Academic Integrity Policy

The Academic Integrity Policy of the University of Rockford was developed by the Faculty, in consultation with University leadership and faculty sub-committees, for the purpose of enhancing fairness and justice in matters related to violations of academic integrity, ensuring accountability in record-keeping and actions taken, and providing guidance for students, faculty, and leadership on matters of academic integrity.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a value held highly by the Rockford University community. It is the responsibility of students to continually engage in behaviors and ethical decision-making processes consistent with this value as part of their learning, academic performance, and personal and professional growth. It is the responsibility of faculty members to foster environments for learning that consistently uphold this value by explicitly setting expectations of academic integrity and applying academic consequences for violations. It is the responsibility of University leadership to support students and faculty in these endeavors and provide adequate resources in which issues of academic integrity may be addressed fairly, collaboratively, and productively.

Violations of Academic Integrity

Violations of Academic Integrity include, but are not limited to:

1. Plagiarism: the representation of another’s work or ideas (whether published or unpublished) as one’s own; using words other than your own without clearly acknowledging the source of that information; using another’s exact words in any work without properly designating the material as a quote and/or citing the source; summarizing/paraphrasing thoughts or ideas other than your own in any work without properly citing the source; taking any digital media product that was created by someone or some technology other than yourself and using it in any work without properly citing the source; copying another person’s computer program without the owner’s permission and without properly citing the source; purchasing or borrowing a paper and submitting it as one’s own; and multiple submissions of one’s own original work (self-plagiarism).  *Another includes both human and machine-generated or automated programs.
2. Cheating: obtaining, using or attempting to use unauthorized materials or information, or help from another, in any work submitted for evaluation for academic credit; unauthorized group collusion or collaboration on an assignment or evaluation; unauthorized altering of a graded work then submitting the work for re-grading; or submitting identical or highly similar papers for credit in more than one course without prior permission from the course instructors (also self-plagiarism). *Another includes both human and machine-generated or automated programs.
3. Fabrication or Falsification: invention or distortion of data, information, citations, or bibliographic references in any academic work; or altering, forging, or falsifying any academic record or other University document.
4. Obtaining an Unfair Advantage: employing unapproved methods in course work or preparation for an evaluation; stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining unauthorized access to examination materials; sharing, using, obtaining, or trying to obtain a test or any part of a test before the testing period; retaining, possessing, or using previously given examination materials where those materials clearly indicate that they were intended to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the examination; stealing, destroying, defacing, or concealing library materials with the purpose of depriving others of their use; intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student's academic work; otherwise undertaking activity with the purpose of creating or obtaining an unfair academic advantage over other students' academic work.
   
5. Unauthorized Access to Grading Records, Computerized Records or Systems: unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems; viewing or altering grading records or computer system records; modifying computer programs or systems; releasing or dispensing information gained via unauthorized access; or interfering with the use or availability of computer systems or information.
   
6. Facilitating Violations of Academic Integrity: assisting or attempting to assist another student in violating academic integrity; allowing another to plagiarize or copy from one's work; unauthorized communication to provide information to another student during an evaluation; providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity.

Reporting Violations

All instances of students violating the Academic Integrity Policy must be reported to Academic Affairs.  When reporting an offense, the instructor must submit written documentation to Academic Affairs. This report needs to be submitted prior to addressing the violation with the student.

The report must include: 

1. Course number (if applicable) 
   
2. Date of infraction and/or date violation was identified 
   
3. Detailed description of the violation
   
4. Copy of supporting evidence (in electronic format, if possible, scanned documents are acceptable) 
   

Upon receiving the report, Academic Affairs will notify the instructor if this is the first violation, second violation, or third violation.

If first or second violation, the instructor will follow notify the student of the infraction and follow the AIP guidelines referenced in the following section of this policy. 

If this is third violation, the instructor will notify the student that they have committed a third violation of the AIP policy and that Academic Affairs will convene a meeting with the Provost and the three Academic Deans.  They will investigate the matter and pursue appropriate sanctions as per stated guidelines.

Response to Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy (AIP)

When an instructor identifies violations of the AIP by a student in a course, it is the responsibility of the instructor to investigate, report the incident Academic Affairs Office, and take action by imposing a proportionate and reasonable sanction on the student.

The instructor, after consideration of the nature of the first violation and the evidence, may impose one or more of the following sanctions:

1. An oral reprimand made directly to the student individually and in private
   
2. A written reprimand presented to the student
   
3. An assignment to repeat the work, to be graded on its merits
   
4. A lower or failing grade on the test, project, or paper in question

The instructor, after consideration of the nature of the second violation and the evidence, may impose one of the following sanctions:

1. A lower grade in the course
   
2. A failing grade in the course

The Provost, in consultation with the Academic Deans and the instructor, after consideration of the nature of the third violation and the evidence, may impose the following sanction:

1. Suspension from the University at the start of the next semester
2. A failing grade in the course

Student Appeals

Students have the right to appeal charges made by instructors for violations of academic integrity. The procedure for review and decision will be similar to the procedures for grade appeals.  

1. The student should first meet with the instructor to discuss the alleged violation. If the student believes the conflict is not resolved, the student may file a formal appeal. The student must submit the form to the instructor, with copies to their chair, dean, and chief academic officer (CAO) within ten days of being notified of the resolution.
   
2. The instructor must respond (to all mentioned in previous step) to the appeal within five business days. 
   
3. If the instructor rejects the appeal, reviewers (the department chair, the dean, and the CAO) meet within 10 business days of receipt of the instructor’s response to the appeal. If any of the reviewers are the instructor named in the appeal, a Dean from another college will fulfill the third role as a reviewer. The student or instructor may provide supplemental information to the reviewers within five business days after the instructor’s response.
   
4. If the reviewers find the allegation of a violation to be legitimate, the appeal fails.
   
5. If the reviewers find the allegation of a violation to be illegitimate, the appeal succeeds and a binding recommendation of a revision of the allegation is made to the instructor.

Students who have been suspended or dismissed for violations of the AIP, but who believe there are extenuating circumstances, may petition the Academic Standards Committee in writing for reinstatement. Such petitions do not include a re-adjudication of the violations. Such petitions must be submitted to the chair of the committee via the Registrar within ten business days of notification of sanctions. Such petitions must include information related to at least one of the three following categories:

1. New or unconsidered information/testimony
   
2. Evidence of bias on the part of the adjudicator(s)
   
3. Evidence of procedural error on the part of the adjudicator(s)

The Academic Standards Committee reviews all applications and supporting documents and decides whether or not to waive the suspension or dismissal. 

Last updated: February 27, 2024