Academic Honesty - Student Services Policy - 80110

The faculty of Germanna Community College (GCC) recognizes that academic honesty is an integral factor in developing and sharing knowledge. We support the concept of academic honesty, practice academic honesty in our classes, and require academic honesty from our students.

2.1 Germanna Community College students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the completion and presentation of all academic assignments and examinations. Students found guilty of cheating, plagiarism, or other dishonorable acts in academic work are subject to College disciplinary action. Academic penalty in the course is determined by the instructor.

3.1 Academic dishonest is cheating and stealing.

3.2 Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

• Intentionally using material verbatim from a source without giving credit. Copying verbatim from an Internet source is plagiarism.
• Rewriting material from a source without giving credit.
• Using information from an Internet source without giving credit.
• Copying from another person’s paper, test or homework.
• Allowing someone else to copy/use your work (paper, homework, quiz, or test) and submitting it or a grade.
• Violating VCCS Computer Ethics Guidelines in the pursuit of academic studies. Using/copying work from another student or that student’s electronic storage device and submitting it for a grade. Submitting the work of another person as your own work.

4.1 All course outlines will include statements regarding academic honesty.

4.2 When a student is found to have been academically, dishonest, the following disciplinary action may be taken:

4.2.1  First Offense

4.2.1.1 The instructor reports the Academic Honesty violation by documenting the offense in a memorandum to the appropriate Academic Dean. The instructor must provide a copy of this memorandum to the student. The Dean of Instruction or designee will determine the appropriate sanction. The sanction may include suspension or dismissal from the College for egregious offenses or referral to the Tutoring Services to complete a plagiarism workshop for minor offenses.

4.2.1.2 The instructor’s memorandum, documentation of disciplinary action, and supporting documentation must be forwarded to the Dean of Student Development for inclusion in the student’s official disciplinary file.

4.2.2 Second Reported Offense

4.2.2.1 The instructor reports the Academic Honesty violation by documenting the offense in a memorandum to the appropriate Academic Dean. The instructor must provide a copy of the memorandum to the student.

4.2.2.2 The appropriate Academic Dean will impose a minimum sanction of suspension. Suspension may be from the class where the infraction occurred, for the current semester or for the next upcoming semester. Disciplinary sanction may also include dismissal from the College. The instructor’s memorandum, documentation of disciplinary action, and supporting documentation must be forwarded to the Dean of Student Development for inclusion in the student’s official disciplinary file.

4.2.2.3 The Dean of Student Development must retain the memorandum and documentation of disciplinary action in the student’s disciplinary file for five years or until the student graduates, whichever comes first. The Dean of Student Development will then remove and destroy the memorandum.

4.2.3 Third Reported Offense

4.2.3.1 The instructor reports the Academic Honesty violation by documenting the offense in a memorandum to the appropriate Academic Dean. The instructor must provide a copy of the memorandum to the student.

4.2.3.2 Upon verifying that a third reported offense has been committed, the appropriate Academic Dean will impose dismissal from the College. The instructor’s memorandum, documentation of disciplinary action, and supporting documentation must be forwarded to the Dean of Student Development for inclusion in the student’s official disciplinary file.

4.2.3.3 The Dean of Student Development must retain the memorandum and documentation of disciplinary action in the third reported offense in the student’s permanent disciplinary file.

4.2.3.4 Contesting Allegations of Academic Dishonesty: A student who wishes to contest an allegation of academic dishonesty has access to the Student Academic Grievance Procedure for this purpose. Students suspended or dismissed for academic dishonesty have the right to ask for a hearing from a Review Committee. Students seeking a hearing must contact the Dean of Student Development within 10 working days of notification of disciplinary sanction.

Dean of Student Development