(A) Purpose. Students enrolled in the
university, at all its campuses, are to perform their academic work according
to standards set by faculty members, departments, schools and colleges of the
university; and cheating and plagiarism constitute fraudulent misrepresentation
for which no credit can be given and for which appropriate sanctions are
warranted and will be applied.
(B) Definitions. As used in this
rule:
(1) "Cheat"
means intentionally to misrepresent the source, nature, or other conditions of
academic work so as to accrue undeserved credit, or to cooperate with someone
else in such misrepresentation. Such misrepresentations may, but need not
necessarily, involve the work of others. As defined, cheating includes, but is
not limited to:
(a) Obtaining or retaining partial or whole copies of
examination, tests or quizzes before these are distributed for student
use;
(b) Using notes, textbooks or other information, or content
generated by internet-based generative artificial intelligence programs (HAI),
in examinations, tests and quizzes, except as expressly permitted by the
instructor in the syllabus, examination, test, or quiz;
(c) Obtaining confidential information about examinations, tests
or quizzes other than that released by the instructor;
(d) Securing, giving or exchanging information during
examinations;
(e) Using GAI to generate
content in satisfaction of assigned coursework, except as expressly permitted
by the instructor in the syllabus, or applicable assignment;
(f) Presenting data or other material gathered by another
person or group, or by GAI, as one's own;
(g) Falsifying experimental data or information;
(h) Having another person, or GAI, take one's place
for any academic performance without the specific knowledge and permission of
the instructor;
(i) Cooperating with another to do one or more of the
listed examples of cheating;
(j) Using a substantial portion of a piece of work
previously submitted for another course or program to meet the requirements of
the present course or program without notifying the instructor to whom the work
is presented; and
(k) Presenting falsified information in order to postpone
or avoid examinations, tests, quizzes, or other academic work.
(2) "Plagiarize" means to take and present as
one's own a material portion of the ideas or words of another (e.g.,
person, persons, or GAI) or to present as one's own an idea or work
derived from an existing source without full and proper credit to the source of
the ideas, words, or works. As defined, plagiarize includes, but is not limited
to:
(a) The copying of words, sentences and paragraphs directly from
the work of another without proper credit;
(b) The copying of illustrations, figures, photographs, drawings,
models, or other visual and nonverbal materials, including recordings, of
another without proper credit; and
(c) The presentation of work prepared by another in final or
draft form as one's own without citing the source, such as the use of
purchased research papers.
(3) "Student"
means any person admitted or enrolled at the university in any of its courses,
programs, campuses or offerings, including, but not limited to, cooperative
programs or offerings with other institutions for whom a record is made at the
university by the registrar or which is submitted to the university for
admission or transfer credit.
(4)
"Cooperation" means participation or assistance for the mutual
benefit of both parties or the sole benefit of one party.
(5) "Academic
sanction" means any of the various sanctions specifically listed in this
rule under paragraph (D) of this rule.
(6) "Instructor" means any person employed or appointed
to teach in any course or program offering of the university, or a committee
appointed to assess, evaluate, or grade a thesis, dissertation or work. Any
decision by such a committee shall be by majority vote.
(7) "Chairperson" means the chief administrative
officer of a department, school, or program whose position is that of a first
organizational level academic leader with a teaching faculty.
(8) "Dean"
means the chief administrative officer of a regional campus, college or
independent school or equivalent.
(9) "Department" means an academic unit headed by a
chairperson or director.
(10) "College"
means an academic unit headed by a dean and includes any independent school
headed by a dean.
(11) "Independent
College" means a college without subordinate departments or schools.
(12) "Regional
campus" means any of the Kent state university system of
community-oriented institutions.
(13) "Cheating/Plagiarism Sanction Form" means the
form instructors fill out and distribute each time they impose a sanction on a
student for cheating or plagiarism.
(14) "Plagiarism
School Form" is the form signed by an instructor and student agreeing to
a remedial, private session for a student sanctioned for plagiarism in return
for a mitigation of the sanction.
(15) "Generative artificial intelligence program
(GAI)" means any internet-based generative artificial intelligence
programs that make use of large language model algorithms to make something
new. AI used for auto-complete, minor text-predictions, and/or
grammar/spelling/punctuation suggestions, commonly found in most
word-processing applications, is not considered GAI.
(C) Intent and scope of the policy.
(1) In providing this
policy, the university affirms that acts of cheating and plagiarism by students
constitute a subversion of the goals of the institution, have no place in the
university and are serious offenses to academic goals and objectives, as well
as to the rights of fellow students.
(2) It is the intent of
this policy to provide appropriate sanctions, to provide fair and realistic
procedures for imposing those sanctions, to provide safeguards for any student
suspected of cheating or plagiarism.
(3) This policy applies
to all students of the university, graduate and undergraduate, full or
part-time, whose conduct is of such a nature prohibited by the policy. Other
offenses of a nonacademic nature are covered by the code of student conduct,
rule 3342-4-02 of the Administrative Code and of this register.
(4) Ordinarily, students
sanctioned under this policy may not seek to remove such sanction by invoking
their rights under other university policies (such as the administrative
policies addressing student complaints found in rule 3342-4-02.3 or 3342-8-01.4
of this Administrative Code) but may appeal a finding of responsibility and/or
the sanction according to paragraph (F) of this rule.
(D) Sanctions.
(1) Academic sanctions.
The following academic sanctions are provided by this rule for offenses of
cheating or plagiarism. Instructors are to use the cheating/plagiarism sanction
form to indicate which one of the following sanctions is to be imposed on the
student. Instructors must send that form to the office of student conduct. For
Kent campus instructors the form will be sent by the office of student conduct
to the student, the instructor's department chairperson or dean, and the
dean for the college in which the student is enrolled. For regional campus
instructors the form will be sent by the office of student conduct to the
student, and to the regional campus dean.
(a) Coursework. The following academic sanctions are provided by
this rule for offenses of cheating or plagiarism. In those cases the instructor
may:
(i) Refuse to accept the
work for credit; or
(ii) Assign a grade of
"F" or zero for the project, test, paper, examination or other work
in which the cheating or plagiarism took place; or
(iii) Assign a grade of
"F" for the course in which the cheating or plagiarism took place;
and/or;
(iv) Recommend to the
department chair or regional campus dean that further action specified in
paragraph (D)(1)(b) of this rule be taken. The department chairperson or
regional campus dean shall determine whether or not to forward to the academic
dean or to the vice president for the regional campuses a recommendation for
further sanctions under paragraph (D)(1)(b) of this rule.
(v) For students who have
not previously been sanctioned for plagiarism, if the instructor and student
agree, Plagiarism School could be provided as a means to mitigate the sanction
(as described in paragraphs (B)(14) and (G) of this rule.)
(b) Degree. The following academic sanctions are provided for
acts of cheating or plagiarism which so permeate the student's work that
the effect is to compromise the validity of a degree. Such occurrences may be
related, but not limited to, professional or graduate work. Sanctions which can
be invoked by the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled or by
the vice president for the regional campuses include those provided in
paragraph (D)(1) of this rule; and/or
(i) Revocation or
recommendation to decertify or not to certify; or
(ii) Rejection of the
thesis, dissertation or work; or
(iii) Recommendation for
revocation of a degree.
(2) Other sanctions. If
the instructor feels, or the department chair or director, or dean where
appropriate, that the offense is of such nature that the academic sanctions are
an insufficient remedy, or that they are not available, he or she may initiate
additional procedures by referring the matter in its entirety to the academic
hearing panel defined in paragraph (I) of this rule, which can consider
additional disciplinary sanctions. After the office of student conduct receives
notification of a sanction via the cheating/plagiarism sanction form (see
paragraph (D)(1) of this rule), the academic hearing panel will conduct a
hearing to determine if the academic sanction applied by the instructor as well
as additional disciplinary sanctions it deems appropriate will be assessed
against the student. The following sanctions can only be imposed by the
academic hearing panel following a hearing as set forth in paragraph (H) of
this rule.
(a) Disciplinary probation. This sanction is one that places the
student in serious jeopardy with the university. This sanction is invoked for a
specified period of time. Notification of sanctions will be made to appropriate
university offices, including the student's academic college or school.
Students on disciplinary probation: might be subject to automatic dismissal or
suspension if found responsible of any act of misconduct, including violation
of the terms of the disciplinary probation.
(i) Might not be
permitted to participate in an official non-curricular capacity such as
intercollegiate athletics, intramurals, fine arts activities, or as an officer
of a student organization, etc.
(ii) Might be restricted
from entering or remaining in selected campus buildings or in specified
university facilities.
(b) Disciplinary suspension. This sanction is one of involuntary
separation of the student from the university for a specified period of time.
Notification of sanctions will be made to appropriate university offices,
including the student's academic college or school. Students
suspended:
(i) If a sanction grade
was assigned, it should remain on the transcript.
(ii) Might be required to
leave the land and/or premises of the university effective the date of
suspension. Permission may be granted by the vice president for enrollment
management and student affairs for entrance to university premises for a
specified purpose and time.
(c) Disciplinary dismissal. This sanction is one of involuntary
separation of the student from the university. Notification of sanctions will
be made to appropriate university offices, including the student's
academic college or school. Students dismissed:
(i) If a sanction grade
was assigned, it should remain on the transcript.
(ii) Might be required to
leave the land and/or premises of the university effective the date of
dismissal. Permission may be granted by the vice president for enrollment
management and student affairs for entrance of the student to university
premises for a specified purpose and time.
(iii) Shall be reinstated
only by the provost, who shall establish criteria for readmission.
(d) Additional sanctions. Additional sanctions are the
prerogative of the AHP. They may be mandated as part of the sanctions listed
above. Some options that may be considered are as follows:
(i) Counseling;
(ii) No contact order;
(iii) Educative/rehabilitative program referral;
(iv) Monetary penalty
(not to exceed two hundred dollars);
(v) Letter of
apology;
(vi) Warning;
(vii) Persona non grata
status;
(viii) Campus access
restrictions; and/or
(ix) Other as deemed
appropriate through the disciplinary process
(E) Procedures for invoking sanctions.
(1) Academic
administrative procedures pertaining to paragraph (D)(1)(a) of this rule. In
the event that an instructor determines that it is more probable than not that
a student in a course or program under the instructor's supervision has
presented work for university credit which involves an act of cheating,
plagiarism or cooperation in either, then the instructor shall:
(a) Inform the student as soon as is practical of the belief
that an act of cheating or plagiarism has occurred. If the student cannot be
reached in a reasonable period of time, the instructor may proceed with
sanctions, notifying the student in writing as promptly as possible of the
belief and the procedural steps the instructor has taken.
(b) Provide the student an opportunity to explain orally, in
writing, or both, why the student believes the evaluation of the facts is
erroneous.
(c) If the explanation is deemed by the instructor to be
inadequate or if no explanation is offered, the instructor may impose one of
the academic sanctions listed in paragraph (D)(1)(a) of this rule. In addition,
the instructor may refer the matter to the dean of the college, campus, or
school in which the student is enrolled for imposition of academic sanctions
listed in paragraph (D)(1)(b) of this rule.
(d) The instructor shall provide a copy of the
cheating/plagiarism sanction form to the office of student conduct. That office
will provide copies of the form to the student, the instructor's
departmental chairperson, or, for independent colleges and regional campuses,
the dean of the college or campus in which the instructor is assigned, the dean
of the college or campus in which the student is enrolled, and the office of
student conduct, listing the specific sanction assessed (as defined in
paragraph (D)(1)(a) of this rule) and whether or not the instructor is
recommending the imposition of academic sanctions listed in paragraph (D)(1)(b)
of this rule to the appropriate dean (the dean of the college or campus in
which the student is enrolled). The form also serves to inform the student of
the right to appeal.
(e) The instructor shall keep the evidence of cheating or
plagiarism in a secure place and provide it upon request to the department
chair, independent college or campus dean, or the academic hearing panel. The
instructor shall provide copies on request to the student at the student's
expense.
(f) The instructor shall cooperate with academic and student
conduct personnel in any appeal of the decision, and/or in adjudication of any
disciplinary proceedings.
(2) Academic
administrative procedures pertaining to paragraph (D)(1)(b) of this
rule.
(a) With concurrence from the faculty member and the department
chairperson, the academic dean or the vice president of the regional campuses
may invoke sanctions specified in paragraph (D)(1)(b) of this rule.
(b) The recommendation for sanction, paragraph (D)(1)(b)(iii) of
this rule, is made by the academic dean or the vice president for the regional
campuses who forwards it to the provost, who must approve it and forward it to
the president, who must approve it and forward it to the board of trustees for
approval.
(3) Procedures pertaining
to paragraph (D)(2) of this rule (non-academic, disciplinary sanctions).
(a) After receiving notification from the instructor that a
sanction has been imposed and/or recommended in paragraph (E)(1)(d) of this
rule, the office of student conduct will check to see if a sanction invoked by
this code was previously imposed on the student. If it is determined that the
student was previously sanctioned and was not successful in removing the
sanction through the appeal process defined in paragraph (F) of this rule, the
matter in its entirety will be referred to the academic hearing panel (AHP)
(defined in paragraph (H) of this rule).
(b) The AHP will follow the process established in paragraph (F)
of this rule to determine if the academic sanctions imposed by the instructor
and/or dean are upheld and/or if disciplinary sanctions should also be
applied.
(F) Academic appeals. All appeals for
sanctions imposed as a result of this policy will be adjudicated by the
academic hearing panel.
An appeal of a sanction imposed by an instructor
or a dean must be filed with the office of student conduct by the student
within fifteen working days of receipt of the cheating/plagiarism sanction
form.
(1)
Hearing.
(a) The burden of establishing by a preponderance of the
evidence that cheating or plagiarism occurred is on the person who claims the
act took place.
(b) The instructor shall provide documents, if any, in support of
the decision and shall make a statement, orally, in writing, or both, of the
facts and the basis for the decision.
(c) The student may make a statement in writing, orally, or
both.
(d) Both the instructor and student may ask questions of the
other at an appropriate time during the hearing.
(e) Both may present witnesses.
(f) Both have the right to hear all testimony and examine all
evidence.
(g) At the hearing, the student may be accompanied by one other
person of his or her choice. That person may act as an advisor to the student,
but may not participate in the hearing procedure in any manner whatsoever. No
party may be represented by legal counsel.
(G) Plagiarism school. As a means to
address less severe cases of student plagiarism (acts that may be considered by
the instructor to be unintentional), the instructor may request that the
student attend a remedial, private session administered by university libraries
regarding acceptable ways to document research.
(1) Plagiarism school
will only be offered to students not previously sanctioned for plagiarism.
(2) Plagiarism school
will only be offered if both the instructor, and student and representative
from university libraries (the plagiarism school instructor) agree by signing
the "Plagiarism School Form." The instructor will indicate on the
form how the sanction will be modified in favor of the student if the student
completes all activities identified on the form.
(3) A student's
successful completion of plagiarism school does not in any way change the
process of reporting acts of cheating and plagiarism according to this policy.
(4) Upon successful
completion of plagiarism school, university libraries will notify the
instructor so that he/she can mitigate the sanction as indicated in the form.
(H) The academic hearing panel (AHP) is
a special hearing panel established to decide cases resulting from either a
referral for disciplinary sanctions from instructors, chairs, directors, or
deans (paragraph (D)(2) of this rule), when an appeal of a sanction imposed by
an instructor or a dean, or when a determination has been made that a student
has previously been sanctioned for an act of academic dishonesty pursuant to
this policy.
(1) Composition. The
panel shall be appointed by the provost: a minimum of ten KSU faculty, five
having graduate faculty status (staggered, serving terms of two years), a
minimum of five current KSU graduate students (serving a one-year term), and a
minimum of five current KSU undergraduate students (serving a one-year term).
The provost will appoint one faculty member as chair at the beginning of each
fiscal year.
(2) Charge. For the
purpose of holding a hearing, the chair will select a hearing committee of
three AHP members (two faculty and one student). The committee selections
should be based on graduate/undergraduate status (graduate faculty and student
for cases involving an accused graduate student, undergraduate faculty and
student for cases involving an accused undergraduate student) and be consistent
with eligibility standards set in paragraph (H)(4) of this rule. The AHP will
conduct hearings based on allegations of academic misconduct and determine if
the accused student is in violation of this policy. Once the AHP has determined
that a violation has been committed, the student will be assessed an academic
sanction (as defined in paragraph (D)(1) of this rule or as defined in
paragraph (D)(2) of this rule or a combination of both.) The severity of the
offense and the student's overall behavior regarding academic honesty
will determine the sanction(s) assessed against the student.
(3) Training. Annual
training will be offered in a joint effort by persons appointed by the provost
and the vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, and
convened by office of student conduct.
(4) Eligibility. Faculty
who are current instructors of the accused student, faculty of the
instructor's department, and any student appointed to the AHP who shares
a class, residence, or known affiliation with the accused student are not
eligible to sit on the AHP hearing committee for that respective accused
student.
(5) Records. All AHP
hearings are closed to the public and are recorded, minimally audio, using
current technological equipment available (i.e. DVD). All technological
recordings shall be destroyed in accordance with university recordkeeping
protocol.
(6) All matters
pertaining to the conduct of the appeal hearing shall be under the sole
authority of the academic hearing panel.
(I) Appeals.
(1) Students, faculty,
and deans may appeal the decisions of the hearing board or officers to the
provost. No additional appeal will be heard.
(2) Appeals are limited
to the following reasons:
(a) The decision is not in accordance with the evidence
presented;
(b) The decision was reached through a procedure not in
accordance with this rule;
(c) New information is available which may suggest modification
of the decision;
(d) Sanction(s) imposed were not appropriate for the conduct
violation which the student was found responsible for;
(3) An appeal must be in
writing, must state clearly the rationale for the appeal and must be submitted
within seven calendar days of the date of the decision.
(J) This policy will be effective
beginning with the fall 2012 catalog year
