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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Dakota Wesleyan University is dedicated to the building of character
and to the pursuit of lifelong learning. To be successful in the pursuit
of these goals, honesty and integrity must be a part of every learning
opportunity on campus. Academic dishonesty breaks the trust necessary
for the building of community and the promotion of learning and spiritual
values. All members of the institution, including faculty, staff and
students share the responsibility to report incidents of academic dishonesty.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, any act of cheating,
fabrication, plagiarism, abuse of resources, forgery of academic documents,
dissimulation, sabotage, and any act of facilitating or aiding any
of the foregoing.
The following definitions are listed to clarify this
policy, not to define all possible situations:
- Cheating is using
or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study
aids in any academic exercise. Examples: copying homework,
copying someone else's test or using unauthorized information
such as a "cheat
sheet"
- Fabrication is the falsification or invention of
any information or citation in any academic exercise. Examples:
making up a source,
giving
an incorrect citation or misquoting a source
- Plagiarism is the
representation of the words and ideas of another as one's own in
any academic exercise.
- Dissimulation is the disguising or altering of
one's own actions so as to deceive another about the real nature
of one's actions
concerning an academic exercise. Examples: fabricating
excuses for such things
as
missing classes, postponing tests, handing in late papers
or turning in a paper for one class that was originally written for
another class (when original work is requested)
- Abuse of resources
is the damaging of any resource material or inappropriate limiting
of access to resource material that
is necessary
for academic
work. Examples: destroying or hiding library materials,
removing non-circulating material from the library, hiding or stealing
another person's textbook,
notes or software or failure to return library materials
when requested by the library
- Forgery of academic documents is the
unauthorized changing or construction of any academic document.
Examples: changing
transcripts,
changing
grade books, changing grades on papers which have been
returned or forging
signatures
- Aiding and abetting academic dishonesty is
knowingly facilitating any of the acts described in this policy
or any other incidents
of academic dishonesty not specifically described.
Instructors
are encouraged to discuss this policy with their classes at the start
of each term and to list the
first paragraph
of this
policy in their syllabi, with references of where to
find the complete listing
of the policy in the DWU Catalog and DWU Student Handbook.
Violations of Academic Integrity Policy
Violations of this academic integrity policy will,
at the discretion of the faculty member, result on
the first
offense
with one
of the following:
- a reprimand (written or verbal)
for unintentional violations;
- a zero for the assignment (paper,
exam or project) for intentional or flagrant violations;
- a grade
reduction or failing grade in the course for intentional or flagrant
violations.
- administrative removal from course(s) in question
for successive or flagrant violations. The
vice president for
academic affairs
and/or vice
president for campus life in consultation
with the faculty member(s) have the authority to administratively
withdraw/drop/remove
student
from one or more courses as deemed necessary
and appropriate and/or to be
in the best interests of the university or
the student.
Unintentional infractions may be reported
to the vice president for academic affairs and dean
at
the discretion
of the
faculty member.
All infractions
deemed by the faculty to be intentional MUST
be reported in writing to the vice president
for academic
affairs
and dean
and the student
will
be notified. The vice president for academic
affairs and dean shall keep a record of reported
infractions
and sanctions
and
at her/his
discretion
this information may be released to faculty,
department or division chairs.
Any subsequent
intentional violations of the policy by the student during her/his
academic career at
Dakota Wesleyan University will result in
a disciplinary hearing before the Educational
Policies and
Curriculum
Committee (EP&C) to consider penalties
in addition to those imposed by the instructor,
including a failing grade for the course or
possible
suspension from the institution. Any student
has the right to appeal the decision of EP&C,
in writing, to the vice president for academic
affairs and dean, whose decision is final. ADMISSION TO CLASS
Admission to some courses requires the consent of the instructor. Consent
is based on whether or not the student has the necessary background
or prerequisites. Students who do not have the necessary prerequisites
for a class may be withdrawn from the class at the discretion of the
instructor in consultation with the academic dean. Payment of the student's
bill or arrangements to pay the bill should be completed at the business
office. The completion of this process is official admission to class.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Faculty members will announce their specific
attendance policies in their course syllabi.
It is the student's responsibility to
adhere to the class
attendance policy established by the instructor. Responsibility for confirming "excusable" absences
with the instructor also rests upon the student. Students are encouraged
to confer with the instructor in advance about an event which necessitates
a student's absence. The student is responsible for making up all work
missed because of absences. Refer to the college catalog for further
details.
CLASS CANCELLATION INFORMATION
When and if the president makes a decision
to delay class start times and/or cancel
classes, this information will be immediately
transmitted
to the following news media: KORN AM 1490, KQRN 107.3, KMIT FM 105.9
radio, and KELO-TV, KDLT-TV and KSFY-TV. You may also call 995-2123 for
class cancellation information.
Regardless of what decisions are
made concerning class schedules before
or during weather-related storms and
unusual conditions, there needs to
be a very clear understanding that
each individual is best able to judge
her or his circumstances and make appropriate
decisions. The university does not
encourage anyone to place themselves
in life-threatening situations. |
FAMILY
EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS TO PRIVACY ACT (also
known as FERPA)
FERPA is a federal law that requires all
institutions of higher education, including
Dakota Wesleyan University to protect students’ “education
records” and “personally identifiable information.” This
law protects all students who are or have been in attendance at Dakota
Wesleyan University. FERPA does not protect individuals who have never
been admitted to DWU. DWU is committed to protecting your information
and is in compliance with federal regulations regarding access to your
records and release of confidential information and has provided the
following information to you regarding when and how it may be released.
If you have additional questions regarding this information, contact
the campus life office located in Prather Hall.
1. “Education records” is
a term that encompasses all recorded information, regardless of the medium,
which is directly related to a
student and is maintained by DWU. Education records include, but are
not limited to, admissions, personal, academic, certain personnel, financial
aid, cooperative education and placement records. Education records do
not include the following:
- Records of instructional, supervisory, administrative and
ancillary educational personnel which are in the sole possession
of the maker and are not accessible
or revealed to any individual except a substitute who may temporarily
perform the duties of the maker;
- Records of a law enforcement unit of DWU which are maintained
solely for law enforcement purposes and are not disclosed to individuals
other
than law enforcement officers of the same jurisdiction. Education
records of DWU may not be disclosed, however, to the law enforcement
unit;
- Records relating to individuals who are employed by DWU
which are made and maintained in the normal course of business, relate
exclusively to
individuals in their capacity as employees and are not available
for another purpose. Employment records of persons who are employed
solely
as a consequence of college attendance—e.g., teaching/graduate
assistants, work-study students, student interns—are considered
education records.
- Records created and maintained by a physician, psychiatrist,
psychologist or other recognized professional or paraprofessional
acting or assisting
in a professional capacity, such as student health records, to
be used solely in connection with the provision of treatment to the
student and
not disclosed to anyone other than for treatment purposes. Treatment
in this context does not include remedial education activities
or other activities which are part of the program of instruction
at DWU; and
- Records which contain only information relating to a person
after that person is no longer a student at the institution (e.g.,
alumni accomplishments).
2.
FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.
| A. |
The right to inspect and review the student's education records
within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for
access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of
the academic department or other appropriate official, written
request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The
university official will arrange for access and notify the student
of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the
university official to whom the request was submitted does not
maintain the records, that official shall advise the student of
the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. |
| B. |
The right to request the amendment of the student's education
records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe
is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the university
officials responsible for the record, clearly identify the part
of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate
or misleading. FERPA was not intended to provide a process to be
used to question the substantive judgments that are correctly recorded.
For example, the rights of challenge are not intended to allow
a student to contest a grade in a course because the student felt
a higher grade should have been assigned. |
| C. |
The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable
information contained in the student's education records, except
to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure
to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school
official is a person employed by the university in an administrative,
supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including
law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company
with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor
or collection agent); a person serving on the DWU Board of Trustees;
or a student serving on an official committee (such as a disciplinary
or grievance committee), or assisting another school official in
performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate
educational interest if the official needs to review an education
record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. |
| D. |
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning
alleged failures by Dakota Wesleyan University to comply with the requirements
of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family
Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue
SW, Washington, DC, 20202-4605 |
3. The items listed
below are designated as "directory information" and
may be released for any purpose at the discretion of our institution.
Directory information at Dakota Wesleyan University is defined as:
student name, campus box #, campus phone, residence hall address,
permanent address,
permanent telephone, email address, parents' names, hometown, high
school attended, dates of attendance, full time/part time status,
honors, awards,
special recognition, degree(s) received, major, classification (senior,
junior, etc.) activity photographs and sports participation, including
height and weight of team members.
Under the provisions of the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, you have the
right to withhold the disclosure
of the directory information. Should you decide to inform the institution
not to release this directory information, any future requests for
such
information from non-institutional persons or organizations will
be
refused.
The institution will honor your request to withhold the
directory information listed below, but cannot assume responsibility
to contact
you for subsequent
permission to release them. Regardless of the effect upon you, the
institution assumes no liability for honoring your instructions that
such information
be withheld.
| If you choose to withhold directory information, you must complete
a "Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information" form
at the registrar's office by the end of finalization. A new form
for non-disclosure must be completed each academic semester. |
Note: Directory information
is a term used by FERPA to designate information that may be released
without your consent. Although the
campus directory
will publish name, address and phone numbers, other information
considered directory information will not be published. Dakota Wesleyan
University
is committed to insuring that student information is only released
for legitimate requests that will assist our students in their
educational experience at Dakota Wesleyan University.
4.Parental Notification.
Higher Education Amendments #951 and #952 permit, but do not require,
an institution of higher education to
disclose to
parents or legal guardians the results of disciplinary hearings
in the following circumstances.
| A. |
If the student, under 21 years of age, has been found responsible
for violating campus rules regarding the use or possession of
alcohol or a controlled substance; |
| B. |
If the student, under 21 years of age, violated university
narcotic or other controlled substance policies and if the student
has committed alcohol violations that result in an assessment
for chemical dependency, residence hall probation or a more severe
sanction as allowed under these guidelines; or |
| C. |
If the student has been found in violation of any crime of
violence or non-consensual sexual offense, as deemed necessary
and/or appropriate. |
5.
The aforementioned information is not all inclusive and there are
other circumstances where the institution is permitted to release
information
with and without student consent. While the law contains additional
exceptions, DWU reserves the option of requesting written permission
from the student
prior to release of certain types of information. Contact the
vice president for campus life regarding specific situations and/or
questions.
STUDENT RIGHTS IN THE CLASSROOM
Faculty members should not grade a student on his/her personal
beliefs or opinions but should grade rather on the student's
understanding of the content of the course being studied.
| A. |
Protection Against Improper Academic Evaluation
Students have protection through orderly procedures against prejudiced or capricious
academic evaluations. At the same time, students are responsible for maintaining
standards of academic performance established for each course in which they
are enrolled. Students wishing to appeal a grade may do so by submitting a
statement of their reasons for appeal to the academic dean no later than four
weeks after the beginning of the following semester. An appeals board considers
the request. |
| B. |
Grade Change
The statute of limitations on grade changes is one academic year after the grade
has been given. To implement a grade change the instructor prepares a petition
to the academic dean stating the reason for the change. Grades will not be
changed except where instructor error in evaluation is apparent. Grades are
not changed on the basis of reevaluation of the instructor's original judgment
or student request to submit additional work to raise the grade. |
| C. |
Grade Appeals
Students have the right to appeal if they feel they have been graded unfairly.
Students wishing to appeal a grade may do so by submitting a statement of their
reasons for appeal to the academic dean no later than four weeks into the following
semester, after grades have been released. The request is considered by an
appeals board, which consists of the academic dean, vice president for campus
life and department chair. |
| D. |
Protection Against Improper Disclosure
Information about students' views, beliefs and political associations which professors
acquire in the course of their work as instructors, advisers and counselors
should be considered confidential. It is a serious professional obligation
of the faculty to guard against improper disclosure. Judgment of ability and
character may be provided under appropriate circumstances in a professional
capacity, normally with the knowledge and consent of the student. |
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