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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
fulfi llment 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
notifi cation 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 Offi ce 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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