It is imperative that we, as a University community, value intellectual and moral integrity and promote honesty in work and school as a way to succeed. We must, therefore, identify and penalize all violations of our shared trust as violations of the principles that inspire our institution and bind us together. Faculty and students have a responsibility to behave honestly in whatever ways and by whatever means they use to share information. Academic honesty violations can include, but are not limited to:

  • Using or receiving unauthorized material during a quiz, test, or exam
  • Providing work or materials for another student to copy and submit as their own
  • Using another’s work or materials to submit as one’s own
  • Failing to document and cite all sources used on written and oral communications

Students have a responsibility to comprehend and practice the honest academic behaviors that are stated and implied in this policy without exception and to consult an appropriate University instructor or representative in any situation in which they are uncertain or unclear.

Students have rights when their instructor questions the integrity of a project, assignment, and/or work-product submitted in any course in any form (collectively, the “Work”). Included are the students’ rights to:

  • Receive a written explanation of the alleged dishonesty when an instructor questions the honesty of any Work,
  • Defend an allegation of academic dishonesty in any Work before a final determination is made by an instructor; and,
  • Challenge any decision finding academic dishonesty in the student’s Work through the University’s Academic Honesty Violation Appeal Policy.

When an instructor has reason to believe that this policy has been violated by a student, the following procedures shall be followed. The instructor may consult with the Dean of their School at any time during this process.

  1. NOTICE: The instructor will notify the student through the student’s University email account that there is an allegation of academic dishonesty concerning a Work and the basis for the allegation.
  2. OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND: The student shall have an opportunity to respond, in writing, to an allegation of academic dishonesty and may request to meet with the instructor in person. The student shall deliver the response to the instructor within five (5) calendar days (excluding University holidays) of the student having received notice. After receiving the student’s response, if one is provided, the instructor shall schedule a meeting with the student within five (5) calendar days (excluding University holidays) if requested by the student in the written response.
  3. REPORT: If the instructor determines that the student violated this policy, the instructor shall complete an Academic Dishonesty Occurrence Report within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date the instructor gave the student notice of the allegation of academic dishonesty. The Academic Dishonesty Occurrence Report shall explain the rationale leading to the instructor’s determination that the student violated this policy and detail the consequences of the violation. Possible consequences include, but are not limited to: requiring the Work to be redone, assigning a failing grade for the Work, or assigning a failing grade for the course in which the student submitted the Work. The Academic Dishonesty Occurrence Report shall be submitted to the Provost or designee and the student via an email to come through myMount by auto-generation.
  4. APPEAL OF INSTRUCTOR DETERMINATION: An instructor is required to post the letter grade earned in the class, factoring in any consequences of the academic dishonesty that may negatively impact the grade, even if the finding of a violation of the academic honesty policy is being appealed by the student. If the student wishes to appeal the determination of the instructor, the student must do so, in writing, to the School Dean, or designee. The Dean, or designee, must receive the appeal within three (3) calendar days (excluding University holidays) of the issuance of the Academic Dishonesty Occurrence Report. The Dean, or designee, will convene a conference with the instructor and the student in an effort to resolve the issues within seven (7) business days of the Dean, or designee, having received the written appeal. The Dean, designee, shall tender a written decision on the appeal to the instructor and student, via email, within five (5) business days of the conference. If the instructor is a School Dean, a senior faculty member in the department - appointed by the Provost or an administrator designated by the Provost - will serve in place of the Dean. Should the decision of the Dean, or designee, be unsatisfactory to the student or the instructor, either party may submit a letter of appeal to Provost or designee asking for a review of the decision. The letter of appeal must be received within three (3) calendar days (excluding University holidays) of the issuance of the Dean’s, or designee’s, decision. The letter of appeal must include a description of prior attempts to resolve the issue and the reasons for continuing the appeal. The Provost or designee will collect relevant information and correspond with the instructor and student together or separately before making a final decision. The written decision of the Provost or designee will be provided to all parties within five (5) business days of having received the appeal. This concludes the appeals process as it relates to the instructor’s determination. There is no further appeal. No legal counsel will be present during any part of the appeal process. The student may withdraw an appeal at any juncture by providing a written request to do so to the person with whom the appeal is pending. If a student is successful in his or her appeal, the Provost or designee will notify the instructor and the procedures for a grade change will be initiated.
  5. PROVOST REVIEW: Upon receipt of the Academic Dishonesty Occurrence Report and the expiration of the appeals process described in paragraph 4, the Provost or designee may, based on previous violations of this policy by the student and/or the severity of the violation detailed in the Academic Dishonesty Occurrence Report, determine that additional consequences for the student are necessary beyond those imposed by the instructor. These additional consequences for the student may include, but are not limited to, imposition of Academic Action, which could include suspension or dismissal from the University. In cases where the student may be subject to Academic Action, the respective program chair or dean will be consulted by the Provost or designee. Students will receive notice of any additional consequences to be imposed via email to their official University email account within five (5) business days of the date the Provost or designee received the Academic Dishonesty Occurrence Report.
  6. APPEAL OF ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCES: A student may appeal any additional consequences imposed by the Provost or designee. The appeal must be in writing and will be considered by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs must receive the appeal within three (3) calendar days (excluding University holidays) of the date that the Provost or designee emailed notification of additional consequences to the student. The appeal can be emailed to Provost@msj.edu  or hand delivered to Office 208 in the Administrative Building of the Mount St. Joseph University campus. The appeal must contain the following:
    • The name, address, and phone number of the student;
    • A clear statement of the reason for the appeal; and,
    • The names of any witness(es) or individual(s) who the student believes has knowledge or information that supports the appeal

    The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs may choose to uphold the additional consequences imposed by the Provost or designee, modify the additional consequences imposed by the Provost or designee, or eliminate the additional consequences altogether. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs will notify the student and the Provost or designee, in writing, of her findings on the appeal within five (5) business days. The decision of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs is final; there is no further appeal.