Category: Academic Behavior

Academic Honesty

Academic Behavior
Fundamental to the dissemination of knowledge is an environment imbued with honor and integrity. Honesty at all times on the part of all community members is essential if the University is to achieve its goal of academic excellence in preparation for business leadership.
A student’s education is the result of his or her initiative and industry. A high standard of conduct in his or her academic experiences is expected. The academic community has a right to expect that students will conduct themselves in ways that are consistent with the highest standards of academic honesty. The academic community, therefore, does not tolerate any form of “cheating,” – the dishonest use of assistance in the preparation of outside or in-class assignments. Such violations, which include forms of plagiarism, are subject to disciplinary action.

Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism in any form;
  • Copying from another student’s examination, term paper, homework, or lab report;
  • Intentionally missing an exam to gain an unfair advantage;
  • Submitting the same paper or report in more than one course without permission of the instructors;
  • Falsification or invention of data;
  • Unauthorized access to or the use of the computerized work of others;
  • Misappropriation of examination materials or information;
  • Giving illicit aid on exams, papers, or projects.

Lack of knowledge of the above is unacceptable as an excuse for dishonest efforts.

PROCEDURES AND PENALTIES

A student must be informed of any accusations of alleged academic dishonesty made by a member of the Bryant community. The procedure for handling cases is as follows:

1. If the case occurs with respect to an individual professor and course, the case should be dealt with by the professor. The student may be penalized up to and including failure in the course and expulsion from the class. The professor must file a report with the Department Chair. In the event an issue cannot be resolved between the student and professor, the student may subsequently take up the review with the appropriate Department Chair and then the Associate Dean and Dean of the respective college.

If the issue cannot be resolved by the aforementioned steps, the student may request a hearing with one of the following committees:

  • In cases of academic dishonesty related to a grade for a course assigned by a professor, the appeal will be heard by the Undergraduate Student Academic Grievance Committee.
  • In cases of academic dishonesty related to the alteration of a grade that was recorded in the University information system or misappropriation of examination materials or information, the appeal will be heard by the Undergraduate Student Disciplinary Committee.

The appropriate committee will report its findings to the Provost for final disposition.

2. Any member of the Bryant University community may bring an alleged violation of this academic code directly to the Dean of the respective college.