Faculty Handbook

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY/ STUDENT CONDUCT

All individuals associated with the academic community have a responsibility for establishing, maintaining, and fostering an understanding and appreciation for academic standards and values.

Faculty members play the most important role. They have multiple opportunities to set academic standards; help students understand how academic dishonesty is defined; teach students ways to avoid unintentional infractions; identify and confront violators of community standards; and serve as models of academic integrity.

Prevention is the best way to protect academic integrity. Prevention begins by developing a clearly written definition of academic dishonesty. Faculty members and students come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, giving rise to different expectations of moral and ethical behavior. Well-defined expectations and standards reduce uncertainty and arbitrary decision-making and help to discourage litigation.