Student Handbook
Academic Integrity Policy

Ideas and learning form the core of the academic community. In all centers of education, learning is valued and honored. No learning community can thrive if its members counterfeit their achievements and seek to establish an unfair advantage over their fellow students. The academic standards at DeVry are based on a pursuit of knowledge and assume a high level of integrity in every one of its members. When this trust is violated, the academic community suffers injury and must act to ensure that its standards remain meaningful. The vehicle for this action is the Academic Integrity Policy.

The Academic Integrity Policy is designed to foster a fair and impartial set of standards upon which academic dishonesty will be judged. All students are required to adhere to these standards. This system defines dishonest acts as those which are cited in the following paragraphs. This list is not all-inclusive, as instructors may establish certain other standards based upon the nature of the course or the setting in which the course material may be delivered or applied. The following, however, does constitute the minimum basis upon which academic integrity will be measured.

PREVENTION TECHNIQUES

All DeVry students have a responsibility to adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy, as do all members of the Institute community. Following is a list of ways which students can prevent and confront academic integrity violations:

1. If you observe a violation of the Academic Policy, report it to either of the following:
   • The faculty member teaching the course, or

   • The Director of Student Services

2. Make it difficult and unacceptable for other students to cheat by:
   • Covering your work during exams

   • Refusing to give away old term papers

   • Refusing to provide old exams to other students without the consent of the faculty member

   • Keeping your computer password a secret

   • Denying others access to your computer programs

DEFINITIONS

Dishonest acts for the purposes of this policy are those which permit a student to gain an unfair advantage over other students by any of the means enumerated below:

A. Copying

This act of copying is not limited by the method of conveyance. Visual, oral, notes, printed matter or electronic means all constitute methods by which copying can occur.

1. Any act of copying information from another student by any means to obtain an advantage for one's self.

2. Any act of conveying information to another student for the purpose of providing unfair advantage to that student.

3. Any act of representing others' work, whether copyrighted or not, as one's own. Others' work includes, but not limited to, homework, written papers, examinations, laboratory assignments, published work, circuit designs, software, etc.

In speaking or writing, plagiarism is the act of representing someone else's work as one's own. In addition, plagiarism is defined as using the essential style and manner of expression, of a source as if it were one's own. If there is any doubt, the student should consult his/her instructor or use a "when in doubt, document" philosophy. Also, any statement made without documentation is claimed as your own and therefore subjects you to this plagiarism policy. Examples of plagiarism include:

• Student submission of word for word passages of others' work without proper acknowledgment.

• Paraphrasing of others' work which contains specific information or ideas and which is not shown within quotation marks or is not properly acknowledged.

• Two or more submitted papers, lab assignments, computer programs, etc., which contain a resemblance decidedly beyond the bounds of reasonable coincidence.

• A paper, examination or assignment that contains data or conclusions which, upon questioning, the student cannot explain, support or demonstrate direct knowledge of.

• Computer privacy which includes any act of copyright infringement (protected by Federal, State or Local law), the use of software which has otherwise been expressly prohibited, copying, duplicating software code and copying notes, specifications, technical descriptions of any software code whether copyrighted or not.

C. Collaboration

1. Any act of two or more students actively cooperating on any assignment when such cooperation has not been expressly permitted by the instructor. This may include, but is not limited to, homework, papers to be completed outside of the normal classroom scheduled hours, in-class assignments, laboratory exercises or reports and take-home examinations.

2. Any individual representing another student or being represented by another person for the purpose of taking an examination, authoring a paper for another student, or in any other way fulfilling the obligation of another student when that obligation is expected to be the work of the non-participating student.

D. Alteration of Records

1. Any act by which the signature of an instructor or any authorized agent of instructor (including student faculty assistants) is changed or forged for the purpose or misrepresenting the signature of the instructor or his/her authorized agent.

2. Any act which changes or alters the time or date of a submitted assignment for the purpose of misrepresenting an established due date or time.

3. The alteration of any previously completed examination, record or an examination or any other assignment which has been returned to the student, in an attempt to claim instructor error. This includes any attempt to gain an improved grade or additional credit for work not originally demonstrated.

E. Aids

Any use of aids which have not been expressly permitted. Aids include but are not limited to, calculators, crib notes, notebooks, electronic recording devices, photocopied materials, etc.

F. Proprietary Material

Any unauthorized use of or giving to others proprietary materials obtained by any means. This includes, but is not limited to, examinations, problem solutions, copyright or patent infringement, computer piracy, or unauthorized use of any other material regulated by Federal, State or Local Law.

G. Bribery

1. Bribing another person to obtain an UN-administered test or information about an UN-administered test.

2. Offering money, any item, or service to a faculty member or any other person to gain academic advantage for oneself or another.

3. The offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of any unauthorized information in exchange for anything of value.

G. Lying

Lying is the deliberate misrepresentation by words, actions, or deeds, of any situation or fact, in part, or in whole, for the purpose of enhancing one's academic standing, or for the purpose of avoiding, or postponing the completion of any assignment, duties, test or examination in a course, internship, or cooperative education assignment or program.

I. Other

1. Any act of misrepresenting the facts regarding an absence, or work that has not been completed, for the purpose of gaining an extension of an established due date or for taking a make-up examination.

2. Any act of using the material of others, however obtained, for the purpose of gaining advantage or credit unless the use of such material is expressly authorized.

3. The use of any work previously submitted for credit unless the use of such previously completed work is expressly authorized.

4. Stealing, as theft of grade books from faculty offices or elsewhere.

5. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an un-administered test.

6. Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit any act of academic dishonesty.

PROCEDURES

1. Any member of the Institute community may report a violation of the standards of conduct as described in the Academic Integrity Policy. Any violation should be reported as soon as possible after the event takes place. If a violation is reported, observed or suspected, the instructor will discuss the incident with the student. The student will be given the opportunity to provide an explanation or admit fault. If the student admits fault or presents an unsatisfactory explanation, the instructor will inform the student that the case is being referred to Student Services for action. The instructor will complete the Academic Dishonesty Incident Report, attach copies of supporting documents and forward copies of all documents to the Student Services Office.

2. Upon receipt of the Incident Report, the Dean of Career and Student Services /designee will review the record to determine whether the incident is the student's first, second or third offense.

   a. If the incident is the student's first offense, the Dean of Career and Student Services /designee will review the case and send an appropriate notice to the student within five school days. The student notice will include date of incident, charges, action taken, appeal rights and deadlines. A copy of the Academic Integrity Policy will be included. A copy of the notice will be sent to the instructor for his/her records and the instructor will record a grade of zero (see Sanctions).

   b. If the incident is the student's second or third offense, a Hearing Panel will be convened and all procedures used for an Appeal Board will be followed. The Dean of Career and Student Services /designee will then impose appropriate sanctions based upon the results of the hearing.

SANCTIONS The mandatory sanctions are the minimum required. The discretionary sanctions for each offense may be imposed if deemed appropriate by the Dean of Career and Student Services.

A. First Recorded Offense:

MANDATORY:

• Student receives zero credit for the entire paper, exam, quiz, homework, lab, etc. in which the incident of academic dishonesty occurred. No partial credit may be given.

• Where the incident involves a graded assignment normally subject to a "drop" option, the student may not exercise that option.

• Where the incident involves a graded assignment which has been so comprised that it must be voided for the class, the offending individual's grade for the class will be based upon the inclusion of the zero for the voided assignment.

B. Second Recorded Offense:

MANDATORY:

Student receives a failing grade for the class, lab, etc. in which the second offense occurs. The second offense need not be in the same class, program or term as the first offense to invoke this sanction. Withdrawal from the course will not alter the failing grade.

DISCRETIONARY:

Suspension for up to one academic year.

Permanent expulsion.

C. Third Recorded Offense:

MANDATORY:

Student is permanently expelled from the DeVry system. Again, the third offense need not be in the same class, program or term as either the first or second offense to invoke this sanction.

Appeals/First Offenses

1. The action of the instructor maybe appealed by the accused student to the Dean of Career and Student Services within five (5) school days of receipt of notice of the action. Such appeals will be in writing.

2. The student will be afforded the opportunity to select either a hearing by the Hearing Panel or a hearing by the Dean of Career and Student Services /designee. The Dean of Career and Students Services/designee may require a hearing by the Hearing Panel when he/she feels that such a procedure is in the best interest of the Institute.

3. All charges shall be presented to the accused student in written form. A time shall be set for a hearing, not less than two, nor more than fifteen calendar days after the student has been notified. Maximum time limits for scheduling of hearings may be extended at the discretion of the Dean of Career and Student Services/designee.

4. Hearings shall be conducted according to the following guidelines:

   a. The Dean of Career and Student Services/designee may serve (in a non-voting capacity) as Chairperson of the Hearing Panel.

   b. Hearings normally shall be conducted in private.

   c. Admission of any person to the hearing shall be at the discretion of the Hearing Panel and/or the Dean of Career and Student Services/designee.

   d. In hearings involving more than one accused student, Dean of Career and Student Services/designee, at his/her discretion, may permit the hearings concerning each student to be conducted together.

   e. The complainant and the accused have the right to be assisted by any advisor they choose, at their own expense. The advisor may be an attorney. The complainant and/or the accused is responsible for presenting his or her own case and, therefore, advisors are not permitted to speak or to participate directly in any hearing.

   f. The complainant, the accused and the Institute shall have the privilege of presenting witnesses, subject to the right of cross examination by the Hearing Panel or Dean of Career and Student Services/designee.

   g. Pertinent records, exhibits and written statements may be accepted as evidence for consideration at the discretion of the Dean of Career and Student Services.

   h. All procedural questions are subject to the final decision of the Dean of Career and Student Services/designee.

   i. After the hearing, the Hearing Panel shall determine (by majority vote, if the judicial body consists of more than one person) whether the student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy.

   j. The Hearing Panel's determination shall be made on the basis of whether it is more likely than not that the accused student violated the Academic Integrity Policy.

5. There shall be a single verbatim record, such as tape recording, of all hearings. The record shall be the property of the Institute.

Appeals/Second or Third Offenses

1. A decision reached by a Hearing Panel or a sanction imposed by the Dean of Career and Student Services/designee may be appealed by the accused student or complainant to the Dean of Career and Student Services within five (5) school days of the decision. Such appeals shall be in writing. In cases where the Dean of Career and Student Services/designee is unavailable, the appeal shall be directed to the next administrative level.

2. Except as required to explain the basis of new evidence, an appeal shall be limited to review of the verbatim record of the initial hearing and supporting documents for one or more of the following purposes:

   a. To determine whether the original hearing was conducted fairly in light of the charges and prescribed procedures giving the complaining party a reasonable opportunity to prepare and present evidence that the Academic Integrity Policy was violated and giving the accused student a reasonable opportunity to prepare and present a rebuttal of those allegations.

   b. To determine whether the decision reached regarding the accused student was based on substantial evidence, that it, whether the facts in the case were sufficient to establish that a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy occurred.

   c. To determine whether the sanction(s) imposed were appropriate for the violation.

   d. To consider new evidence, sufficient to alter a decision, or other relevant facts not brought out in the original hearing, because such evidence and/or facts were not known at the time of the original hearing.

3. If a appeal is upheld by the Dean of Career and Student Services, the matter shall be remanded to the original Hearing Panel and Dean of Career and Student Services/designee re-opening of the hearing to allow reconsideration of the original determination and/or sanctions.

Return to: Student Handbook Contents

Home | Student Services | Academics | Campus Info | Financial Info | Admissions | Career Services | Community Outreach