Academic honesty and ethical behavior are essential to the existence and growth of an academic community. These twin principles are central concepts in the educational experience of the student enrolled in the Aviation Sciences Institute (ASI). A School’s intellectual reputation rests on the development and adherence to the highest standards of intellectual ethics and honesty. A commitment to these standards by a student attending any course in the Aviation Sciences Institute is an expectation and requirement for a passing grade. Any breach of the expectations of academic honesty and academic ethics will be considered unacceptable and will merit censure.

Breaches of academic honesty and ethical behavior include: cheating; plagiarism; the unauthorized possession of exams, papers, computer applications or other class materials that have not been formally released by the instructor; and submission of one paper or project to meet the requirements of two different classes without express permission of the instructor. Academic dishonesty can be simply stated as misrepresenting another’s ideas and efforts as one’s own. These efforts may take the form of examinations, written assignments, computer applications, research or any other work product required of the student.

The Aviation Sciences Institute will support the Faculty in their attempts to enforce a rigorous standard of academic honesty and academic ethics in all classes and at all levels of academic standing.

II. DEFINITIONS OF VIOLATIONS

A. CHEATING

Cheating may be defined as using unauthorized materials or giving or receiving unauthorized assistance during an examination or other academic exercise. Examples may include (but are not limited to):

• Copying the work of another student during an examination or other academic exercise (including computer exercises), or permitting another student to copy one’s work;

• Taking an examination for another student, or allowing another student to take one’s examination; possessing unauthorized notes, study sheets or other material during an examination or other academic exercise;

• Falsifying or tampering with examination results or final grades;

• Completing, copying, or using the results of any other student’s computer assignments.

B. PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism may be defined as the use of another’s ideas or words without acknowledgment.

• Failing to use quotation marks when quoting from a source;

• Failing to document distinctive ideas from a source;

• Fabrication or invention of sources.

C. UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION, DISPOSITION OR USE
OF ACADEMIC MATERIALS

Unauthorized possession, disposition or use of academic materials may include:

• Selling or purchasing examinations or other academic work;

• Taking another student’s academic work without permission or offering your own work to others for unethical purposes;

• Possessing examinations or other assignments not formally released by an instructor,

• Submitting the same paper for two different classes without express permission of both instructors.

III. SANCTIONS

Breaches of academic honesty or academic ethics will result in disciplinary measures that may include:

• Failing grade for a particular assignment or examination;

• Failing grade for a particular course;

• Suspension from the Aviation Sciences Institute at any level;

• Application by the Aviation Sciences Institute to the Vice President of Student Affairs of the University for the offending student’s suspension for various lengths of time or permanent expulsion from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

IV. PROCEDURES

A. If a student is accused of a breach of the Academic Honesty Policy, the faculty member affected will notify the student or students accused of the specific behavior that is alleged to be a violation of said policy. The information of the violation of policy may be a result of direct observations of the faculty member or through information received by the faculty member. The faculty member should give the student an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances. If the faculty member reasonably believes that the behavior is a violation of the Policy of Academic Honesty and that the student is responsible for said violation, then the faculty member will discuss with the student the sanction that she/he will assess for this infraction. If the student agrees with the sanction, a memorandum of the matter and its results should be prepared, and both the faculty member and the student should sign it. A copy of the memorandum will be forwarded to the Department Chair and a copy will be placed in the student’s advisor file. Copies may also be forwarded to the Director of the Aviation Sciences Institute and the Vice President for Student Affairs if this remedy is called for in the memorandum.

B. If the student does not agree to the sanction imposed, the student and the faculty member will meet with the Department Chair at the earliest time reasonably available. At this meeting the student and the faculty member will be given the opportunity to discuss the infraction, Every reasonable effort should be made to allow the student an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

C. Within fourteen (14) days, the Department Chair will make a decision on the matter and inform both the faculty member and the student in writing of the decision.

D. If the student wishes to appeal the decision, he/she may petition the Aviation Sciences Institute Director for a Grievance Hearing.

E. Any disciplinary actions and decisions should be documented and filed with the Dean of Students.

Dated: 7 January, 2002