Academic Honesty & Integrity 2006-07
“Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.”
– Henry David Thoreau
Essential to the mission of Babson College is the commitment to the principles of intellectual honesty and integrity. Academic integrity is important for two reasons. First, independent and original scholarship ensures that students derive the most they can from their educational experience and the pursuit of knowledge. Second, academic dishonesty violates the most fundamental values of an intellectual community and depreciates the achievements of the entire college community. Accordingly, Babson College views academic dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while at college.
The following is a broad overview of what constitutes academic dishonesty, but is not meant to be an all-encompassing definition.
CHEATING: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise.
Examples:
- Unauthorized use of notes, text, or other aids during an examination
- Copying from another student's examination, research paper, case write-up, lab report, homework, computer disc, etc.
- Talking during an examination
- Handing in the same paper for more than one course without the written or explicit permission of the instructors
- Sabotaging another student’s work or record
- Perusing a test before it is given
- Hiding notes in a calculator or other electronic device for use during an examination
- Using a laptop/cell phone/hand-held computer/wireless device or other electronic device to transmit exam material
- Receiving assistance/help on an academic exercise from another person/resource without the expressed permission of the instructor
FABRICATION: Intentional and unauthorized falsification, misrepresentation, or invention of any information, data, or citation in an academic exercise.
Examples:
- Making up the data for a research paper
- Altering the results of a lab experiment or survey
- Listing a citation for a source not used
- Stating an opinion as a scientifically proven fact
PLAGIARISM: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise by failing to provide proper documentation of source by way of footnote, endnote, or inter-textual note.
The following sources demand notation:
- Word-for-word quotations from a source, including another student’s work
- Paraphrasing the ideas of others, including another student’s work
- Unusual or controversial facts --facts not apt to be found in many places
- Interviews, radio and television programs, and telephone conversations
- Information obtained from Internet sources must be cited in a manner consistent with other sources
UNAUTHORIZED COLLABORATION: This refers to instances when students claiming sole authorship, submit separate reports or other materials that are substantially similar to one another or which contain duplicate or paraphrased passages. While several students may have the same source material (as in case write-ups), the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of that data must be each individual's original work.
PARTICIPATION IN ACADEMICALLY DISHONEST ACTIVITIES: Intentionally or knowingly seeking to create an unfair advantage for a student or others over other community members.
Examples:
- Stealing an examination or seeking access prior to its administration
- Purchasing or otherwise obtaining a pre-written paper through a mail order or computer Internet or similar service
- Selling, loaning, or otherwise distributing materials for the purpose of cheating, plagiarism, or carrying out other academically dishonest acts
- Alteration, theft, forgery, or destruction of the academic work of other students, library materials, laboratory materials, or academic records including transcripts, course registration cards, course syllabi, and examination /course grades
- Intentionally missing an examination or assignment deadline to gain an unfair advantage
- Misrepresenting or falsifying your class attendance or participation in required activities or that of another student
- Intentional misrepresentation of academic information-including grade point average (GPA), course work, rank, grades earned, and honors received-on a resume or job application
FACILITATING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of this policy.
Examples:
- Inaccurately listing as co-author of a paper, case write-up, or project someone who did not contribute
- Sharing a take home examination, homework assignment, case write-up, lab report, etc. with another without expressed permission from the instructor
- Taking an examination or writing a paper for another student
All members of the Babson College community, students, faculty, and staff, share the responsibility to bring forward known acts of apparent academic dishonesty. Any member of the academic community who witnesses an act of academic dishonesty should report it to the appropriate faculty member or to Sara Iszard, Coordinator, Student Conduct and Community Standards and Advisor to the Judicial Board. The charge will be investigated and if sufficient evidence is presented, the case will be referred to the College Judicial Board for adjudication. If found responsible for an academic dishonesty violation, one or more of the following sanctions may be imposed. The list is representative of possible sanctions, but is not all-inclusive.
- expulsion from the College
- suspension from the College for a period of time
- failure in a course
- failure on a paper, project, or examination
- Grade reduction in final course grade
- Failure in a graded component of the course (quiz, homework, participation, etc.)
- disciplinary probation
- participation in an ethics seminar
The specific procedural guidelines for the handling of academic dishonesty complaints are outlined in the Guide to the Undergraduate College Judicial Process published by the Student Affairs Office. Copies are available in the Student Affairs Office and in the Office of Campus Life. If you have further questions or concerns regarding the policy, or need assistance with proper documentation techniques, please contact one of the following resources:
- Course Instructor
- Faculty Advisor/Mentor
- Writing Center, Horn Library,
ext. 4365
- Horn Reference Librarians ext. 4596
- Class Deans, Office of Academic and Career Services, ext. 4433
| - Tim Mann, Dean of Student Affairs, ext. 4218
- Sara Iszard, Judicial Board Advisor, ext. 4462
- Mark Vandemore , Student Chair, College Judicial Board
- John Harrison, Student Chair, College Judicial Board
|
Students should be aware that the College makes available for use the plagiarism prevention software resource Turnitin.com to both faculty and students. Those with a question about how they can use this resource or what services it can offer should contact their faculty member or the IT Support Desk (dial HELP).
