Academic Integrity

Penn State Altoona Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures

The Penn State Altoona learning community prizes academic integrity as a cornerstone of all of its endeavors. All members of our learning community should be aware of the University's policy and procedures on academic integrity. Students must inform themselves of the academic integrity standards in each course for which they are enrolled. Faculty must communicate their expectations about academic integrity and clarify the application of University and College policies to the students in their courses. Faculty must also take reasonable steps to anticipate and deter academic dishonesty. Finally, all faculty members must report violations of the academic integrity policy including recommended sanctions they have applied as a result of the violations.

The following websites and other links provide additional information regarding academic integrity policies and procedures.

This page describes in detail academic integrity policy and procedures at Penn State Altoona as follows:

  1. Instructor Responsibility for Academic Integrity
  2. Academic Integrity at the Instructor-Student Level
  3. Types of Sanctions for Violations of Academic Integrity
  4. Academic Integrity Committee
  5. Academic Integrity Committee Review Board
  6. Academic Integrity Review Board Hearings
  7. Academic Integrity Coordinator
  8. Student Rights in Alleged Violations of Academic Integrity

I. INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Instructors must familiarize themselves with policy and procedures regarding academic integrity and should also be familiar with the suggested sanctions for violations. The website links above will be useful for these purposes.

At the beginning of each course the instructor should provide students with a statement explaining the application of academic integrity policies to that course. This statement should stress the importance of academic integrity, specify any particular definitions of academic integrity appropriate for that course, and outline the range of penalties for infractions of academic integrity. To support appropriate behavior and to protect the rights and maintain the trust of honest students, the instructor should take reasonable steps to anticipate and deter acts of dishonesty in all assignments. (See for example Senate Policy 44-40: Proctoring of Examinations.)

II. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AT THE INSTRUCTOR – STUDENT LEVEL

  1. Instructors suspecting violations of academic integrity may consult with their Division Heads, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and/or the Office of Judicial Affairs, especially if they anticipate recommending disciplinary as well as academic sanctions.

  2. An instructor suspecting a violation of academic integrity will inform the student of the allegations in a timely manner, in writing if necessary, while taking into account the need to respect each student's privacy and the goal of maintaining an environment that supports teaching and learning. The instructor will offer to meet to discuss the situation and give the student an opportunity to respond. Either the instructor or the student may wish the meeting to take place in the presence of a third party, such as a Division Head or an academic discipline coordinator. The instructor should inform the student of the allegation, the proposed academic sanctions, whether the instructor recommends a disciplinary sanction, and the college procedure for violations of academic integrity, including the student's rights.

  3. The instructor may allow a cooling-off period of three (3) business days after meeting with the student. The student may wish to respond more fully, to consult with an advisor or other knowledgeable University personnel, and/or to become more familiar with college academic integrity policy and procedures. This also allows time for the instructor to take the student's response into account.

  4. If the instructor determines that a violation occurred, the instructor will fill out and sign an Academic Integrity Form specifying the violation, the proposed academic sanctions, and whether the instructor recommends a disciplinary sanction. This must be accomplished in a timely manner to protect the student's due process rights. (NOTE: The student may not drop or withdraw from the course to avoid a sanction for a violation of academic integrity. Any such drop action will be reversed.) The instructor will give the form to the student to read and sign and one of the following will result:

    1. If the student accepts responsibility for the violation and the proposed sanction, the student should sign the Academic Integrity Form in the space provided and return the form to the instructor.

    2. If the student wishes to contest the allegation and/or the academic sanction and seek a review by the Academic Integrity Committee as described below, the student should sign the Academic Integrity Form in the space provided and return the form to the instructor.

    3. If the student refuses to sign, this will be documented by the instructor and the case will move forward as if the student signed accepting responsibility for the violation and the proposed sanction.

  5. If the student signs accepting responsibility for the violation and the sanction, the instructor will apply the academic sanction and forward the Academic Integrity Form with appropriate documentation to the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs.

  6. If the student signs contesting the allegation and/or the sanction, the instructor will forward the Academic Integrity Form to the Assistant Dean along with a written statement specifying the alleged violation, the recommended sanction and the supporting documentation. The instructor will also inform the student that a written statement contesting the allegation and/or sanction must be forwarded to the Assistant Dean within five (5) business days.

III. TYPES OF SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY


Academic sanctions are actions or interventions that affect the student's grade and/or enrollment in a course in which an act of academic dishonesty was committed. They may range from a warning, to a reduced grade or failure in an assignment or examination, to a failure in the course, and/or to removal from an academic program (see website link above).

Disciplinary sanctions generally affect a student's status within the University. They are assigned only by the Office of Judicial Affairs and may range from a disciplinary warning to expulsion from the University. Included as a disciplinary sanction is the assignment of an "XF" grade for a course. It indicates on a student's academic transcript that failure in a course involved a serious act of academic dishonesty. The Office of Judicial Affairs assigns it only with the concurrence of the instructor and the College Academic Integrity Committee.

Instructors should normally assign academic sanctions which support the learning process. For first offenses, an instructor may recommend a disciplinary sanction in conjunction with the Academic Integrity Committee to the Office of Judicial Affairs, but should do so only when the situation warrants. For subsequent offenses, in addition to academic sanctions, the instructor may also recommend disciplinary sanctions. However, all subsequent offenses require a review by the Office of Judicial Affairs for potential disciplinary charges and sanctions.

IV. THE ALTOONA COLLEGE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COMMITTEE


The Committee on Academic Integrity at Penn State Altoona exists to promote a climate of high ethical expectations and trust, and to decide academic integrity cases where faculty members and students cannot agree. It may also refer matters that could result in further disciplinary sanctions. More specifically, this Committee shall review and settle all contested cases within the college in which academic sanctions may be applied, and forward all settled cases to the Office of Judicial Affairs for recording.

The Chancellor shall appoint faculty, students and academic administrators to this Committee. Four faculty members (one from each division and nominated by the division head), two students (chosen from full-time students enrolled in a degree program who are nominated by the Student Government Association), and a division head (selected by the Chancellor) will constitute the Academic Integrity Committee. The Chair of the Committee shall be a tenured member of the faculty. An equivalent number of alternates from each area shall also be appointed to serve on the Committee as necessary. Faculty and division head members will be appointed for staggered two-year terms. Student members will be appointed to one-year terms.

In addition to the general responsibilities outlined above, the Committee will be responsible for providing frequent, clear, and firm messages of high expectations to all persons affiliated with the College concerning academic integrity, together with useful suggestions for meeting them. It shall continually seek ways to promote and advance academic integrity.

Statements on academic integrity policy and procedures are included in the full-time and part-time faculty handbooks. The Committee will ensure that these policies and procedures are discussed every fall at the part-time faculty orientation, the new faculty orientation, and the general Faculty and Administration Fall Conference. The Committee, in consultation with the Assistant Dean and/or the Office of Judicial Affairs, will also hold workshops periodically on academic integrity policy and procedures.

V. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COMMITTEE REVIEW BOARD


The Academic Integrity Committee Chair will serve as Chair of the Review Board for each particular review, including hearings. The Chair will appoint two additional faculty members and one student from the members and alternate members of the Academic Integrity Committee so as to avoid conflicts of interest. If the Chair has a conflict of interest, the Vice-chair or, if necessary, another faculty member appointed by the Chair will serve as Review Board Chair instead.

The Review Board Chair will convene the Board as soon as possible after the Assistant Dean receives written statements and, if appropriate, evidence from both the instructor and the student. The Board will consider cases as follows:

  1. For first offense cases in which the student accepts responsibility for the violation and the proposed sanction, but the instructor recommends a disciplinary sanction, the Board will examine the written statements and evidence without formal fact finding. The Board may support the recommendation and forward it to the Office of Judicial Affairs for final consideration, or it may decide not to support the recommendation. In the latter case, the Board Chair will inform the instructor and the student in writing that it does not support the recommendation and this will end all consideration of a disciplinary sanction. The Assistant Dean will forward the completed academic integrity form to the Office of Judicial Affairs for record keeping.

  2. If the instructor does not recommend a disciplinary sanction, but there is a record of previous academic integrity violations, the Committee will review the case to determine whether it supports the recommended academic sanctions. The Chair will inform the Assistant Dean of its decision, and the Assistant Dean will forward the case to the Office of Judicial Affairs, which may in turn, apply a disciplinary sanction based on this cumulative record.

VI. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY REVIEW BOARD HEARINGS


The Review Board will conduct hearings only for cases in which the student contests the allegations or academic sanctions, for which the student does not have a record of a previous violation of academic integrity, and the Review Board has already decided not to recommend disciplinary sanctions. The student always has the right to a hearing, but has the option to request the Board to base its decision on the written documentation only. Both the instructor and the student have the right to change their minds about their response to the alleged violation and the proposed academic sanction at any time before the Review Board reaches its decision.

The Assistant Dean in consultation with the Review Board Chair will schedule the hearing as early as possible taking into account the availability of all participants and allowing the student reasonable time to prepare.

The Review Board Chair will direct the hearing process, maintain order, ensure that standards and confidentiality are maintained, and rule on procedures, the admissibility of evidence, and the relevance of information presented. Hearings will be closed; only the Board members, the instructor, the student, and specified witnesses may attend. Witnesses will only be present while giving testimony or answering questions.

Testimony will be heard from the instructor, the student, and from any witnesses from both sides with relevant information. The instructor will present the evidence of the academic integrity violation and the rationale for the proposed academic sanction. The student will have the opportunity to question the instructor, to question witnesses, to challenge the evidence, to present witnesses, and to explain the suspected behavior. The Board may question all participants.

The student has the right to be informed of the hearing (date, time, location) in a reasonable time to adequately prepare for it, to waive this right for reasonable time to prepare and proceed as permitted, to timely review of available evidence and documentation prior to the hearing, to be absent from the hearing, to provide testimony as a defense, to question accusers and witnesses present, and to a written report stating the rationale for the findings and sanctions. The student may have a University-related advisor such as a faculty member, a staff member, or another student present at the hearing, but not an attorney or a parent. No recordings may be made of the proceedings.

Following the hearing, the Board will deliberate and decide by majority vote, excluding the Review Board Chair (except to break a tie), whether or not to hold the student responsible for an academic integrity violation. The Review Board will render its decision on the basis of clear and convincing evidence presented at the hearing. The Board will decide whether or not it would be reasonable to draw a supported and clear conclusion based on the existing relevant and admissible evidence that an academic integrity violation had occurred. If the Review Board finds the student responsible, it will then select an appropriate academic sanction. It may leave standing the academic sanction proposed by the instructor or apply a more severe or a less severe sanction.

The Board will make its decision, and the Review Board Chair will then notify the instructor and student of the decision and rationale in writing in a timely manner. There is no appeal from the Review Board's decision. If the Review Board finds the student responsible for an academic integrity violation, the instructor will apply the academic sanction selected by the Review Board, and the Assistant Dean will forward the result and the Academic Integrity Form to the Office of Judicial Affairs for record keeping. If the Review Board finds the student not responsible, the instructor will grade the student based on the finding that no violation occurred, and the Assistant Dean will ensure that all records concerning the case are destroyed.

VII. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT


The Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs will provide administrative support for the appropriate performance of academic integrity procedures at Penn State Altoona. The Assistant Dean will also provide administrative support to the Academic Integrity Committee and will be a resource for instructors and students seeking information or assistance in dealing with academic integrity issues.

The Assistant Dean will ensure that the Academic Affairs website makes clear the broad expectations of the College regarding academic integrity as well as the guidelines for handling all cases involving academic integrity at Penn State Altoona. Specifically, the Assistant Dean will be responsible for the following:

  1. Receive all completed Academic Integrity Forms submitted by instructors along with appropriate documentation.

  2. Check that the forms are filled out appropriately, verify that the instructors have followed appropriate academic integrity procedures, and provide assistance where needed.

  3. Receive written statements from students contesting allegations and/or sanctions.

  4. Check with the Office of Judicial Affairs to ascertain whether the student involved has a record of previous academic integrity violations. If a prior record is discovered, the Assistant Dean will arrange for the Academic Integrity Committee to review the case to determine whether it supports the recommended academic sanctions.

  5. Forward all the information regarding a contested allegation of academic integrity to the Chair of the Academic Integrity Committee, who will determine the appropriate disposition of the case.

  6. Assist in scheduling Academic Integrity Committee Review Board Hearings and in providing appropriate information to the parties involved.

  7. Assist in transmitting letters to the appropriate parties at the conclusion of Academic Integrity Committee Review Board Hearings.

  8. Forward Academic Integrity Forms and appropriate documentation to the Office of Judicial Affairs at the conclusion of Academic Integrity Committee procedures.

  9. Arrange for staff support to the Academic Integrity Committee as necessary.

VIII. STUDENT'S RIGHTS IN ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY


Instructors should explain and clarify academic integrity standards applicable to their course.

An instructor suspecting a violation of academic integrity must inform the student and offer to meet to discuss the situation, and give the student an opportunity to respond. Either the instructor or the student may wish the meeting to take place in the presence of a third party, such as a Division Head or an academic discipline coordinator. The instructor should inform the student of the allegation, the proposed academic and disciplinary sanctions, and the college procedure for violations of academic integrity, including the student's rights (NOTE: The student may not drop or withdraw from the course to avoid a sanction for a violation of academic integrity. Any such drop action will be reversed.)

The student may request additional time (typically 3 business days) to respond more fully, to consult with an advisor or other knowledgeable University personnel, and to become more familiar with college academic integrity policy and procedures.

If the instructor determines that a violation occurred, the instructor will fill out and sign an Academic Integrity Form specifying the violation, the proposed academic and sanctions, and whether the instructor recommends a disciplinary sanction. The instructor will give this form to the student to read and sign. This must be accomplished in a timely manner to protect the student's due process rights.

If the student accepts responsibility for the violation and the proposed sanction, the student should sign the Academic Integrity Form in the space provided and return the form to the instructor. The instructor will then apply the agreed upon academic sanction, thus ending the academic sanction part of this process, and forward the form and supporting documents to the Assistant Dean for review. Following review, these records are forwarded to the Office of Judicial Affairs. If the instructor also recommends a disciplinary sanction, or if the student has a record of previous academic integrity violations, the Office of Judicial Affairs may determine and apply an appropriate disciplinary sanction according to its procedures (see website link above).

If the student wishes to contest the allegation and/or the academic sanction and seek a review by the College Academic Integrity Committee, the student should sign the Academic Integrity Form in the space provided and return the form to the instructor. The student should then give a written response to the allegation and/ or sanctions within five (5) business days to the Assistant Dean, who will initiate an Academic Integrity Review by a Review Board.

The Review Board will conduct hearings only for cases in which the student contests the allegations or academic sanctions, the student does not have a prior record of academic integrity violations, and the Review Board has already decided not to recommend disciplinary sanctions. (The Committee forwards cases involving possible disciplinary sanctions to the Office of Judicial Affairs.) Otherwise, the student always has the right to a hearing, but also has the option to ask the Board to base its decision on the written documentation only. Both the instructor and the student have the right to change their minds about the alleged violation and the proposed academic sanction at any time before the Review Board reaches its decision.

The student has the right to be informed of the hearing in a reasonable time to adequately prepare for it, to waive this right for reasonable time to prepare and proceed as permitted, to timely review of available evidence and documentation prior to the hearing, to be absent from the hearing, to provide testimony as a defense, to call witnesses, to question accusers and witnesses present, and to a written report stating the rationales for the findings and sanctions. The student may have a University-related advisor such as a faculty member, a staff member, or another student present at the hearing, but not an attorney or a parent. Hearings will be closed. Witnesses will only be present while giving testimony or answering questions. No recordings may be made of the proceedings.

The Review Board will base its decision on the basis of clear and convincing evidence presented at the hearing. The Board will decide whether or not it would be reasonable to draw a supported and clear conclusion based on the existing relevant and admissible evidence that an academic integrity violation had occurred.