ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Effective: August 15, 2024
Purpose: To define and outline the repercussion for instances of academic dishonesty.
Scope: This policy applies to all University students campus wide.
Responsible Office: Academic Affairs
Policy Statement: The faculty member in whose course or under whose tutelage an act of academic dishonesty occurs has the option of failing the student for the academic hours in question, or for any components or requirements for that course. If the student fails the course as a result of academic dishonesty, a course grade of “XF” may be assigned by the instructor of record to the student’s transcript to indicate the failure in the course was due to academic dishonesty, provided the Academic Dishonesty Committee authorized the “X” part of the grade.
Academic units, schools, and colleges, or the University may have provisions for more severe penalties. Emporia State University may impose penalties for academic dishonesty up to and including expulsion from the student’s major or from the University. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty shall be grounds to deny admission to a academic unit or program. Should a single infraction be so egregious, or should a student have a record of multiple infractions, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs may impose additional penalties, including expulsion of the student from the University.
Once the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs receives the documentation associated with an “XF” grade designation, the Academic Dishonesty Committee shall decide whether the “X” portion of the “XF” grade designation is warranted, and then notify the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the office of the Registrar of the committee’s decision.
The student and the faculty member each have the right to be heard by the Academic Dishonesty Committee. Moreover, each has the right to appeal the charge of academic dishonesty (see Section 4.78 - Academic Appeals). If after an appeal it is found that the student did not commit an act of academic dishonesty, no penalties will be imposed on the student. A student (current or former) who has received a grade of XF may present a written request to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for the removal of the X from the student’s transcript. Two (2) years must pass before the request may be submitted. Granting the removal of the X designation on a student’s transcript is at the discretion of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs provided the student has no additional academic dishonesty violations. An academic unit’s administrative supervisor or director of a program may request from the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs a list of all currently enrolled ESU students within that major or program who have committed acts of academic dishonesty. This request may be a standing request to be filled automatically during each semester until the request is rescinded by the academic unit’s administrative supervisor or director. In addition, an academic unit’s administrative supervisor or director of a program may submit to the office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs a list of applicants to a program or major and may be informed if any of the applicants have committed any acts of academic dishonesty.
Prior to the beginning of the next academic year, the office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shall send to the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate a list containing nonspecific student identifiers, such as, Student 1, Student 2, etc., their specific academic infraction(s) reported to the Provost’s office, the total number of infractions that have been reported for each student, and any actions taken by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Definitions: All words and phrases shall be interpreted utilizing their plain meanings unless otherwise defined in another University or Board of Regents policy or by statute or regulation.
Academic Dishonesty - Academic dishonesty, a basis for disciplinary action, includes but is not limited to activities such as cheating, plagiarism, or any other academically unethical activity as defined in the course syllabus by the faculty member and based on standards of the academic discipline.
Procedures: All procedures linked and related to the policies above shall have the full force and effect of policy if said procedures have first been properly approved by the University’s administrator in charge of Academic Affairs procedures.
[Academic Affairs procedures - coming soon]
Related Policy Information: [coming soon]