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Academic Regulationstc
Academic Regulations
Academic Integrity Policy
Gannon University considers the maintenance of
academic integrity of utmost importance and stresses that students are
responsible for thoroughly understanding this code.
Absolute integrity is expected of every Gannon
student in all academic undertakings; the student must in no way misrepresent
his/her work, fraudulently or unfairly advance his/her academic status, or be a
party to another student’s failure to maintain integrity.
The maintenance of an atmosphere of academic
honor and the fulfillment of the provisions of this code are the
responsibilities of the students and faculty of Gannon
University. Therefore, all students and
faculty members shall adhere to the basic principles of this Code.
I. Forms of Academic Dishonesty
A. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else’s
words, ideas or data as one’s own work. When a student submits work for credit
that includes the words, ideas or data of others, the source of that information
must be acknowledged through complete and accurate documentation, and specific
footnote references, and, if verbatim statements are included, through quotation
marks as well. By placing his/her name on work submitted for credit, the student
certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate
acknowledgments.
A student will avoid being charged with
plagiarism if there is an acknowledgment of indebtedness.
EXAMPLES (Including but not
limited to)
1. Whenever one quotes another
person’s actual words.
2. Whenever one paraphrases another
person’s idea, opinion or theory; and
3. Whenever one borrows facts,
statistics, or other illustrative materials, unless the information is common
knowledge.
4. Downloading or purchasing
material from Internet without identifying appropriate acknowledgement.
B. Fabrication
Fabrication is the use of invented
information or the falsification of research or other findings with the intent
to deceive.
EXAMPLES (Including but not limited
to)
1. Citing information not taken from the
source indicated.
2. Listing sources in a bibliography not
used in the academic exercise.
3. Inventing data or source information
for research or other academic exercise.
4. Submitting as your own any academic
exercise (e.g., written work, documentation or legal document [e.g., patient
charts, etc.], painting, sculpture, etc., etc.) prepared totally or in part by
another.
5. Taking a test for someone else or
permitting someone else to take a test for you.
C. Cheating
Cheating is an act of deception by which a
student misrepresents
that he/she has mastered information on an
academic exercise that he/she has not mastered.
EXAMPLES (Including but not limited
to)
1. Copying from another student’s test
paper and/or other assignments.
2. Actively facilitating another
student’s copying from one’s own test paper/other assignments.
3. Using the course textbook or other
materials such as a notebook not authorized for use during a test.
4. Collaborating during a test with any
other person by receiving information without authority.
5. Using specifically prepared and
unauthorized materials or equipment during a test, e.g. notes, formula lists,
notes written on student’s clothing, etc.
6. Reporting a clinical visit completed
when it was not.
7. Falsifying reports of clinical visits,
laboratory exercises, or field experiences.
D. Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct is the tampering with
grades, or taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of a test not
administered.
EXAMPLES (Including but not limited
to)
1. Stealing, buying or otherwise
obtaining all or part of an unadministered test.
2. Selling or giving away all or part of
an unadministered test including answers to an unadministered test.
3. Bribing any other person to obtain an
unadministered test or any information about the test.
4. Entering a building, office file or
computer/computer system for the purpose of changing a grade in a grade book, on
a test, or on other work for which a grade is given.
5. Changing, altering, or being an
accessory to the changing and/or altering of a grade in a grade book, on a test,
a “change of grade” form, or other official academic records of the University
which relate to grades.
6. Entering a building, office, file, or
computer/computer system for the purpose of obtaining an unadministered test.
7. Hiding and/or mutilating
library/classroom books and/or equipment.
II. Procedure
A. Informal Procedure
If an instructor suspects that a student or
students may have violated Gannon
University’s code of Academic Integrity, he/she
will promptly notify the student(s) involved and request an explanation of the
alleged discrepancies noted. The student(s) will be invited to meet with the
instructor to review the matter in question. The process of notification and
meeting will take place within 30 calendar days of the alleged violation. If the
student is cleared of the suspicion, the matter will be dropped. If the
student(s) admits to the allegation as alleged, the instructor will impose a
sanction upon the student. The student(s) should be aware that admission of
guilt does not eliminate or lessen the sanction imposed by the instructor. If
the sanction involves an “F” for the course or a recommendation that the Dean
suspend or separate the student(s) from the University, a written statement of
the infraction will be forwarded to the student’(s’) academic advisor(s) by the
Academic Dean.
B. Formal Procedure
1. If an instructor suspects that a student or
students may have violated Gannon
University’s Code of Academic Integrity, he/she
will promptly notify the student(s) involved and request an explanation of the
alleged discrepancies noted. The student(s) will be invited to meet with the
instructor to review the matter in question. The process of notification and
meeting will take place within 30 days of the alleged violation. If the
student(s) is/are cleared of the suspicion, the matter will be dropped.
2. If the student(s) and the instructor are not
able to agree on the matter of guilt on the alleged violation or on the severity
of the sanction imposed by the instructor, the student(s) may appeal the
instructor’s decision to the Dean of the College. Any appeal must be made within
10 calendar days of the instructor/student meeting. (Note: exceptions can be
made for unusual circumstances [end of semester, graduation, late grade returns,
etc.].) Students are expected to continue to attend class during the appeal
process.
3. A hearing will be scheduled with the
Academic Dean. The instructor will present pertinent evidence and the student
will be given the opportunity to challenge the evidence and present a defense.
4. The Dean will issue a finding based upon the
evidence presented. If the Dean determines that not enough evidence has been
presented, the matter will be dropped. If the Dean finds the student(s) in
violation of the Code of Academic Integrity, he/she has the power to issue a
sanction. Finally, the Dean has the power to support the sanction originally
imposed by the instructor. (The Dean has the power to augment the sanctions by
issuing administrative sanctions [i.e. suspension or separation]) in
addition to the academic sanctions imposed by the faculty member. In all
deliberations, the Dean may take into account not only the evidence of the
appeal proceeding but also the record of any previous infraction.
5. Following the Dean’s decision, the student(s)
may wish to make a final appeal to the Provost with respect to the fairness of
the original proceeding and/or the appropriateness of the punitive sanction
imposed. The Provost will issue a decision within 10 calendar days of the
appeal. Students are expected to continue attending class during the appeal
process.
Records of completed disciplinary proceedings
are destroyed if the student is acquitted. Records of the completed disciplinary
proceedings are maintained in the Student Conduct Office and the Academic Dean’s
Office if the student is found guilty. The records are maintained for a period
of three years after the student leaves or graduates from the University.
Academic Dishonesty Sanctions
Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty
will be subject to penalties, which, depending on the gravity of the offense,
may include the following:
1. Failure of the assignment involved (subject
to decision by faculty member)
2. Failure of the course (subject to decision
by faculty member)
3. Subject to review and approval of the
Academic Dean, separation from the University
4. Subject to review and approval of the
Academic Dean, expulsion from the University.
III. Policy of Professional Integrity
All students have an obligation to maintain
ethical behavior in relationship to their profession.
Professional Behavior
Those behaviors reflecting status, character,
and standards of the given profession.
Ethical Behavior
Those behaviors in accordance with the accepted
principles of right and wrong that govern the conduct of a profession.
Any student of Gannon University who engages in
unprofessional or unethical conduct is subject to disciplinary action which
could include reprimand, probation, separation and expulsion from the
University.
IV. Sources
Robert M. Gorell and Charlton Laird, Modern
English Handbook, 6th Edition (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall, 1976), p.
71.
Campus Rules and Moral Community; In Place of
In Loco Parentis by David A. Hoekema. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield
Publishers, Inc., 1994.
The format and definitions for the policy on
Academic Integrity were adapted from the “Academic Honesty and Dishonesty”
brochure produced by the College of
Health Sciences, Gannon
University,
Erie, PA
16541.
The format and definitions for the policy on
Academic Integrity were adapted from the School of Hotel Administration, Code of
Academic Integrity, Cornell
University.
Advising
The essence of a quality graduate experience,
regardless of the program, is academic advising. Each program has its own
unique system for delivering information and monitoring the progress of its
graduate students; thus it is essential that each graduate student contact the
director of his or her program to ask for direction. This advice is most
important at the onset of the program to avoid scheduling conflicts and problems
with course sequencing, and to assure that the steps required to complete the
program are understood.
In addition to the program director or dean,
students are encouraged to contact the Center for Adult Learning for
assistance. This office is available, on an ongoing basis, to help with general
problem solving and other graduate needs.
Auditing
With permission of the faculty member and
program director, persons holding bachelor’s degrees may audit select course
offerings. No graduate credit is awarded to audit students. The conditions of
the audit with regard to assignments and examinations will be determined by the
faculty member after discussing each situation with the audit student. Auditors
must have written approval of the course instructor and are advised that they
cannot retroactively upgrade to credit-seeking status after the first two weeks
of the regular semester. Additionally, after the first two weeks of the
semester, a credit student cannot switch to audit status. Once written
instructor permission is obtained, students should contact the Registrar’s
Office.
Changing Graduate Programs
Graduate students who are enrolled in one
program may seek to switch into another graduate program at Gannon. The
decision to accept such transfers is at the discretion of the new program
director and, for students whose cumulative grade point average is below 3.0,
the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Students who change programs are required to
meet with the new program director and have a new program plan developed. While
all courses taken will remain on a single graduate transcript, it will be the
prerogative of the new director to select courses from those previously
completed to become part of the new program requirements.
For purposes of the Academic Program GPA
computation, the new program director will compute a grade point average on the
basis of the courses which are required for that particular program. At the
time that the new program director interviews a student, a letter identifying
the courses factored into the GPA is to be shared with the student, and placed
in the student’s graduate file.
Class Attendance
Attendance at all classes and laboratory
sessions is expected of all students and all courses are conducted with this
understanding. A student’s grades are based upon the general quality of work
performed in each course and by such factors as prompt completion of all
assignments, papers, and readings, by presence for all examinations, and by
participation in class discussion. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of each
faculty member to set reasonable attendance policies appropriate to individual
courses and to publish those policies on course syllabi. When so indicated on
the course syllabus, class attendance may directly influence final grades in a
course
Comprehensive Examination
Many graduate programs require that a student
achieve a satisfactory rating in a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive
examination is ordinarily written but, at the option of departmental faculty, an
oral examination may be required in addition to or in lieu of the written exam.
The comprehensive is an evaluation of the student’s ability to integrate the
content of the program’s courses and research. Comprehensive examinations are
administered on a date that shall be arranged by the individual program
director. A student who fails the comprehensive may petition for permission to
retake the examination during the next scheduled period. Graduate students are
eligible to take the comprehensive examination two times only. A student who
fails the comprehensive examination a second time is subject to dismissal.
Dismissal
Students may be dismissed from Graduate Studies
for academic and/or professional reasons.
Academic:
All students whose GPA falls below 3.0 are
subject to review each semester by their program director, the Dean of Graduate
Studies, and/or their Academic Dean. Separation from the University is the
responsibility of the appropriate Academic Dean in consultation with the program
director and the Dean of Graduate Studies .
Professional:
All students whose professional behavior in the classroom or in clinical
situations falls below professional standards will be subject to dismissal from
the program.
Appeal of dismissal action may be made to the
Academic Dean. Reinstatement to graduate studies at Gannon is possible only
with written permission of the Academic Dean.
Graduate Student Academic Action for a
cumulative grade point average below 3.0 will be based upon the following
guidelines:
•
Graduate students who have attempted fewer than
9 credits at Gannon
University will receive a letter of warning.
•
Graduate students who receive a provisional
academic admission and have attempted 9 credits or more at Gannon
University will be dismissed.
•
Graduate students who received a regular
admission and attempted 9 credits or more but fewer than 24 credits at Gannon
University will be placed on academic
probation. Graduate students who fail to raise their cumulative grade point
average to a 3.0 or above after attempting 9 additional credits will be
dismissed.
•
Notwithstanding the prior guidelines, graduate
students who have attempted 9 credits or more at Gannon
University whose cumulative grade point
average is less than 2.3 will be dismissed.
•
Graduate students who have attempted 24 credits
or more at Gannon University will be subject to dismissal.
None of these guidelines will supersede
individual program requirements that create a higher expectation.
Grade Change
A grade change can only be initiated by the
faculty member who gave the grade. Students who feel there has been an error in
grading, or who wish to challenge a grade, should contact their professor.
Grade Point Average
Computation
Computation of Grade Point Average for a
semester or cumulatively is accomplished by dividing total grade points earned
by the total semester hours for courses where a letter grade between A+ and F is
received. In some circumstances, certain courses not appropriate for a program
(e.g. when a student changes programs) may be excluded from the computation of
the GPA in the program. The grade of A+ carries the same GPA weight as an A,
but represents academic work of extraordinary distinction.
Grading System
The work of all graduate students is evaluated
and then reported in terms of the following grades:
Grade Points
Grade Per Credit Hour
A+...............................................................................
4.0
A.
...............................................................................
4.0
A-
...............................................................................
3.7
B+................................................................................
3.3
B..
...............................................................................
3.0
B-
...............................................................................
2.7
C+................................................................................
2.3
C..
...............................................................................
2.0
F
(Failure).................................................................... 0
I
(Incomplete)............................................................ 0
X
(Withdrawal)........................................................... 0
P
(Pass)....................................................................... 0
AU
(Audit)................................................................... 0
A program may require students receiving a grade
below B- in a specific course to repeat that course. A program may limit a
student to two grades below B-. No student may graduate with a GPA below 3.0.
There is no pass/fail election.
Graduation
Degrees are conferred three times per year:
December, May, and August. Attendance at Commencement ceremonies, which are
held in December and in May, is highly recommended, since graduation is such an
important and joyous occasion in the life of academic institutions. A graduate
student is eligible to participate in the December ceremony only after all
requirements are completed. Students who have applied for May or August
graduation and who have had their application approved by their program director
may participate in the May commencement ceremony and have their names listed in
the program. Graduate students with more than six credit hours remaining to be
completed in the summer may not be approved for August graduation nor
participation in the May ceremony. Graduate students enrolled in current and
future programs that have a structured curriculum that requires more than 6
hours in the summer as the final semester, such as the Physician Assistant
Program, may participate in the May ceremony.
Prospective graduates should complete an
application for graduation early in the semester (or year) of planned
commencement. Submission of this form, which is available in the offices of the
Dean, Registrar, or Center for Adult Learning, will begin an administrative
process in which the student’s file will be carefully examined by the program
director with regard to program requirements for graduation and potential
difficulties. An early application will allow for both expeditious processing
of the request and time to make up any deficiencies.
December graduates must apply for graduation
before September 15. May and August graduates must apply for graduation before
February 15.
Incomplete Grades
Incomplete grades may be assigned at the
discretion of the faculty member in cases of serious need. Students may request
“I” grades, but the decision to grant this concession will be made by the
faculty member.
Students who receive an “I” grade have until the
conclusion of the next regular (not summer) academic semester to complete their
work, submit it, and have the “I” grade changed to a regular letter grade.
Incomplete grades which are not finished within this time period will be changed
to the grade of F, unless an extension is petitioned and granted by the
appropriate faculty member. Exceptions on extensions may be made in cases of
the thesis or research project.
Interruption of Study
It is expected that a degree-seeking student
will make steady and continued progress towards completion of the program.
However, students occasionally must interrupt their studies to take a semester
(or more) off due to personal or professional needs. Each program handles this
situation differently, and the student should contact the program director as
needed. However, if a student has been off for two years or longer, that
student must re-apply for admission to Graduate Studies.
Level 500 Courses
The general rule is that a 500-level course may
be taken by undergraduates only in their senior year, either for undergraduate
credit (cross-listed as a 400-level course) or for graduate credit with
permission of the program director. However, because of the nature of
particular integrated programs, 500-level courses may be taken in the junior
year; such programmatic exceptions must be approved by the Academic Affairs
Committee of the college based upon a recommendation from the Graduate Council.
Minimum Credit Requirements
The minimum required number of credits is 30 for
a Master’s degree and 12 for a certificate. Most degree and certificate
programs, however, have requirements which are in excess of this minimum.
Repeat Courses
A student may elect to repeat a course. The
letter “R” will be placed in front of the original grade and the original grade
will not be calculated in the GPA. Students are required to submit written
notice of a repeated course to the Registrar’s Office if they wish to have the
repeat noted on their transcript. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.
Graduate students may repeat only 6 credit hours of coursework under this policy
unless otherwise indicated in their program.
Second Master’s Degree
An increasing number of students are expressing interest in earning a second
Gannon master’s degree. In cases where (1) the first master’s degree has been
earned recently, (2) select course work from the first degree would normally be
part of the second degree, and (3) the graduate program director judges the
application of these credits to be appropriate, up to twelve credits of upper
(600 or 700) level course work within the second master’s degree level course
work may be accepted in transfer from the first degree.
Course applicability would require
that the earlier course work, rather than the degree itself, be recent (no more
than seven years old) and judged by the particular graduate program director to
be an appropriate substitution for course work within the second master’s
degree.
Statute of Limitations
A student must complete a Master’s degree program within six years of taking the
first course. Exceptions can be granted only by the program director and the
Academic Dean. Additionally, students who have not enrolled for two years must
contact their program directors for approval of registration and review of
remaining requirements. Doctoral Programs will establish their own statute of
limitations and provide that information in the program description.
Thesis or Research Project
With few exceptions, all of the master’s degree programs require either a thesis
or a research project. In either case, students should refer to the program’s
guidelines for advice and direction.
Transcript Policy
The student’s authorization and written signature are
needed to release a transcript. The student can request the transcript in person
in the Registrar’s office, can write a letter addressed to the Registrar’s
office, or can FAX the request.
Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the
Registrar’s office to the party requested. All transcripts given directly to the
student will be stamped “Issued directly to the student.”
Students who need transcripts to submit unopened with
applications should request that the transcript be issued to them in a sealed
envelope. The transcript is stamped “Issued directly to the student,” has the
Registrar’s stamp and the school seal. The envelope is sealed and has the
Registrar’s stamp. The student must submit the transcript in the unopened
envelope with the application. If the envelope is opened it is no longer valid
as an official transcript. Transcripts are not released for students with
financial holds. Partial transcripts are not issued. Each transcript includes
the complete academic record at Gannon University and work accepted from other
colleges.
Official transcripts of credit earned at other
institutions, which have been presented for admission or evaluation of credit
and have become a part of the student’s permanent record in this office, are not
reissued or copies duplicated for distribution. Transcripts from other
institutions must be official and received by Gannon University directly from
the original institution(s). Copies issued to the students with the college seal
will not be accepted. Transferred credit is not added to the Gannon University
transcript unless it is applicable toward a degree at Gannon University.
Access to Student Records
In accordance with the 1975 Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act, the University has established a policy concerning access to
student records. The full policy is available upon request from the Registrar’s
Office. The following items are included here because of their general interest:
1.Grade reports, probation and
suspension letters, and other correspondence are sent directly to all students
at their home address.
2.Access to student records is
permitted only upon receipt of a written release by the student.
3.Students may have access to
parental financial records submitted in support of financial aid applications.
4.With certain exceptions, each
student has access to his or her personal and academic records.
5.Students may request that
directory information not be released to anyone.
Transfer of Credits
Transfer credits from other institutions are accepted at the discretion of
program directors. Generally, a maximum of six credits may be accepted in
transfer for courses in which a student received at least a grade of “B” (3.0).
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