UAA Policies
"Academic integrity is a basic principle, which requires that students take credit only for ideas and efforts that are their own." UAA Dean of Students.
The UAA Student Code of Conduct lists activities that are considered to be cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty as follows:
- Using material sources not authorized by the faculty member during an examination or assignment;
- Utilizing devices that are not authorized by the faculty member during an examination or assignment;
- Providing assistance to another student or receiving assistance from another student during an examination or assignment in a manner not authorized by the faculty member;
- Presenting as their own the ideas or works of another person without proper acknowledgment of sources;
- Knowingly permitting their works to be submitted by another person without the faculty member's permission;
- Acting as a substitute or utilizing a substitute in any examination or assignment;
- Fabricating data in support of laboratory or field work;
- Possessing, buying, selling, obtaining, or using a copy of any material intended to be used as an instrument of examination or in an assignment in advance of its administration;
- Altering grade records of their own or another student's work; or
- Offering a monetary payment or other remuneration in exchange for a grade.
Any student, faculty or staff member can initiate disciplinary action against a student who violates this Code, resulting in a Student Judicial Review. Depending on the seriousness of the charge, a student may be suspended, expelled, or be stripped of his or her degree.
Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights Policy
What Is Copyright Infringement at UAA?
APU Policies
The Alaska Pacific University Student Handbook and Planner, 2008-2009 (p.37-38) provides the following guidance:
Students have a responsibility to promote academic honesty at APU by not participating in or facilitating others' participation in any act of academic dishonesty and by reporting such acts to their instructors. The impact of technology and the Internet create an environment filled with opportunities for plagiarism and cheating.
Plagiarism and cheating represent serious violations of the spirit of a liberal education and of APU's Student Conduct Code. Students are expected to understand these issues related to academic dishonesty - the college staff and faculty are prepared to assist anyone in clarifying the policy outlined here.
Definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a major form of academic dishonesty involving the presentation of the work of another as one's own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following:
- The direct copying of a written or electronic source, whether published or unpublished, in whole or in part, without proper acknowledgment that it is someone else's;
- Copying of a written or electronic source, in whole or in part, with only minor changes in wording or syntax, even with acknowledgment;
- The paraphrasing of another's work without proper acknowledgments;
- Submitting as one's own work a report, examination, paper or other assignment that has been prepared by someone else. This includes research papers acquired from any other person or agency;
- Submitting as one's work the contents of a computer file prepared by another person.
When an infraction of the APU Student Conduct Code related to academic dishonesty is observed or suspected:
Instructor's Role: The instructor has the authority to:
- Withdraw the student from the course in which the academic dishonesty occurred; and/or
- Give a failing grade for the course, project, test, paper, exam, and/or insist upon additional academic work.
- If the instructor believes the incident is sufficiently serious to pursue additional APU sanctions, he/she must complete an "Incident Report Form" and submit it to the Academic Dean.
Academic Dean's Role: In cases where incidents have reached the Academic Dean, he/she will:
- Conduct an investigation, consulting with the instructor, department chair and/or others as appropriate;
- Directly confer with the student(s) to share the details of the allegations, the process involved in considering incidents of alleged academic dishonesty, and discuss the implications for the student including potential consequences.
- If the Academic Dean determines a violation of the APU Student Conduct Code has occurred and a sanction is warranted, the student is informed of the decision.
Potential Sanctions: When a violation of the APU Student Conduct related to Academic Dishonesty is judged to have occurred, the Academic Dean can impose the following sanctions:
- Reprimand - a written or verbal reprimand by the instructor;
- Assigned Grade - receipt of a lower grade assigned by the instructor;
- Continued attendance at APU predicated upon satisfying certain requirements as specified by APU;
- Suspension - temporary dismissal from APU for a specific time;
- Expulsion - permanent dismissal from APU.
Appeals: Any disciplinary action related to issues of Academic Dishonesty can be appealed within five working days of a decision letter being issued. In these cases, appeals are decided by the Undergraduate Studies Committee.
APU Catalog (pg 102, 203)