​​​​​​Academic Integrity Policy

Saint Paul College fosters the highest standards of academic integrity and the highest regard for truth and honesty. The attempt by students to present as their own any work not actually performed by them; collusion, fabrication and cheating on examinations, papers and other course-related work; stealing, duplicating or selling examinations; substituting for others in class discussions or examinations; producing other students’ papers or projects; knowingly furnishing false or misleading academic information on official College records are considered violations of academic integrity and destructive to the central miss​ion of the College.

The primary academic mission of Saint Paul College is the exploration and dissemination of knowledge. Academic integrity and honesty are integral to the academic process. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense which undermines the education process and the learning experience for the entire College community.

It is expected that Saint Paul College students will understand and adhere to the concept of academic integrity and to the standards of conduct prescribed by the College’s Academic Integrity Policy. It is expected that each student will assume responsibility for one’s own work and that materials submitted in fulfillment of course, program, and College academic requirements must represent the student’s own efforts. Any act of academic dishonesty attempted by a student at the College is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Definitions. The prevailing forms of academic dishonesty are cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and the submission of false information. Academic integrity is not limited to the context of a course but can also occur during the admission or readmission process, assessment, and submission of academic and One Stop appeals or petitions.

Cheating in the instructional setting is the unauthorized use or exchange of information by students for the purpose of meeting academic standards or requirements; examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Copying others’ work during an examination
• Using unauthorized notes or aids during an examination
• Taking an examination for another student
• Collaborating with any other person during a test without authority
• Using or giving unauthorized assistance on a take-home examination, assigned physical work, projects, or any other academic work
• Arranging for another student to take an examination
• Attempting to obtain, or knowingly obtaining, using, buying, selling, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part, the contents of an unreleased test or information about an unreleased test
• Unauthorized supplying or bribing any other person to obtain an unreleased test or information about an unreleased test
• Submitting substantial portions of work for credit in more than one course, without consulting the instructors
• Submitting research and assignments prepared by others (e.g., purchasing the services of a commercial semester paper company)
• Altering or forging an official College document.

Plagiarism is representing another person’s words or ideas as one’s own without proper attribution or credit. Other people’s words or ideas must be given adequate documentation whether used in direct quotation or in summa​ry or paraphrase.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, quoting written or oral materials without citation on an exam, semester paper, homework, or other written materials or oral presentations for academic requirements; purchasing from a semester paper service and submitting as one’s own, downloading from the Internet or taking from any other source; or submitting anyone else’s work as one’s own. Any form of plagiarism constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Collusion is an agreement by two or more people to commit an act of academic dishonesty. The College will not attempt to distinguish between students who cheat or plagiarize and those who assist in such actions. A student who assists another in the act of cheating or plagiarism is subject to disciplinary action for violation of academic integrity.

Submission of False Information includes false testimony, names, and addresses, as related to the admission process, readmission, assessment testing, and academic and One Stop appeals or petitions.

Academic Integrity Due Process Steps:

1. Sanctions for the first-time violation of the academic integrity policy are at the discretion of the instructor up to and including no credit for an assignment or assessment.
2. Notification of violation will be sent to the Director of Student Conduct who may impose additional sanctions.

Students who violate academic integrity shall, after due process, be subject to College sanctions that may include failure on assignments and examinations, failure in courses, and suspension or expulsion. Established Academic Integrity policies, procedures, and sanctions are communicated in classes and publications, such as this Student Handbook.

In the instances of supplying false information regarding the admission process, readmission, assessment testing and academic and One Stop​ appeals or petitions, the process shall revert to Section 1, The Code of Student Conduct.

Appeals. A student who wishes to appeal a penalty imposed by an instructor may submit a written appeal within five (5) working days to the Dean for the academic discipline in which the alleged act of dishonesty occurred. The Dean shall generally send written notice of the decision to the student within five (5) working days.

Upon receipt of the Dean’s decision, a student or instructor may submit a written appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs within five (5) working days. The Vice President shall generally send written notice of the decision within five working days. The decision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs is final.