Academic Integrity

The UAA Student Code of Conduct lists activities that are considered to be cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty as follows:

• Using material sources not authorized by the faculty member during an examination or assignment;

• Utilizing devices that are not authorized by the faculty member during an examination or assignment; 

• Providing assistance to another student or receiving assistance from another student during an examination or assignment in a manner not authorized by the faculty member;

• Presenting as their own the ideas or works of another person without proper acknowledgment of sources;

• Knowingly permitting their works to be submitted by another person without the faculty member’s permission;

• Acting as a substitute or utilizing a substitute in any examination or assignment;

• Fabricating data in support of laboratory or field work;

• Possessing, buying, selling, obtaining, or using a copy of any material intended to be used as an instrument of examination or in an assignment in advance of its administration;

• Altering grade records of their own or another student’s work; or

• Offering a monetary payment or other remuneration in exchange for a grade.

Any student, faculty or staff member can initiate disciplinary action against a student who violates this Code, resulting in a Student Conduct Review. Depending on the seriousness of the charge, a student may be suspended, expelled, or be stripped of his or her degree.

For more information, visit the Academic Integrity page on the UAA Website, here. 

The APU Academic Integrity & Plagiarism Policy can be found in the APU Student Handbook. 

Academic Integrity is the term used to refer to some of the most important values of the Alaska Pacific University community. APU holds high standards and expectations for the quality and honesty of our work, and for the work of other members of the academic community. APU relies on one another to live up to these standards because the quality and value of our own academic work depends on the trustworthiness of the work done by our colleagues. Academic work is like building blocks as the work of one academic builds upon another; therefore, it is imperative that we acknowledge and properly document the sources of information that we are using. This will also ensure that others can locate the original information if they want to know more. 

The reputation of our academic work is founded on whether others can use it with confidence and feel confident that their own contributions will be acknowledged. Similarly, the reputation of APU and respect for the value of the qualifications we gain from it are earned and maintained through the integrity of our work. 

Plagiarism and Cheating 

Definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a major form of academic dishonesty involving the presentation of the work of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following: 

• The direct copying of a written or electronic source, whether published or unpublished, in whole or in part, without proper acknowledgment that it is someone else’s.

• Copying of a written or electronic source, in whole or in part, with only minor changes in wording or syntax, even with acknowledgment.

• The paraphrasing of another’s work without proper acknowledgments.

• Submitting as one’s own work a report, examination, paper or other assignment that has been prepared by someone else. This includes research papers acquired from any other person or agency. 

• Submitting as one’s work the contents of a computer file prepared by another person. 

Instructor’s Role: A conference between the student and instructor is the first and may be the only step in addressing alleged violations of the Academic Integrity Policy. Once the instructor contacts the student (within a reasonable timeframe), the instructor will inform the student of the details of the alleged violation and will give the student a copy of the Academic Integrity Policy. It is up to the instructor to present evidence of the violation. The student will be given the opportunity to respond and may explain any misconduct.

The instructor has the authority to: 

1. Require the student to revise or replace the work (faculty may assign a deferred grade)
2. Require the student to complete another assignment 22
3. Reduce the grade on the assignment or course
4. Assign a grade of F or zero on the assignment
5. Assign a final grade penalty for the course
6. Assign a failing grade for the course
7. Refer the matter to the Provost 

Appeal of an Informal Proceeding: A student sanctioned for violation of the Academic Integrity Policy may appeal the instructor’s decision that a violation has occurred, and/or the sanction. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the instructor and Provost within 10 working days of the notification of sanction, if notification is received prior to the last week of the term. If notification is sent after the term is over, the written statement of appeal must be submitted no later than the end of the first week of classes in the next semester. 

The written statement of appeal must state the following:
1. Name of the person appealing
2. The basis of the appeal
3. The instructor making the decision
4. The remedy the person appealing is requesting from the Provost 

Provost’s Role in an Appeal: 

As soon as practical, the Provost will convene a meeting to hear the appeal and make a recommendation. The student making the appeal may have an advisor of the student’s choice present at the hearing. The faculty involved will attend the meeting and may ask their Institute Director to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to decide if the findings of the instructor were so incorrect that the decision should be changed. The student and instructor will present their sides of the case along with any evidence. After receiving all information, the Provost will either sustain or deny the appeal. The Provost’s decision will be in writing and will state the findings of fact and conclusion as to whether there has been a violation of policy or a decision that the instructor is to hold another conference with the student. The Provost will not impose a more severe sanction than the one recommended by the instructor, unless such severe sanction is deemed appropriate by the Provost based on documented repeated violations by that student.