Academic Dishonesty & Plagiarism

Academic dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism. Cheating and plagiarism are the two most serious academic offenses. They should be scrupulously avoided, as the penalties are severe. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words or ideas misrepresented as one’s own original work. Downloading papers from the internet, or using direct quotes from the work of another, constitutes plagiarism unless these sources are clearly accompanied by appropriate references and citations. Usually this takes the form of footnotes and a complete bibliography. Cheating is the use or attempted use on a quiz, test, or other formal examination of sources of information not specifically permitted by the instructor, or the assistance of another student in such unauthorized use of information. The student should assume that the only source of information he or she may make use of in any examination is her or his own mind, unless the instructor specifically allows the use of notes, books, calculators, etc. While Friends World students do not take tests to receive their credits, they may at times face challenge exams (CLEP) or an examination required if a student takes an outside class during the course of Friends World enrollment. Relying on the work of others in the preparation of the Portfolio of Learning would fall under the category of cheating and/or plagiarism.

In accordance with University policy, the advisor/instructor has the responsibility of determining the student’s final credits for a course. The advisor has the right to fail an assignment on which plagiarism or cheating has occurred, and, if he/she should consider that the case warrants it, to award no credits in the course as a result of the student’s dishonesty. With the concurrence of the Center’s Academic Director, the instructor should notify the student in writing of the reason for no credit in the course, and inform the student of his/her right to appeal the charge of dishonesty. A copy of this letter should be forwarded to the Center Director and the Dean of Friends World to be placed on file under the student’s name. In cases of cheating or plagiarism, a member of the faculty may also request the Dean to institute proceedings to have the student suspended or expelled.

A student has the right to appeal a charge of dishonesty, within three weeks of receiving notice of the charge from the instructor. He/she may request a hearing from World Council.

World Council will meet to determine whether or not academic dishonesty has occurred. If the panel finds that dishonesty has not occurred, the faculty member must adjust the student’s records accordingly. If the panel finds that dishonesty has occurred, they may recommend a course of action to the instructor in question, but the student’s record remains under jurisdiction of the instructor. The committee may also request that the Dean institute proceeding to have the student suspended or expelled.


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