Avoiding Plagiarism: Heritage University Student Code of Conduct

Academic Honesty is an umbrella term that includes a number of actions and activities prohibited at the University and in all professions.  It is important to keep in mind that academic honesty is both an ethical and moral issue.  Additionally copyright law is also a legal issue.  The Heritage University Student Code of Conduct describes the different aspects of Academic Honesty.
 

Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else’s words, ideas, images, or data as one’s own. When a student submits academic work that includes another’s words, ideas, images, or data, whether published or unpublished, the source of that information must be acknowledged with complete and accurate references, and if verbatim statements are included, with quotation marks as well. By submitting work as one’s own, a student certifies the originality of all material not otherwise acknowledged.
 

Fabrication is the act of falsifying research or other findings. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to:

• The false citation or acknowledgment of a direct or secondary source, including the documentation of a source.
• The citation, in a bibliography or other list of references, of sources that were not used to prepare the academic work.
• The inclusion in an academic work of falsified, invented, or fictitious data or information, or the deliberate and knowing concealment or distortion of the data.
• Making false statements or creating documentation defer, delay, or receive an extension on a due date, or be excused from a test or presentation.
   

Cheating is an act or an attempted act of deception by which a student seeks to misrepresent that he or she has mastered information that has not been mastered. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying all or any portion of someone else’s work and submitting it, in part its entirety, as one’s own.
• Allowing another student access to work already completed.
• The unauthorized collaboration with any other person on an academic exercise, including collaboration on a take-home or makeup academic exercise unless permitted.
• The unauthorized use of electronic instruments, such as computers, tablets, cell phones, or translators to access or share information.
   

Academic misconduct includes any act that disrupts the educational process, such as:

• The unauthorized possession, copying, distribution, sale, or other transfer of materials, assignments, tests, or resources to students without the permission of the faculty member.
• Attempting to a grade on an assignment to change the grade of record.
• Accessing University computers, and using screen capture or other devices to obtain answers to tests or assignments.
• Failing to adhere to standards of professional behavior established by a faculty member, an academic program, or the University.
   

 Group Work
Students are often expected to work in groups. Students working in groups that submit a group assignment are confirming the authenticity of the entire work, including that of their peers. If a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy is determined, all students working on that project or assignment will share responsibility, unless the identity of individuals involved in the dishonesty can be determined. Students who suspect another student of academic dishonesty should confront the issue, and if necessary, seek guidance or assistance from the faculty member.
 

Aiding and Abetting in Prohibited Activity
Students attempting, or aiding in the commission of, any prohibited act shall be disciplined. While a lesser breach, conspiring to commit a violation will still be considered an infringement of the Code of Conduct.