COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONALISM

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The primary objective of CUSBLT is to provide quality education to our students. CUSBLT is committed to the free pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. Faculty members are encouraged to explore, discuss, and create thoughtful teaching and learning experiences that examine differing perspectives. As professionals, they should be honest, responsible, and respectful of others and their opinions. Faculty are expected to support the University’s objectives and to differentiate between their own viewpoints and those of others, including professionally accepted views in a discipline. 

Faculty should present data and information fairly and objectively. True learning can take place only when students do their own work honestly without copying from other students or other sources. CUSBLT enforces the highest standards of academic integrity, both to preserve the value of the education offered and to prepare students to become productive members of the workforce and society. It is the instructor’s responsibility to report any reasonable suspicion of academic dis honesty to the appropriate academic official.  
 

1. Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or citations, plagiarism and helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty. It usually involves an attempt by a student to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill that he/she does not possess. 

2. Course instructors have the initial responsibility for detecting and dealing with academic dishonesty. Instructors who believe that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred are obligated to discuss the matter with the student(s) involved. Instructors should possess reasonable evidence of academic dishonesty. However, if circumstances prevent consultation with student(s), instructors may take whatever action (subject to student appeal) they deem appropriate. 

3. Instructors who are convinced by the evidence that a student is guilty of academic dishonesty shall assign an appropriate academic penalty. If the instructors believe that the academic dishonesty reflects on the student’s academic performance or the academic integrity in a course, the student’s grade should be adversely affected. 

4. Suggested guidelines for appropriate actions are: an oral reprimand in cases where there is reasonable doubt that the student knew his/her action constitute academic dishonesty; a failing grade on the particular paper, project or examination where the act of dishonesty was unpremeditated, or where there were significant mitigating circumstances; a failing grade in the course where the dishonesty was premeditated or planned. The instructor will file an incident report with the Chief Academic Officer. These reports shall include a description of the alleged incident of academic dishonesty, any relevant documentation, and any recommendations for action that he/she deems appropriate. 

5. The CAO shall maintain an Academic Dishonesty File of all cases of academic dishonesty with the appropriate documentation. 

6. Students may appeal any actions taken on charges of academic dishonesty to the Academic Appeals Board. 

7. The Academic Appeals Board shall consist of 2-3 faculty members and at least one student. 

8. Individuals may not participate as members of the Academic Appeals Board if they are participants in an appeal. 

9. The decision of the Academic Appeals Board will be forwarded to the CUSBLT President whose decision is final.