Page 36 of Boston College 2004-2005 Catalog by Boston College University

in the careful preparation of classes, in the serious evaluation of student achievement, and in their genuine interest in and availability to students. Faculty should promote academic integrity in the following specific ways: At the beginning of each course, instructors should discuss academic integrity in order to promote an ongoing dialogue about academic integrity and to set the tone and establish guidelines for academic integrity within the context of the course, e.g., the extent to which collaborative work is appropriate. Where relevant, instructors should discuss why, when, and how students must cite sources in their written work. Instructors should provide students with a written syllabus that states course requirements and, when available, examination dates and times. Instructors are encouraged to prepare new examinations and assignments where appropriate each semester in order to ensure that no student obtains an unfair advantage over his or her classmates by reviewing exams or assignments from prior semesters. If previous examinations are available to some students, faculty members should insure that all students in the course have similar access. Course examinations should be designed to minimize the possibility of cheating, and course paper assignments should be designed to minimize the possibility of plagiarism. Proctors should be present at all examinations, including the final examination, and should provide students with an environment that encourages honesty and prevents dishonesty. Faculty should be careful to respect students intellectual property and the confidentiality of student academic information. Assignment of grades, which is the sole responsibility of the instructor, should be awarded in a manner fair to all students. Academic Deans Academic deans have overall responsibility for academic integrity within their schools. In particular, deans responsibilities include the following: promoting an environment where academic integrity is a priority for both students and faculty, ensuring that students who are honest are not placed at an unfair disadvantage, and establishing procedures to adjudicate charges of academic dishonesty and to protect the rights of all parties. Procedures In each school a Committee on Academic Integrity with both faculty and student members is to be constituted annually. When a faculty member determines that a students work violates the standards of academic integrity, that faculty member should discuss the violation with the student. If the faculty member decides to impose a grading penalty, a letter of notification describing the incident and the grading penalty is to be sent to the students class dean. On receipt of such a notification the class dean will notify the student of the allegation and the grading penalty imposed by the faculty member. The student will be given an opportunity to respond to the faculty members notification in writing. While a case is pending, the student may not withdraw from or change status in the course. Each reported violation of the standards of academic integrity will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Integrity of the students school. In cases involving students from more than one school, or students in joint or dual degree programs, the Committees on Academic Integrity of the pertinent schools will cooperate in their review. A board chosen by the chairperson of the Committee on Academic Integrity from the full Committee will be assigned to each case, with one of the faculty members as chairperson of the review board. The associate dean will serve as a non-voting administrative resource, and will maintain the Committees record of notifications and relevant materials. The faculty member bringing the accusation and the student will be notified that the case is under review by the Academic Integrity Committee. The student will be given an opportunity to respond to the faculty members notification letter in writing. The board at its discretion may interview any individual with knowledge pertinent to the case. The board will decide a case by simple majority vote, and the associate dean will convey to the faculty member and the student the boards findings as to responsibility and recommended sanctions. The associate dean will compile a complete file of each case, to be kept confidential in the Deans office. Files on students found not responsible will be destroyed. Penalties for students found responsible for violations will depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and the students previous record of violations. The committee may simply affirm the faculty members penalty and issue the student a warning, which will be kept in a confidential file in the Deans Office until the student graduates and will not be reportable to professional schools or outside agencies; or it may recommend a different grading penalty and/or impose additional administrative penalties. Such penalties may include university probation, suspension, or expulsion, all of which become part of a students academic record and are reportable to graduate/professional schools and outside agencies. Appeal of the boards decision may be made by written request to the Dean of the school not later than ten days following notice of the boards decision, and the Deans decision will be final. ACADEMIC REGULATIONS Academic Regulations are effective from September of the academic year printed on the cover and binding of this Catalog except where a different date is explicitly stated. If, after a student has withdrawn from Boston College, there have been changes in the Academic Regulations, and if the student is subsequently readmitted to Boston College, the Academic Regulations in effect at the time of return apply. Academic Grievances Any student who believes he or she has been treated unfairly in academic matters should consult with the chairperson of the undergraduate or graduate department or his or her associate dean to discuss the situation and to obtain information about relevant grievance procedures. Academic Record A record of each students academic work is prepared and maintained permanently by the Office of Student Services. While cumulative averages for academic majors are made available to undergraduate students who are currently enrolled, these averages are not maintained as part of a students academic record. The students semester averages and final overall cumulative average appear on the academic record. No cumulative average is maintained for students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Note: Students in Lynch School of Education Graduate Programs and the Connell Graduate School of Nursing who entered their degree program prior to June 1994 will not have a cumulative average maintained. 34 The Boston College Catalog 2004-2005 THE UNIVERSITY: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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