Penalty for Student Acts of Plagiarism or Cheating
Should an incident of plagiarism or cheating occur, the faculty member is expected to take swift action. If, after investigating the incident and consulting with the chair of the department within which the course is offered, the faculty member determines a violation did occur, the faculty member will fill out an Academic Misconduct report form and submit a copy to the Dean of the appropriate school with originals going to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The report should include copies of the evidence of the plagiarism or cheating. The penalties for acts of plagiarism or cheating may include failing an assignment/exam, failing a course, and/or dismissal from the University. Determination of the appropriate penalty will be made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs in consultation with the faculty member and department chair.
In all cases the University reserves the right to determine the final administrative, disciplinary, or legal action including dismissal from the University for any offense. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will communicate with the student by letter with copies to the chair of the department within which the course is being offered, the chair of the department in which the student is majoring, the instructor of the course, and the Dean. The original documents will remain in a confidential file in the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The confidential file will be destroyed upon graduation of the student.