The University of Jamestown values self-discipline, responsibility, and the continuing growth of the individual. To achieve these values, we strive to maintain an atmosphere of mutual trust between and among instructors and students. Sometimes this trust is violated through the intentional or accidental misrepresentation of facts, ideas, or data by members of the academic community. Such misrepresentations are violations of the Academic Integrity Policy. For the benefit of students and faculty, Turnitin technology is utilized by the University of Jamestown.
There are three main types of violations: cheating, inappropriate collaboration, and plagiarism.
Cheating involves the misrepresentation of knowledge or experience. Cheating takes away one’s opportunity to learn, develop, and improve one’s own skills.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Use of unauthorized materials during an examination either in person or online
- Submission or use of falsified data
- Copying from the work of another person or source
- Soliciting information regarding an exam from another student
- Submitting substantial portions of an assignment to more than one course for credit without permission from each instructor.
- Utilizing generative AI in ways that are not approved by the instructor.
Students should not use generative AI for assignments without explicit permission from the instructor. Instructors who permit the use of generative AI are responsible for indicating what is appropriate use for each assignment. If instructions regarding AI use on an assignment are unclear, students should seek clarification.
Inappropriate collaboration involves presenting academic work as one’s independent effort when it includes significant elements of the work of others. It is dishonest for one student to write some (or all) of another student’s assignment. It is equally wrong for one student to develop key ideas for a project that is not their own. Inappropriate collaboration is a violation for which all parties will be held accountable. Understanding the expectations for collaboration is an important element in avoiding academic honesty issues and promoting your own growth as a student.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Working on or discussing with others an assignment explicitly stated to be completed independently.
- Working collaboratively with a group and submitting the group’s work as one’s own.
- Loaning another student your individual assignment to reference.
Instructors are responsible for indicating what is appropriate collaboration for each assignment. If instructions regarding collaboration policies on an assignment are unclear, students should seek clarification.
Plagiarism involves both theft and cheating. When someone appropriates, for use in coursework, the wording, phrasing, or ideas of another, and either accidentally or intentionally fails to acknowledge the debt, it is considered theft. Plagiarism is also cheating in that one is creating a false impression about one’s own intelligence, ability, and achievement. To avoid plagiarism students should focus on using proper citation format.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to cite a source
- Using a misleading source
- Failing to enclose directly borrowed language in quotation marks
- Incomplete paraphrasing
- Lacking proper citation of ideas taken from other sources
- Copying data or figures from other works without appropriate attribution
If students are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism, they should seek help from their instructors, the reference librarian, and refer to appropriate handbooks.
Disciplinary Process It is the responsibility of every member of the University of Jamestown community to maintain the integrity of the grading system; anyone with knowledge of violations of the Academic Integrity Policy must report this information to a faculty member, a member of the college staff or administration, or the Dean. All cases of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Dean, who will maintain records on each student who has committed a violation of the policy.
A course instructor who suspects a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy should inform the student or student of his/her suspicion and present him/her with the evidence, allowing the student an opportunity for rebuttal.
Students who violate the Academic Integrity Policy of University of Jamestown will be subject to disciplinary action. Upon determination of a violation, the course instructor will decide the penalty to be imposed. Depending upon the severity of the infraction, this may involve a requirement to complete the assignment again, failing the student for the assignment, or failing the student for the course.
If a dispute arises between a course instructor and a student about whether a violation has been committed, it is referred to the Dean for resolution. If the Dean determines that no question exists, the appeal process is terminated. If any question remains, the Undergraduate Dean may refer it to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate or the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies may refer it to the GPS Council for a hearing. The decision of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate or the GPS Council about the commission of an offense will be final in all such cases.
If a student involved in a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy is not enrolled in a particular instructor’s course, as in a case of inappropriate collaboration, the Dean will determine appropriate disciplinary action for the unenrolled student.
In the case of multiple violations of the Academic Integrity Policy by a student, the Dean may impose additional sanctions, which may include academic warning, academic probation, academic suspension, or expulsion.