Ethics and Standards

Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) expects students to understand economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information. GPS students will access and use information ethically and legally. Plagiarism, cheating in coursework, appropriating intellectual property (including internet sources), or misusing library or department materials (including data bases) or lending privileges are examples of unethical and in some cases, illegal behavior.

The faculty, staff, and administration of GPS recognize that professional ethics and standards may vary from one discipline to another. Additionally, because dissemination of information is constantly evolving, ethics and standards may not always be clear. Programs in GPS are committed to providing students with the requisite knowledge to meet expectations of professional ethics and standards.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to do their own academic work and submit original work. Where resources and sources of information are used, credit must be given to the original source using the guidelines of the program’s professional affiliation.

Dishonesty in academic work, including but not limited to cheating, academic misconduct, fabrication, or plagiarism is unacceptable. Additionally, unauthorized multiple submissions of one’s own academic work (projects, papers, etc.) in more than one class is considered academic misconduct. Further, we advise students not to lend or share previous course work with other students, as this could lead to work being used by others for academic advantage. In this situation, the original owner of the course work may be liable for academic action regardless of his/her knowledge or lack of the other student’s intent.

Any form of cheating, which includes plagiarism or collusion should be reported to the program coordinator and Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies. Students who are aware of academic dishonesty as well as instructors are expected to report their observations.

Procedures GPS will use to initiate disciplinary action in cases of academic dishonesty:

1. If an instructor or student suspects that a student has been academically dishonest, the instructor or student will share those concerns with the student under suspicion. In some cases, a discussion may clarify that academic dishonesty did not occur and the process ends. However, if the discussion does not dispel all suspicion, the process continues.
2. The instructor or student reports the observation to the coordinator of the program, or to the dean of GPS.
3. The coordinator consults with the dean of GPS.
4. If there is insufficient evidence to pursue, the process ends.
5. If the coordinator and the dean believe there is sufficient evidence to pursue, the instructor and the coordinator determine the appropriate academic penalty to be applied and inform the student.
6. If the student wishes to appeal the decision, he/she may request a hearing from a Graduate Honor Board. The Graduate Board is an ad hoc board convened by the Chair of the Graduate Academic Policy and Standards Committee and comprises two graduate faculty members outside of the program in which the student is enrolled, and one graduate student. The decision of the Graduate Honor Board is final.