/Institutions/Mount-Vernon-Nazarene-University/json/2024-2025/Traditional-Academic-Catalog-2024-2025-local.json

/Institutions/Mount-Vernon-Nazarene-University/json/2024-2025/Traditional-Academic-Catalog-2024-2025.json

Traditional Academic Catalog 2024-2025 » Academic Regulations and Procedures » Academic Integrity » Policies

Policies

MVNU endeavors to communicate clearly and to educate members of the community regarding academic integrity expectations. Additionally, MVNU strives to handle academic integrity violations in a fair and consistent manner and to use restorative educational practices. To that end, faculty are required to report all violations of this Academic Integrity Policy as outlined below.

First Offense: The faculty member, in consultation with the department chair, makes a judgement concerning the nature of the offense and the appropriate action to be taken. The action taken by the faculty member may range from allowing the student to redo the assignment to a zero on the assignment. The faculty member must submit the offense to the AVP for Student Success and Retention (AVPSSR). In most cases the AVPSSR will only make a note of the first offense. The student will receive a letter of first offense (via the student's MVNU email address), including:

• The right to appeal (as noted below).
• Possible consequences should there be a second offense.

Repeated Offenses: In the case of a second offense, the Academic Integrity Committee will initiate the appropriate investigation (including a discussion with the student, faculty member, and all other relevant parties). The Academic Integrity Committee determines the disciplinary action consistent with the circumstances and the nature of the offense. A second offense will typically result in not only a zero on the assignment, but also an F and immediate withdrawal from the course and possible suspension or dismissal.

A student's third offense and beyond typically results in a recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for suspension, dismissal, or expulsion.

In cases involving repeated offenses:

• The student will receive written notification (via the student's MVNU email address) of the disciplinary action.
• The right to appeal (as noted below).
• The faculty member and all relevant parties will be appraised of actions taken.

Proposed Procedures for Faculty

• A faculty member who believes a student has violated academic integrity must communicate with the student and should have an in-person discussion whenever possible. For online courses, the discussion can take place through a virtual meeting (preferred) or email.
• If the determination is made that there has been an academic integrity violation, the faculty member will:
  •  Contact the AVPSSR to determine if it is the student's first offense.
  • Notify the student of the procedures and possible consequences.
  • Submit the Academic Integrity Incident Report and all relevant correspondence and documentation to the AVPSSR.
  • In the case of a first offense, issue the course-related penalty (following the policy above). In the case of a repeated offense, wait to hear the consequences as determined by the Academic Integrity Committee.
• The process outlined above should be completed within 10 business days* of discovery of the incident.

Proposed Procedures for Student

• A student who believes they are falsely accused of violating the academic integrity policy should:
  • Attempt to resolve the situation with the faculty member.
  • If the matter remains unresolved, the student should discuss the situation with the faculty member's department chair.
  • If the matter remains unresolved, request a meeting with the Academic Integrity Committee by emailing the Center for Student Success. This must be done within 10 business days* of being informed of the incident by a faculty member. The Academic Integrity Committee will hear the case and determine the validity of the violation.
  • The student may appeal the Academic Integrity Committee's decision only on procedural grounds. This means that a student can appeal only if the policy and procedures stated above were not followed. The appeal must occur within five business days* of notification from the Academic Integrity Committee.
  • A student cannot appeal he academic consequence for a first offense but may appeal the violation itself.

*Business days refer to days the University is open.

The Academic Integrity Committee will consist of the AVP for Student Success and Retention (ex officio Chair) and at least three faculty members. The faculty members will be selected by the AVPSSR from a list of preassigned representatives. There will be two representatives from each school appointed by the deans of those schools. The dean should make every effort to select two members from different areas of their school (i.e., different departments/disciplines). These appointed representatives will serve for two-year renewable terms. For each hearing, the AVPSSR will convene a committee appropriate to the case under review. Faculty selected for the hearing should be outside of the academic discipline of the course where the offense occurred, and if possible, should be outside of the discipline of the student whose case is being heard.