Current Students

Home » Current Students » Student Handbook » Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity Code

Purpose and Scope of the Academic Integrity Code

1.  The following statements comprising the Academic Integrity Code are adopted for the purpose of providing a precise set of expectations and at the same time offering the assurance that all students will be accorded fair and objective treatment when violations occur.

2.  These standards of discipline will apply to students engaging in academic activities of any kind or interfering with academic activities of any kind associated with Brookdale Community College. 

Process and Discipline Procedures

The College ensures that the rudimentary requirements of due process in academic disciplinary matters will be implemented. These requirements are:

1.  Written notification of charges and possible penalties within a reasonable time period.

2.  The opportunity to have a discussion to clarify evidence and/or review of an incident before an initial determination is made by a hearing officer.

3.  The opportunity of having a hearing or waiving the right to a hearing and accepting the penalties imposed.

4.  Written notification of the time, place and date of the hearing at least three working days in advance.

5.  The opportunity to present evidence and witnesses.

6.  Written notification of findings and sanctions or penalties imposed.

7.  Written notification of an appeal process. 

Student Obligations / Academic Violations

A student has an obligation to exhibit honesty and high ethical standards in carrying out academic assignments. Without limiting the application of the principle, a student may be found to have violated this obligation if he/she:

1.  Presents as one's own for evaluation the ideas, representations or words of another person or persons, without customary and proper acknowledgment of sources. (Students should consult course syllabus and/or specified writing handbook.)

2.  Submits the work of another person in a manner that represents the work as one's own.

3.  Knowingly permits one's work to be submitted by another person without the instructor's authorization.

4.  Refers to materials, sources, or employs devices not authorized by the instructor during an academic evaluation.

5.  Receives or gives assistance during an academic evaluation from/to another person in a manner not authorized by the instructor.

6.  Possesses, buys, sells, obtains or uses a copy of any material intended to be used as an instrument of academic evaluation from another person in a manner not authorized by the instructor.

7.  Acts as a substitute for another person in any academic evaluation process.

8.  Utilizes a substitute in any academic evaluation procedure.

9.  Practices any form of deceit in an academic evaluation proceeding.

10.  Depends on the aid of others in a manner expressly prohibited by the instructor in the research, creation, writing, performance or publication of work to be submitted for academic credit or evaluation.

11.  Provides aid to another person, knowing the instructor in the research, creation, writing, performance or publication of work to be submitted for academic credit or evaluation expressly prohibits such aid.

12.  Attempts to influence or change one's academic evaluation or record inappropriately. 

Enforcement

1.  Initial Action: Any student or group of students accused of violating the Academic Integrity Code (as aforesaid) will be referred to the instructor (or Dean of Academic Affairs if the alleged violation is an academic integrity matter unrelated to credit course work) for disciplinary measures in accordance with the provisions hereof. Any campus member may bring a complaint including all students, faculty and staff.

2.  The Instructor, in cases involving academic integrity related to course work, has the authority to determine:

a.  No credit for assignments.

b.  No credit for tests.

c.  Failing grade in course.

d.  Re-test and/or assign work to be redone.

The instructor will investigate the incident; notify the student of the incident and advise the student of the charges against him/her; hear the student's comments about the incident if possible; make a determination about the case and notify the student in a reasonable amount of time of that determination and; notify the student of the appeal procedures, if necessary.

The instructor will complete the process by filling out the Academic Integrity Case form and forward that form to the Division Chairperson and Dean of Academic Affairs. Any of these determinations may be appealed to the Academic Integrity Committee.

3.  Major Offenses. In any case in which the violation is of such a nature that, in the opinion of the Dean of Academic Affairs, suspension or expulsion from the College could be imposed, the Dean of Academic Affairs will not recommend disciplinary action except upon the following procedures:

a.  An Academic Integrity Committee will be appointed to hear all cases, which could result in suspension or expulsion. This Committee will be composed of two students and two faculty members of the College and the Dean of Academic Affairs, acting as a tie-breaking member of the committee. (A training program for potential Academic Integrity Committee members will be held in September of each Fall Term.)

b.  The Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs will notify the student in writing of the time and place of a meeting of the Academic Integrity Committee, which said notice will advise the student of the charges against him/her; the student's right to cross-examine witnesses against him/her; the student's right to produce witnesses on his/her behalf; and to select the counsel of his/her own choosing. Counsel will be allowed to advise the student or students charged, but not speak at the hearing. Other Brookdale students, faculty, and staff are not invited to academic discipline committee hearings and may only attend through invitation by the Dean of Academic Affairs. The Academic Integrity Committee will be convened as soon as possible in proximity to time of incident. 

c.  The Dean of Academic Affairs at the meeting of said committee will present all charges against the student. The possible sanctions involved in Academic Integrity Committee cases include: 

(1)  Verbal Reprimand: Verbal admonition against further violations.

(2)  Written Reprimand: Written warning placed in student's file for having engaged in misconduct.

(3)  Restitution: The obligation to replace or pay for property damaged to compensate for losses incurred or to provide a campus service as a result of a violation.

(4)  Conditional Probation: Temporary loss of College rights and privileges until specified conditions are met such as letters of apology and/or doctors releases, etc.

(5)  Disciplinary Probation: Loss of participation in College-related activities for a specified period of time. May also contain conditions to be met in order to be removed from probation.

(6)  Fine: Monetary sum imposed as a penalty for an offense. 

(7)  Community Service: Assigned community service work to fit a particular violation. 

d.  The Academic Integrity Committee will proceed at such meeting to hear the charges against said student, to hear witnesses against and for the student and in general, conduct a hearing consistent with the principles of due process. One Student Conduct Committee will hear offenses by more than one student in the same case all at once. 

e.  Upon the conclusion of such hearing and after deliberation, the Academic Integrity Committee will make recommendation to the Dean of Academic Affairs [in the matter] based on the preponderance of evidence presented in the hearing verbally or in writing. 

f.  The Dean of Academic Affairs will notify the student within one working day of the determination made. 

g.  A designated faculty/staff member will assume the role of Dean of Academic Affairs as stated within this code if there exists a specific conflict of interest for the Dean of Academic Affairs in a pending case. 

h.  A taped record will be made of Academic Integrity Committee Hearings. 

i.  Outcomes and offenses may be publicized in the campus newspaper without alluding to names of individuals involved. 

j.  Any student may appeal a decision of the Academic Integrity Committee by notice in writing filed with the Dean of Academic Affairs within five working days after notice of the Academic Integrity Committee decision. 

k.  In cases where the Academic Integrity committee finds in favor of the student, a recommendation will be made to the Executive Vice President, Educational/Student and Outreach Services that the faculty member remove the sanction(s) and evaluate the student on the merit of his/her coursework. 

4.  Suspension of a student will be invoked when more serious violations of the Academic Integrity Code occur, when the conditions of disciplinary code occur or when the conditions of the disciplinary probation are disregarded. Suspension is carried out only on the basis of the recommendation of the Academic Integrity Committee and with approval of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Suspension is applied for a given period of time and the term is specified to the student. A student suspended from the College forfeits all rights and privileges of a student, including all College-related sponsored functions. All suspension actions will be noted in the student's record.

Any student may be summarily suspended by the Dean of Academic Affairs for a period not to exceed ten (10) College working days during which the Academic Integrity Committee will convene. In the event of any appeal of the Academic Integrity Committee decision, the Dean of Academic Affairs may suspend a student or continue any previous suspension until the disposition of the appeal. 

5.  Expulsion will be invoked when extreme violations of the disciplinary code occur or when suspensions have been issued to a student and may result in the severance of a student from the College, with the approval of the Dean of Academic Affairs. 

6.  Denial or revocation of degree. The denial or revocation of a degree may occur in cases of Academic Dishonesty.
 
7.  Presidential Power: Any suspension or any expulsion or denial or revocation of degree imposed will be at all times subject to the approval of the President of the College. 

Nothing in these regulations will be deemed to limit the final authority of the President of the College in all matters relating to violations of the Student Conduct Code and the imposition of discipline therefore, whether by way of probation, suspension or expulsion.