Academic Honesty

Heidelberg University values integrity in academic pursuits. It expects students to complete their work honestly and to report academic dishonesty.

Dishonesty in any form, including but not limited to academic cheating or falsification on any official university record, will result in disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty is punished according to the procedures outlined below.

Academic dishonesty is submitting the work of another person as your own, allowing another person to submit your work as his or her own, or assisting another person to do either. It includes such behaviors as the following:

1.   Plagiarizing. Plagiarism is quoting from a source or using ideas paraphrased from a source without proper documentation according to the standard set by your instructor. This includes internet sources and computer sources, such as CD-ROM encyclopedias. Submitting another person’s work—for example a test, lab report, or paper—as your own is plagiarism.

2.   Giving or receiving assistance during an exam.

3.   Using unauthorized materials during an exam.

4.   Acquiring copies of an exam illegally.

5.   Stealing materials from another person’s files, including computer files, or using such stolen materials.

6.   Using other dishonest methods to complete course work.

7.   Signing a faculty member’s name or initials on registration materials.

Disciplinary Procedures

The following shall be the order of procedure for dealing with cases of academic dishonesty:

A.   Conference between the instructor and the student:

      If an instructor believes that he or she has appropriate evidence to bring charges of academic dishonesty against a student, the instructor will meet with the student and discuss the evidence. After conferring with the student, if the instructor is convinced that the student has cheated on a piece of work, the instructor will record a grade of “F” or zero, as appropriate, for the particular piece of work and will notify the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and Provost of that action.

B.   Meeting of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the instructor and the student:

      After such notification, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost will review the evidence to determine if a violation of academic honesty has occurred.  The Vice President may decide to impose an additional penalty. Depending on how serious the incident is and on whether the incident is a first or subsequent offense, the Vice President may impose any of the following penalties:

1.   a lowered course grade,

2.   dismissal from the course with a grade of “F,”

3.   special research or service assignments appropriate to the case,

4.   notification of the student’s parents,

5.   probation,

6.   dismissal from the University.

C.   Appeal to the Academic Policies Committee:

      If a student wishes to appeal the decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, he or she may appeal to the Academic Policies Committee within 48 hours of receipt of the decision. An appeal may be made if there is new evidence, if the proper procedures were not followed, or if the penalty involves dismissal from the University. This committee will review the evidence and will make its recommendation for dismissal of charges or for penalties to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.   

 
          
D.   Appeal to the President of the University:

      The student has final recourse for appeal to the President of the University. An appeal may be made under the same provisions as Paragraph C, above. The President will review the evidence and either uphold or change the earlier decisions.

In all cases, a statement of the action taken against the student will be entered in the student’s file in the Dean of Students Office. A copy will be sent to the instructor and to the student’s advisor.