Department Policies - Ethics
Academic Integrity
Below are two formal statements on academic integrity. The first
statement is excerpted from the Undergraduate Catalog of the University
of Maine. The second statement expresses academic expectations and
procedures within the Department of Public Administration.
University of Maine -
Statement of Academic Integrity
Students of the university are expected to be honest and forthright in
their academic endeavors. To falsify the results of one's research, to
steal the words or ideas of another, or to cheat on an examination
corrupts the essential process by which knowledge is advanced. Such
plagiarism, the submission of another's work as one's own without
adequate attribution, and cheating are violations of the University of
Maine Student Conduct Code.
Although disciplinary action taken
under this code is independent of the awarding of grades (an academic
matter) and provisions of this code cannot be used for changing awarded
grades, an instructor who has probable cause or reason to believe that a
student has cheated may act upon such evidence. This may include
dropping the student from the course with an assigned grade of E. Should
the instructor elect this option, that decision should be communicated
in writing to the Office of Student Records within two weeks of the time
the offense is discovered. The student may not circumvent such action by
dropping the course either before or after the failing grade is
submitted, regardless of the drop policy in effect at that point in the
semester. The grade will be considered to be effective from the date and
time when the offense occurred, not from the date when the Office of
Student Records receives formal notification.
The student may appeal the E grade
through the Academic Appeal Procedure [see catalog]. The instructor may,
either in addition to or in place of a failing grade, refer the case to
the department chairperson, the academic dean, or the Conduct Officer
for appropriate disciplinary action.
The maximum possible sanction that may imposed, and that will
necessarily depend on the degree of seriousness of the case, is
dismissal from the University.
[from UMaine Undergrad
Catalog]
Department of
Public Administration -
Statement of Ethical Standards in Academic Work
Public employees -- and, to an extent,
nonprofit employees -- are unique in that they are endowed with the
public trust and their actions have the force of government authority.
Therefore, they and students preparing for the calling of public service
have a special obligation to ensure that their actions reflect the
highest standards of professional integrity. Engaging in or tolerating
dishonesty violates the public trust necessary for the preservation of
democracy and diminishes the ability of the entire public service to
discharge its responsibilities.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes any form of actual or attempted
cheating, plagiarism, lying, and stealing of others' academic materials.
It also includes the failure to report instances of known or suspected
academic dishonesty. Examples:
- the willful giving or receiving of
unauthorized assistance in examinations, assignments, or any other
academic pursuit.
- presenting someone else's words,
ideas, thought structure, or data as one's own in examinations,
research papers, course assignments, or other academic works without
giving proper credit or acknowledgment using generally accepted forms
of citation.
- making any untrue statement, either
orally or in writing, concerning one's own academic work or the
academic work of another student.
- submitting work done for another
course or for any other purpose, either at the University of Maine or
elsewhere, as original work completed for a course.
- failing to report cases of academic
dishonesty on the part of others to the instructor or to other
appropriate Department or University officials.
Sanctions
- When academic misconduct is
discovered and verified, the instructor may at his or her discretion
pursue any or all of the following steps:
Record an "E" grade for the assignment in which the misconduct
occurred.
- Record an "E" grade for the course
and dismiss from further attendance.
- Recommend to the Undergraduate
Studies Committee if the student is a public management major or minor
or to the Graduate Studies Committee if the student is in the Master
of Public Administration (MPA) program, that the student be suspended
or expelled from the program.
- If the Committee disagrees with the
recommendation of the instructor, the student will remain in the
program.
- If the Committee agrees with the
recommendation of the instructor, both recommendations will be
forwarded to the Chair for action.
- Initiate action as outlined in the
University's Student Honor Code. Sanctions available under this Code
include dismissal from the University.
Appeals Process
Any student found in violation of these standards may, through the
following process, appeal sanctions imposed by the Department:
- Within 15 calendar days of assertion
of the sanction, the student may submit to the Chair of the Department
a written statement appealing the sanction. The request for an appeal
must be based on new evidence or procedural irregularities relevant to
the decision to impose a sanction.
- Within 15 calendar days of receiving
the student's written appeal, the Chair will convene a panel to review
the sanction decision. The panel will consist of five members:
- one faculty member of the
Department recommended by the accused student,
- two faculty members recommended by
the Chair,
- one student recommended by the
Chair, and
- one student recommended by the
student. All student members of the appeals panel must be currently
enrolled as majors in the undergraduate program or regular students
in the MPA program. Students on the panel must not be under
provisional admission, conditional admission, or academic
suspension.
- If the appeals panel upholds the
sanctions imposed by the Department, the student may appeal the
sanctions, first, to the Dean of the College and, second, to the Vice
President for Academic Affairs.
