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| Purpose of the Policy | Student Responsibility | Categories of Misconduct | Disciplinary Procedures | Appendix A | Appendix B |
University of North Texas, School of Library and Information Sciences
Approved April 15, 2005
The School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) expects all students to demonstrate both academic rigor and academic integrity. The purpose of this policy is to inform SLIS students of their responsibilities regarding the University of North Texas (UNT) Code of Student Conduct and Discipline and the procedures enforced by SLIS for cases of misconduct. The SLIS Academic Misconduct Policy is derived from the UNT Code, and some text in the SLIS policy is based on text in the Code.
Enrollment in any School of Library and Information Sciences course is considered implicit acceptance of all SLIS and UNT student policies. It is the responsibility of the student to understand and adhere to these policies.
The student is responsible for obtaining all
published materials and updates from the Vice President for Student
Development Office relating to the code and to become familiar with
other rules and guidelines which have bearing on student behavior
and responsibilities.
(Code of Student
Conduct and Discipline, Section I, Fall 2003)
Prior to enrollment in their first SLIS course or as part of their application to the School, all new students are required to sign a form (see Appendix A) acknowledging that they understand and will follow the SLIS and UNT academic misconduct policies.
The two categories of most relevance to SLIS are cheating and plagiarism. The UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline defines these in its categories of misconduct:
Acts of Dishonesty, Including but not limited to:
The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to:
(a) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations;
(b) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments;
(c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests, notes or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university;
(d) dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s).
(e) any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage.
The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to:
(a) the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement and
(b) the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or by an agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
(Code of Student Conduct and Discipline, Section V, Fall 2003)
Many excellent resources about plagiarism and how to avoid it are available (see Appendix B).
To address problems of academic integrity, SLIS has zero tolerance for violations of the SLIS Academic Misconduct Policy. The following apply:
The SLIS Academic Misconduct Policy applies to any work submitted for SLIS courses or degree requirements, including the Capstone Experience.
SLIS will retain students' signed statements acknowledging their understanding of the SLIS Academic Misconduct Policy. SLIS instructors will not accept students’ claims that they were unaware of SLIS and UNT policies, including definitions of forms of academic misconduct.
SLIS instructors will follow UNT regulations for reporting suspected violations to UNT, imposing academic sanctions, and recording sanctions for confirmed violations.
An academic sanction is a penalty imposed on a student for academic misconduct. Sanctions may range from reduction of a test or assignment grade to revocation of an academic degree.
SLIS instructors retain the right to determine specific sanctions for their courses and to set additional policies and procedures that do not conflict with SLIS or UNT policies.
Students who have received academic sanctions are not eligible for SLIS awards, honors, or other benefits.
Specific procedures are as follows:
A SLIS instructor determines that a violation has occurred through appropriate analysis of the student's work and documentation of the violation.
The instructor contacts the student (via telephone, email, and/or letter) to indicate a suspicion of academic misconduct.
The instructor and student may discuss the suspected violation.
The instructor determines what academic sanction, if any, to impose.
A letter signed by the instructor and the SLIS Dean is sent to the student via registered mail to inform the student about the academic sanction and the SLIS appeals process. A copy of the letter is placed in the student’s file. The faculty member may also email a copy of this letter to the student.
SLIS reports the decision to the UNT Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities, where a Judicial Officer may impose additional non-academic sanctions. The report is placed in a disciplinary file.
If the student accepts the instructor's sanction, that decision is final and the student's acceptance is placed in his/her file.
If the student rejects the instructor's decision, he/she may appeal to the SLIS Dean within three official UNT business days of notification of the decision.
If the student accepts the SLIS Dean's decision, that decision is final and the student's acceptance is placed in his/her file.
If the Dean overturns the recommended academic sanction, the student is notified, and the decision is reported to UNT Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities
Unless overturned by the Dean, SLIS reports the decision regarding the academic sanction to the UNT Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities to be placed in a disciplinary file.
If the student rejects the SLIS Dean's decision, the case is referred to the UNT Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities, where it is assigned to a Judicial Officer.
If the student rejects the decision of the UNT Judicial Officer, he/she may pursue additional UNT procedures for student hearings.
These procedures comply with the UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline, Section VIII.A.1 (Fall 2003).
I have read the entire School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) Academic Misconduct Policy.
I understand that:
SLIS adheres to the University of North Texas (UNT) Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.
The SLIS policy applies to any work submitted for SLIS course or degree requirements, including the Capstone Experience.
I understand the:
Definitions of misconduct in the policy, specifically definitions of cheating and plagiarism.
Disciplinary procedures for misconduct at SLIS and at UNT.
I understand that:
It is my individual responsibility to conform to the SLIS Academic Misconduct Policy.
I must sign this form in order to be allowed to enroll in any SLIS courses.
This signed form will be placed in my student file.
Name (print) _________________________________________________________________________
Signature/date _______________________________________________________________________
Academic Misconduct Policy
Students are strongly encouraged to review the following resources in order to increase their understanding of plagiarism and how to avoid it. These resources provide general information only. The SLIS Academic Misconduct Policy and the UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline are the authoritative policy statements for all students enrolling in SLIS courses.
Plagiarism