam, or assignment without privilege of make-up
- Failure of the course without privilege of withdrawal
- Additionally, for serious violations, faculty may recommend an Academic Honesty Board hearing can be conducted.
Plagiarism
- Rewriting a paper; retaking an exam, test, or quiz; or redoing an assignment
- Reduction in course grade; failure (no credit); or reduction in grade given for paper, exam, or assignment without privilege of make-up
- Failure of the course without privilege of withdrawal
- Additionally, the faculty may recommend that the student be required to attend the Writing Center and/or that an Academic Honesty Board hearing be conducted.
Information Falsification or Fabrication
- Verbal or written reprimand
- Reduction in course grade
- Failure (no credit) or reduction in grade given for paper, exam, or assignment without privilege of make-up
- Failure of the course without privilege of withdrawal
Theft or Destruction of Intellectual Property
- Replacement of/payment for materials harmed or destroyed
- If the student is currently enrolled in the class, any of the course-specific penalties listed above, including the recommendation that an Academic Honesty Board hearing be conducted.
- If the student is not currently enrolled in class, hearing by the Academic Honesty Board
Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty
- If the student is currently enrolled in the class, the facilitator received the same penalty as the offender.
- If the student is not currently enrolled in the class, hearing by the Academic Honesty Board
University-Level Penalt ies
(imposed by the Academic Honesty Board for second or subsequent offenses or serious first offenses)
- Oral or written reprimand
- Mandatory attendance at a day-long academic-honesty workshop
- Presentations to students about academic-honesty policies (e.g., in College Success classes)
- Notification of academic dishonesty will be indicated on a student’s official record
Suspension
- Student may complete current semester, but will not be permitted to enroll in courses during the following semester (excluding summer).
- Student will be suspended immediately, receiving an F grade in the course in which the offense took place and W grades in all other classes. The student may re-enroll for the following semester.
- Student will be suspended immediately, receiving F grade in the course in which the offense took place and W grades in all other classes. The student may re-enroll after a one-year period.
Expulsion
- Student will be expelled immediately, with the right to appeal for readmission after a one-year period.
Charge, Hearing, and Appeal Procedures
In the event that a student violates Academic Honesty Policy, the faculty member will follow procedures:
For a first violation within a specific course, the faculty member will meet with or otherwise communicate to the student the charge of a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy, specifying the act and penalty. The faculty member will complete an Academic Honesty Violation Charge Form, stating the violation and assigning a penalty based on University guidelines in this document.
A copy of the form should be given to the student and the student should sign and date the charge form and return it to the faculty member. If the student does not sign the form, the charge and penalty stand. The faculty member should retain a copy of the form and turn the original, signed form into the Office of Academic Affairs.
For a second violation in a given course, the faculty member will follow the same procedures as in the first incident but will assign a penalty of failure of the course without privilege of withdrawal, regardless of the charge.
When the Office of Academic Affairs receives the Violation Charge Form, the existing Academic Honesty Violation files will be reviewed to determine if this is a second or subsequent violation of Cabrini policy by the student. That determination will be noted in the space provided on the Violation Charge form.
In cases where it is determined that the violation is a second of subsequent violation or a serious first offense, the Academic Honesty Violation Charge Form will be forwarded to the chair of the Academic Honesty Board for the scheduling of an Academic Honesty Board hearing.
The student may request a hearing before the Academic Honesty Board if he/she disagrees with the charge by indicating that option on the form. If the student requests a hearing, the request must be received by the Office of Academic Affairs within two weeks of the receipt of the Academic Honesty Charge Form by the student.
The student may also discuss the matter and options with a faculty ombudsperson selected by the Student Government Association. Attorneys are not present at hearings of the Academic Honesty Board. If two or more students are involved in the same academic dishonesty case, each student shall have a separate hearing.
In cases where the faculty member requests a hearing for a serious violation of academic dishonesty or after a student has two recorded violations of the Academic Honesty Policy, the student will be required to come before the Academic Honesty Board.
Hearings and appeals are scheduled as soon as possible after an Academic Honesty Violation Form or appeal is received. The student must be present at the hearing. The Board or student may request that the faculty member attend or the faculty member may choose to attend.
The student or faculty member may present evidence or documentation to support their positions. The Board will deliberate privately and render a decision based on a preponderance of the evidence presented.
If the Board decides that a violation has occurred, the penalty assigned by the faculty member will stand. In cases of a second or serious first violation, the Board will determine what additional University-level penalties, in any, will be imposed. The Academic Honesty Board’s decision is final.
In cases when the penalty is suspension or expulsion, the Board consults with the vice president for academic affairs regarding the final decision.