Gwynedd Mercy University
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Collusion : involves the cooperation of students with faculty or staff personnel in securing any courserelated materials ; cooperative efforts by students and student assistants to gain or allow access to any course-related materials for distribution ; assisting in or contributing to the academic dishonesty of another individual ; and seeking , obtaining , possessing , or giving to another person an examination or portions of an examination ( not yet given ), without permission of the instructor .
Sanctions
In congruence with the mission and core values of Gwynedd Mercy University , faculty should teach ethical behavior , confront and report academic dishonesty , and provide sanctions based on the severity and frequency of violations of the Academic Integrity Policy . The determination of academic dishonesty and the determination of the severity of the sanction is the responsibility and purview of each faculty member .
Each faculty member has a right to use his or her discretion in determining if an action is in fact a violation of the policy . However , if any sanction is taken , the violation and the sanction imposed must be reported via Maxient to the Provost . Maxient issues notifications of violation reports to the Office of Academic Affairs , the Associate Dean of Operations , the student , and the student ’ s academic advisor .
Sanction Scale : 1 . Written warning ; 2 . Sanction other than those listed ( additional assignments , additional tests , etc .); 3 . Zero credit for the test or assignment ; 4 . Failure of Course ( receives an F ); 5 . Suspension from the University ( minimum 1 semester , maximum 2semesters ); 6 . Dismissal from the University .
Sanctions 1 through 4 can be enacted at the discretion of the faculty member , who should file the completed report through Maxient within 7 calendar days of discovering the violation .
Sanctions 5 and 6 may be imposed by the Provost , in consultation with the Dean , when there are repeated instances of violations of the Academic Integrity Policy . Even a first violation , if severe , could move to sanctions 5 and 6 . Notification of suspension or dismissal will be sent from the Provost with a copy to the Dean of the student ’ s School and the student ’ s Academic Advisor .
Appeal Process
A student may appeal a faculty member ’ s report of a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy by following the procedure described in the flow chart below , beginning with the first-level appeal to the Associate Dean of Operations . A student may not appeal decisions or sanctions imposed by the Provost .
NOTE : If a student is concurrently appealing an academic integrity violation and the final grade for the same course , the grade complaint process will pause until the academic integrity violation appeal process is completed . Appeals must be submitted separately ; combined academic integrity violation and final grade appeals will not be considered . Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor , if they have questions about any appeal process .
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