Integrity at UMBC, Faculty Senate, 2/13/01
The Undergraduate Council agrees with the Provost that the campus should do more to call to the attention of all students the need for the observance of the highest standards of academic honesty at UMBC.
Accordingly, the Council recommends adoption of the following revised version of the draft “Proposal for Statement of Values, Student Academic Honor Code Policy” distributed to the Faculty Senate, the SGA, and the Graduate Student Association.The changes involve: (1) re-titling to “Statement of Values for Student Academic Integrity at UMBC;” (2) using the definitions of academic misconduct given in UMBC’s Student Academic Conduct Policy; (3) explicitly drawing attention to the Student Academic Conduct Policy.
The Council recommends that the full Statement of Values for Student Academic Integrity at UMBC and the Student Academic Conduct Policy be prominently displayed in the following publications and sites:
·The Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs
·The printed and on-line schedule of classes each semester
·The UMBC Home Page, or an appropriate sub-page
·And any and all additional publications and electronic sites that the Provost shall deem appropriate
The Council also recommends that all department chairs be asked to assure that a statement on academic integrity and reference tothe Student Academic Conduct Policy is included on all syllabi and that all faculty call the attention of their students to the issues of academic integrity, to the syllabus statement, and to the Student Academic Conduct Policy at the start of each semester.Departments may wish to adopt a uniform statement or leave it to individual faculty members to write their own.The following statement, as slightly revised from the Provost’s Proposal, is a suggestion only and is intended to define the appropriate scope of individual statements and not the actual language.
By enrolling in this course, each student assumes
the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC’s scholarly community
in which everyone’s academic work and behavior are held to the highest
standards of honesty.Cheating, fabrication,
plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic
dishonesty, and they are wrong.Academic
misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include, but
is not limited to, suspension or dismissal.To
read the full Student Academic Conduct Policy, consult the UMBC Student
Handbook, the Faculty Handbook, or the UMBC Policies section of the UMBC
Directory.
Statement of Values for Student Academic Integrity at UMBC
Academic integrity is an important value at UMBC.By enrolling in a course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in the scholarly community in which everyone’s academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty.Rigorous standards allow UMBC students, faculty, and administrators, as well as scholars and employers in the larger community, to trust that the work that students submit is the fruit of their own learning and academic effort.
The purposes of higher education are the learning students and faculty undertake, the knowledge and thinking skills developed, and the enhancement of personal qualities that enable students to be strong contributing members of society.In a competitive world, it is essential that all members of the UMBC community uphold a standard that places the integrity of each student’s honestly earned achievements above higher grades or easier work dishonestly sought.
All members of the UMBC community are expected to make a commitment to academic honesty in their own actions and with others.Academic misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include suspension or dismissal.Following are examples of academic misconduct that are not tolerated at UMBC:
·Cheating: Knowingly using or attempting to use unauthorized material, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.
·Fabrication: Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
·Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty.
·Plagiarism: Knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise, including works of art and computer-generated information/images.
Students should consult UMBC’s Student Academic Conduct Policy for information on policy and procedures for upholding UMBC’s high standards for academic integrity.Student who have questions or concerns are encouraged to talk with a member of the faculty or administration for assistance.