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Academic Integrity Policy

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Academic Integrity Policy

Academic Integrity Policy

A.     Introduction

At Fulton-Montgomery Community College (FM), we are committed to the academic, civic and ethical development of our community.  We strive to create a learning environment that is both challenging and supportive. We are committed to upholding the fundamental values of honesty, respect and individual responsibility.  Only through a genuine partnership among students, faculty, staff and administrators can we maintain the commitment necessary to ensure that the highest standards of academic integrity are upheld.

Administration and faculty will support students to understand the standards of academic integrity that govern conduct at FM.  Each student will abide by the following principles:

  • Submit work that is his/her own
  • Identify appropriately the work of others when incorporated into his/her own work, including direct quotations, summaries and paraphrases
  • Follow the directions of the instructor with regard to permissible materials in the learning environment at the time of examinations/quizzes or with take-home exams
  • Proceed during examinations/quizzes without any assistance and without communicating in any way with others while the examinations/quizzes are being conducted, unless permitted by the instructor
  • Refrain from obtaining or distributing the content of any examination/quiz, without the permission of the instructor
  • Complete all laboratory observations and reports based solely on his/her own processing of the experiment or demonstration, unless otherwise directed by the instructor
  • Submit work, either whole or in part, only once
  • Represent data and sources appropriately and honestly

Students are responsible for adhering to these standards.  Not being familiar with these standards does not mean that students are not accountable for adherence to them.  Furthermore, students are encouraged to report suspected or known violations of the Academic Integrity Policy to appropriate faculty, staff or administration.

B.  Violations

Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Plagiarism: The intentional or unintentional representation of another person’s work as one’s own.  Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Quoting, paraphrasing or summarizing another’s work without appropriately acknowledging the source
    • Using another’s content without acknowledging the source
    • Submitting another’s work, purchased or otherwise obtained, as one’s own
  • Cheating on Examinations/Quizzes: Looking at another’s work, using or bringing to the learning environment materials that are not permitted by the instructor, communicating with another student, receiving any kind of assistance including, but not limited to, assistance from electronic devices and obtaining or disseminating the content of an examination/quiz without the permission of the instructor
  • Multiple Submission: Submitting any work of one’s own, either whole or in substantial part, to more than one instructor without the permission of the instructor(s) receiving the work
  • Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Knowingly allowing another student to use one’s work or cheat from one’s examination/quiz
  • Fabrication: Falsifying or fabricating information in any situation, including but not limited to data for a lab or research project

C. Consequences of Violating Academic Integrity:

Consequences at the course level will be at the discretion of the instructor and may include, but are not limited to, one or a combination of the following:

  • Verbal or written warning to the student
  • A letter, detailing the violation, to be kept on record
  • Successful completion by the student of an FM academic integrity tutorial. Failure to complete the tutorial will result in a one of the two penalties listed below.
  • Deduction of points, a grade of “F” or zero for the assignment, project or examination/quiz
  • Lowering of the course grade or failure of the course, not to be superseded by student withdrawal

Faculty, staff and administration are encouraged to report instances of academic integrity violations to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to facilitate the collection of data that would be indicative of repeated violations.

The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for keeping documentation on reported academic integrity violations. A permanent college record is made of reported violations. Notification of a reported violation will be forwarded to the student and the reporting faculty member. A third violation reported to the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will result in suspension from the College for one calendar year. If another violation occurs after the student has returned to college, the student will be permanently suspended from the College.

D.     Academic Grievance Process

If the student wishes to challenge the decision, she/he may initiate the Academic Grievance Process.
During the Academic Grievance Process, the student should continue to participate and abide by the course requirements until a final decision has been made.

  • Student Pre-Appeal Process Regarding Academic Integrity
    • The student may request a meeting with the notifying faculty member to discuss the infraction and the consequences within five school days of the notification of a violation of any area of the Academic Integrity Policy.
    • If a resolution to the issue cannot be found or the student declines to meet with faculty member, the student may request a meeting with the appropriate Academic Dean, with or without the notifying faculty member, within five school days to further discuss the violation.  The Academic Dean will make a decision regarding the violation.
  • Student Appeal Process Regarding Academic Integrity
    • Once the student has been notified of the decision, she/he may submit a written request for a hearing with the Academic Grievance Committee to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. This written request must be received by the end of the next semester.
    • The Academic Grievance Committee, along with the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, will meet, make the final decision and notify all parties in writing of that decision.
    • All persons involved will maintain confidentiality at all times. The records of the Academic Grievance Committee shall be maintained by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Updated April 30, 2014