The University of Pikeville is an academic community, and like all other communities, it can function properly only if its members adhere to clearly established goals and values. Essential to those goals and values is the commitment to the principles of truth and academic integrity. To articulate fully its commitment to academic integrity and to protect members of its community from the results of dishonest conduct, the University of Pikeville has adopted the following policies to address cases of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
- Cheating
Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise and/or claiming such material as one’s own work product. The unauthorized receipt of or attempt to obtain answers or assistance during an examination or other gradable activity or event from another student or from an unauthorized device (phone, tablet, computer, etc.). - Plagiarism
Intentionally or knowingly taking another’s ideas, work, or words as one’s own without properly documenting or crediting the original source in any academic exercise and/or using these ideas, words, or statements in a paper or presentation without properly documenting or crediting the original source. - Fabrication
The deliberate falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise. - Facilitating Academic Dishonesty
Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another individual violates any provision of this policy. - Unauthorized Acquisition of Materials
The unauthorized receipt or attempt to obtain unauthorized examination questions/answers either for personal use or distribution to others. - Unauthorized Assistance
Attempting to give answers, receive answers, or assistance to another student during an examination or other academic exercise without authorization. - Academic Falsification
Any attempt to falsify grades and/or data results. - Academic Interference
Any attempt to interfere with another student’s outcome on an academic exercise or clinical performance. - Failure to Report
Failing to report known violations of the Academic Integrity Policy - Unapproved Collaboration
Collaborating on any assignments such as homework, notes, take-home exams, draft papers, or projects in which the instructor does not allow collaboration.
If a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy is determined to have occurred, sanctions will be imposed upon the individual consistent with the nature, circumstances, and severity of the offense. Possible sanctions may include the following actions:
- A written and/or verbal warning;
- The requirement of additional academic integrity training;
- A grade reduction for the academic exercise;
- The assignment of an “F” or zero for the academic exercise;
- A failing grade in the course with the inability to withdraw;
- Dismissal from the university (automatic for repeat substantiated incidents of academic dishonesty); or
- Other sanctions deemed appropriate by individual colleges.
Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be addressed through the following process:
- The faculty member teaching the course at issue, or the course director or exam proctor, will meet with the student as promptly as possible to review the allegations and any supporting evidence, and to give the student a chance to address that information. The faculty member may arrange for a third person to attend and document the meeting. Currently, the faculty member is encouraged to notify his or her division chair and/or dean that a possible violation of the policy has occurred.
- If the faculty member concludes from the meeting that academic dishonesty more likely than not occurred, he/she will submit a written report to the appropriate academic dean describing the incident, attaching supporting evidence, and recommending a sanction consistent with this policy.
- The dean will promptly provide the student with a copy of the faculty member’s written report, recommended sanction, and supporting evidence. The student will be allowed five (5) business days to submit a written response, together with any supporting evidence the student may wish to offer in his or her defense to the dean. The dean will include notice to the student concerning whether the allegation, if substantiated, will constitute a repeat offense of academic dishonesty.
- The dean will review the record and either affirm or work with the faculty member to appropriately
adjust the recommended sanction imposed to ensure that it is consistent with this policy. The
dean will then notify the student and the faculty members and provide a written notice of the decision to the Office of Academic Affairs. - The student may appeal this decision to the Vice President. Grounds for appeal are limited to the following: (a) a procedural error that could have significantly affected the outcome, (b) previously unavailable and relevant evidence that could impact the outcome, (c) the finding of a violation is unsupported by the evidence, or (d) the penalties are too severe considering the evidence. A student must submit his/her request for an appeal and the grounds for the appeal to the Vice President within five (5) business days after receiving notice of the dean’s decision. If the Vice President finds one or more of the required grounds for appeal apply, an Academic Appeals Panel will be appointed.
- The Academic Appeals Panel will be comprised of a five-member cross-college panel appointed by the Vice President. The selection of the panel will take place in consultation with the college/school deans (CAS, CCOB, CNHS, CNHS, PCOE, KYCOM, and/or KYCO). The Office of Academic Affairs will provide the panel with a copy of the record for the case.
- The Academic Appeals Panel will elect one of its members to serve as chair for the appeal. The panel may request both the student and the faculty member to appear before the panel and answer any questions the panel may have prior to rendering a decision. The panel will ensure that any meeting with the student and faculty member is recorded. Regardless of whether the panel meets with the student and/or the faculty member, the panel members will meet to review the record for the case, deliberate on the merits, and render a decision. The panel may affirm, modify, or reverse the previous decision consistent with the possible sanctions outlined in this policy, and it must provide the student, the faculty member, and the Vice President with a copy of its written decision. The Office of Academic Affairs will notify the dean of any changes from
the original decision or sanctions. Unless an extension is needed, the panel will review the record, deliberate on the merits, and render a decision within fourteen (14) calendar days after Academic Affairs receives the request for an appeal. - The standard of proof for charges brought under this policy is whether the evidence and record shows that it is more likely than not that the student committed academic dishonesty.
- If, at any stage of review, it is confirmed that an established act of academic dishonesty represents a repeat offense by a student who has been previously disciplined for academic dishonesty or an offense so egregious that it may compromise the integrity of the given course or program or compromise the safety or security of individuals seeking health care from the university, dismissal from the university may be recommended or imposed. Dismissal is not necessarily limited to these grounds. The appropriate academic dean should promptly inquire of the office of Academic Affairs as to whether there are prior incidents of academic dishonesty by the student in any academic unit of the university.
- Students may have an advisor (parent, legal guardian, attorney, etc.) present during the appeals process; however, that person will be limited to participating in a passive/advisory role only. Non-panel members may not address the convening panel unless invited to do so by the chair of the panel. If the student obtains legal counsel the university retains the right to postpone the proceedings until university legal representation can be present.
- The Office of Academic Affairs will be responsible for maintaining the official record of any case of academic dishonesty processed under this policy.
- In the event of an appeal, the decision of the Academic Appeals Panel will be considered a final decision. Therefore, the grade appeal process may not be utilized to alter or overturn the decision made by the appeals panel. There is no further appeal beyond the Academic Appeals Panel.