Academic Integrity
The value and legitimacy of the degrees, certificates, and coursework offered at Gila Community College greatly depends on its reputation as an institution dedicated to academic integrity. The creation, transmission, sharing, and application of knowledge are central activities of the College community. Cheating violates the fundamental values of that community. This Academic Integrity Policy provides guidance in helping students and faculty understand the meaning and importance of academic integrity; defines academic dishonesty; and outlines the procedures for handling infractions of academic integrity.
Definitions:
- Academic Dishonesty - any deceptive or fraudulent act that creates or attempts to create an advantage or disadvantage for any member of the academic community.
- Academic Evaluation - any academic assignment, project, paper, performance, quiz, exam, comprehensive exam, candidacy exam, thesis, dissertation, clinical or internship experience, or other evaluation assigned or offered for credit (including extra or optional credit), intended to fulfill an academic requirement, or considered by the College to provide academic or research experience (such as a paid research position).
- Academic Integrity Officer/Academic Standards Committee Chair - the person responsible for managing the academic integrity investigation and adjudication process at the College. The Academic Integrity Officer will work with both the student and instructor to ensure that all procedures are followed. The Academic Integrity Officer is responsible for guiding both the student and instructor through the investigation and adjudication process.
- Academic Standards Committee - the committee for grievances concerning academic standards which compiles and considers reports on the nature and frequency of academic misconduct, hears charges and evidence of repeated or particularly serious academic misconduct, and imposes sanctions when such types of academic misconduct is determined to have occurred.
- Advisor - an individual selected by the student to assist him/her during the academic integrity process. The advisor may be a faculty or staff member, student, or another representative of the student.
- Instructor - an academic supervisor or any person holding a faculty appointment at Gila Community College who is responsible for or authorized to conduct an academic evaluation. If necessary, the Academic Integrity Officer/Academic Standards Committee Chair may take the place of the instructor throughout this process.
- Student – an individual registered in a Gila Community College course.
- Day – a College business day, not including Saturday, Sunday, any officially recognized College employee holiday, or any day the College administrative office is closed.
Student Responsibilities
All students must act with honesty and integrity. Gila Community College believes that any form of Academic Dishonesty negatively impacts not only the student(s) involved but all Gila Community College students. The College Student Code of Conduct Policy 6200 affirms this commitment to integrity.
Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to attempting or engaging in the following:
- Academic Deceit, or, any act that improperly affects the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement, or any act designed to deceive a professional educator. This definition applies whether the student’s act of misconduct affects his or her own work or the work of other students.
- Referring to unauthorized materials, sources, or devices (e.g., Internet resources, computer disks, audio recorders, cellular phones, personal electronic devices, text messages, crib sheets, calculators, solution manuals, materials from previous classes, or commercial research services) during an Academic Evaluation.
- Possessing, reviewing, buying, selling, obtaining, posting on a site accessible to others, reviewing materials from a site accessible to others, or using, without appropriate authorization, any materials intended to be used for an Academic Evaluation in advance of its administration.
- Using a substitute or acting as a substitute for another person in any Academic Evaluation.
- Relying on the aid of others, including other students, tutors, or for-hire agents, in connection with any Academic Evaluation to the extent that the work is not representative of the student's abilities.
- Providing inappropriate aid to another person in connection with any Academic Evaluation, including the unauthorized use of materials, cellular phones, text messages, photocopies, notes, or other means to copy or photograph materials used or intended for Academic Evaluation.
- Plagiarism, or the use of another’s words, ideas, materials, or work from the Internet or any other source (including Artificial Intelligence) without properly acknowledging and documenting the source. Students are responsible for knowing the rules governing the use of another’s work or materials and for acknowledging and documenting the source appropriately.
- Claiming credit for or submitting work done by another or through the unauthorized use of technology (including Artificial Intelligence).
- Signing an attendance sheet for another student, allowing another person to sign on the student's behalf, or otherwise obtaining credit for attendance for oneself or another without attending.
- Falsifying or misrepresenting hours or activities regarding an internship, externship, field experience, clinical activity, or similar activity.
- Attempting to influence or change any Academic Evaluation, or academic record for reasons having no relevance to academic achievement.
Academic Integrity Sanctions and Hearings
Students at Gila community College are expected to:
- Conduct themselves in accordance with principles of academic integrity
- Behave so as to foster an atmosphere of honesty and fairness
- Avoid plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct
- Give truthful information to any College professional educator or to any other College employee regarding issues concerning academic integrity or academic misconduct, or suspected academic misconduct
- Not alter, misuse, or forge any College document, record, or instrument of identification
Students are not excused from these provisions because of any failure or inability on the part of the professional educator to prevent other instances of academic misconduct.
The Academic Integrity Sanctions and Hearings Procedures PR-6010.01 are detailed in the electronic policy manual located on our website.