Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures

Purpose

The purpose of the Academic Integrity Policy is to set the guidelines for honest academic work, provide examples of potential breaches of those expectations, and provide expectations for use of generative artificial intelligence.

Definitions

Academic Integrity Committee (AIC): a faculty committee convened to hear cases of serious integrity violations that may warrant a formal academic integrity warning or dismissal. This committee shall consist of no fewer than three faculty members and no more than five. Each college/school establishes procedures for constituting the AIC and for establishing a chair. If a member of the AIC is a part of the matter at hand, a substitute is designated if necessary to bring the membership up to the minimum.

Academic Integrity: the completion of academic work without any form of cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or deception. It means taking credit only for your own work and giving proper attribution to the ideas and work of others. Academic integrity includes meeting the expectations of instructors communicated within each course, about proper citations, use of generative artificial intelligence, and submitting your work as your own.

Advisor: The student has the right to have an advisor present at the academic integrity hearing. The advisor may privately consult with and advise the student during the proceedings but may not directly participate on behalf of the student. The name and relationship to the student of any advisor serving in this capacity must be provided to the hearing chair no later than 24 hours in advance of the hearing.

Business days: Monday through Friday excluding university holidays.

Dean: refers to the dean or director of the student’s program or an academic administrator designated by the provost. Collectively referred to as dean in this document.

Faculty: mentors, instructors, evaluators, and others who make academic decisions. Collectively referred to as faculty in the remainder of the document.

Generative Artificial Intelligence: refers to a class of artificial intelligence systems that have the capability to generate new, realistic data or content, often in the form of text, images, or other media. Any use of these systems must be done with instructor approval and in alignment with instructor

expectations communicated in the course syllabus. Notable examples include, but are not limited to, Chat GPT, Bard, Dall-E, and Grammarly. These examples are not meant to be exhaustive.

Preponderance of the evidence: the standard of proof required to determine if a student violated the academic integrity policy. The standard is met when the evidence brought forth in a hearing supports a finding that the charge(s) are more likely true than not true (sometimes colloquially referred to as the “51% rule”).

University Office Representative: A university employee who is not serving in a faculty role related to the alleged violation.

Policy Statements

Academic Integrity statement

Empire State University adheres to high standards of academic integrity. Students are expected to meet these standards in pursuit of their education and upholding a learning environment built on trust and intellectual honesty and should refer to the course syllabus for statements on how this is upheld.

Students adhering to standards of academic integrity are expected to:

• Complete all coursework independently (unless an assignment or course explicitly instructs students to collaborate as a group),
• Properly cite all sources, following the citation style (ex. APA, MLA, etc.) designated by the course instructor,
• Submit original work representing their own ideas and effort,
• Refrain from cheating or plagiarism (see examples below),
• Take responsibility for understanding course expectations and this academic integrity

Examples of Academic Integrity Violations

There are many behaviors that may violate the expectations of academic integrity communicated above. Violations of this academic integrity policy include cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, or misrepresentation. Examples of violations include but not limited to the following:

• claiming the work or thoughts of others as your own
• copying the writing of others into your written work without appropriate attribution
• writing assignments for other students
• buying assignments and turning them in as your own
• having someone else write or create all or part of the content of your assignments
• submitting substantially the same assignment for more than course without explicit permission from the current course instructor(s)
• making up or changing data for a research project
• fabricating and/or altering documents and/or information in support of the degree
• misuse of generative artificial intelligence impacting any of the

Violations of the academic integrity policy will be reported following the procedures established and published in Academic Integrity Procedures (LINK).

Possible outcomes for violations of the academic integrity policy include, but are not limited to:

• issue an informal academic integrity warning
• provide developmental advice to the student on academic guidelines
• require that the student consult specific academic skills development resources
• require that the student rewrite the assignment(s)
• require that the student complete alternative assignment(s)
• deduct points or fail the student on the assignment
• deny credit for a prior learning assessment/evaluation
• assign a failing grade for the course regardless of earned grade
• formal academic integrity warning
• academic integrity suspension
• academic integrity expulsion

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Empire State University supports the advancement of teaching and learning. The University recognizes that generative AI tools will continuously improve and become a regular part of daily life, including incorporation into jobs held by Empire State University students. Generative AI tools can assist users in completing their work with higher quality and more efficiency. Many applications are yet to be realized or predicted as the development of generative AI tools advances rapidly.

Empire State University embraces the responsible use of generative AI tools while establishing expectations for students to demonstrate learning ethically and honestly. Please note the following:

• Instructors and students may use generative AI tools for educational purposes, with clear criteria for appropriate use established within a course or
• Any use of generative AI tools must be done with instructor approval and in alignment with instructor expectations communicated in the course
• Generative AI tools can be inaccurate, biased, offensive, or unethical because they are trained on large datasets of text and code containing inaccurate, biased, offensive, or unethical content. Users are responsible for the content they use or submit, so they should carefully review the content generated by generative AI tools before using or submitting
• Any work incorporating information from a generative AI tool must be
• Failure to acknowledge the use of a generative AI tool may violate the Academic Integrity policy and may be subject to penalties, including an F grade for that assignment, an F grade for the course, Formal Academic Integrity Warning, or Academic

Generative AI should be employed with caution and users should be aware of potential risks, including but not limited to:

• submitting inaccurate information
• submitting poorly written work
• violating the Academic Integrity policy and being subject to sanctions

The University’s policy on academic integrity applies to any uncited, improperly cited, or plagiarized work, whether generated by a human being or a generative AI tool.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY PROCEDURES

When faced with a possible breach of academic integrity, a faculty member or university office representative exercises academic judgment in light of the particular circumstances and the student’s academic history. Consultation with relevant administrators throughout the process is encouraged.

In such cases, within 10 business days of the discovery of the alleged violation, the faculty member or university office representative:

1. reviews this policy statement
2. documents the concern to the extent possible
3. promptly raises the concern directly with the student in writing, outlining how the student has breached the academic integrity policy, and copies relevant parties, including the student’s mentor/advisor,
4. ascertains if there were previous incidents,
5. provides additional information to the notified parties as needed; and
6. determines the appropriate

Possible outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• issue an informal academic integrity warning
• provide developmental advice to the student on academic guidelines
• require that the student consult specific academic skills development resources
• require that the student rewrite the assignment(s)
• require that the student complete alternative assignment(s)
• deduct points or fail the student on the assignment
• deny credit for a prior learning assessment/evaluation
• assign a failing grade for the course regardless of earned grade

Informal Academic Integrity Warning: an acknowledgment that the student's work may have issues related to academic integrity. For an informal academic integrity warning, the student is provided with developmental resources and is informed about the Academic Integrity Policy. This warning does not carry a loss of good standing with Empire State University.

Having provided guidance to the student, the faculty member or functional office representative remains alert to the possibility of further breaches. Documentation of the alleged violation is filed with the Office of Academic Affairs.

Special Considerations Regarding Outcomes

If the faculty member or university office representative determines that the appropriate response is to assign an F for the course, the student loses access to academic services related to the course including the online learning site for the course. A student who is denied a credit recommendation for an academic integrity violation on a prior learning assessment /evaluation may not resubmit the same or similar component for evaluation. A student who receives a grade of F for a course or does not receive credit for prior learning assessment/evaluation may appeal that decision through the University's Student Academic Appeals Policy and Procedures.

When a student appeals removal from a course, the student will remain enrolled in the course and submit work pending the outcome of a hearing with the Academic Integrity Committee (AIC).

Review of Serious Allegations of Academic Integrity Violation

When a faculty member or university office representative reviewing the matter deems an act of allegedly violating academic integrity to be serious, it may constitute grounds for a formal academic integrity warning, or dismissal from the university.

The faculty member or functional office representative refers the case to the dean or designee of the academic discipline where the alleged violation occurred. They may, in consultation with appropriate university personnel:

1. recommend one of the possible outcomes listed above, and/or
2. refer the case to the AIC for a recommendation on formal academic integrity warning or academic

Potential Outcomes of Substantiated Violations

Formal Academic Integrity Warning: This is an official acknowledgment, in writing, that the student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy and indicates that further violations may result in more severe outcomes. This formal academic integrity warning does not carry a loss of good standing but indicates that a student has damaged their relationship with Empire State University. A breach of academic integrity expectations after a formal academic integrity warning normally leads to an integrity suspension or expulsion.

A student may also be assigned additional outcomes along with the formal academic integrity warning.

A formal academic integrity warning remains active on the student’s academic record in alignment with the university records retention policy.

Academic Integrity Suspension: This is the separation of the student from the university for a defined period, with the opportunity to return. Additional conditions for readmission may be specified in a formal outcome letter, following an academic integrity hearing and determination by the dean or designee.

Academic Integrity Expulsion: This is the permanent separation of the student from the university without the opportunity to return. Academic integrity expulsion is reserved for the most egregious cases of academic integrity violation.

A Note Regarding Informal Resolution

If, at any time prior to or during the hearing process, the student acknowledges their actions and takes responsibility in writing for an academic integrity violation, dean or designee may propose a resolution to the student, without need for a hearing.

The student then has the option to accept or deny the proposed outcome:

• If the student accepts the proposed outcome, the decision will be finalized and they forfeit the right to appeal that
• . If the student denies the outcome, the case will be referred to the AIC for a

Academic Integrity Committee Procedures (AIC)

AIC procedures are as follows:

1. The dean or designee will notify the student in writing within five business days of receiving copy of the notice to the student from the faculty member or university office representative that a case has been referred to the AIC. The dean’s notice will also copy the University Services office to inform them, in writing, of the
2. A representative from University Services will begin communication with the student and the person(s) who reported the case. Both parties will be given written notice of:
   1. The specific allegations;
   2. Date and time of AIC hearing, and;
   3. The opportunity for the student to respond in writing to the allegations, or for both the student and the reporting party to provide additional information in writing for the AIC, within 10 business
3. The AIC hearing should occur within no more than 20 business days of receiving the referral for an academic integrity case from dean or designee. A meeting may take the form of an audio conference call or videoconference, at the discretion of the
4. The University Services representative ensures a fair and timely consideration of the information and provides an accurate record of the meeting to the
5. The University Services representative is not considered a member of the AIC and does not have a decision-making vote during
6. The student and the individual(s) referring the case may both participate in the meeting and present their case directly to the

• The AIC will schedule the hearing to occur with all parties
• Failure for either party to appear will result in the hearing being held in their absence, unless:

1. The meeting has been rescheduled with the approval of the university services representative, or;
2. Either party demonstrates, in writing, good cause for failure to appear and failure to provide notice of intention to not appear, within five business days of the scheduled
3. A student may have an advisor (as defined above) at the hearing; however, the advisor shall not participate in the
4. Following the hearing, the AIC deliberates in closed session. Decisions are made by majority vote. The AIC will make their determination of whether the student violated the academic integrity policy by using the preponderance of evidence
5. When the AIC finds the student in violation the academic integrity policy, the AIC may consider the severity and/or the student’s intention in their recommendation of the outcome. The AIC may base the penalty on the findings made in their deliberations, as well as documented prior substantiated cases of violations of this academic integrity policy by the student. The AIC may:

• decide that a penalty is unwarranted, or;
• recommend that the dean or designee issue a formal academic integrity warning, and may recommend additional outcomes, or;
• recommend that the dean or designee issue an academic integrity suspension from the university, and may recommend conditions to return, or;
• recommend that the dean or designee issue an academic integrity expulsion from the university.

10. The AIC submits its recommendation and brief rationale in writing to the dean or designee within 5 business days of the
11. The dean or designee may choose to uphold, modify, or overturn the recommendation of the AIC.
12. The dean or designee provides written notice of their decision to both the faculty or university office representative and the student within five business days of receiving the AIC recommendation, copying the primary mentor/academic advisor. The written notice specifies the effective date of the action, and a copy is

Student Appeals

The student may submit an appeal in writing to the provost within 5 business days of transmittal of an AIC decision including an explanation or justification for the appeal.

The provost or designee provides a written decision and rationale within 5 business days of receiving the appeal. The written decision is conveyed to the student, with copies sent to the other relevant parties.

The provost’s decision is final.

A student’s status does not change while an appeal is under consideration. If a student was dismissed, he or she remains dismissed. If he or she is in academic warning, the warning stands.

Additional Note

The student may be prohibited from dropping or withdrawing from the course(s) pending the outcome of a hearing and an administrative hold will be placed on the student’s account.

Records Retention

Student records are maintained in alignment with the University’s Records Retention policy. Cases involving Academic Integrity Suspension will be retained permanently and may only be expunged upon successful application to the provost or designee(s). Case files involving Academic Integrity Expulsion will be retained permanently.

Applicable Legislation and Regulations

Federal Regulations: 4 CFR 602.16(a)(1)(ix) and 34 CFR 668.43(b)

Middle States State Complaint

Procedures: https://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/spr/COMPLAINTFORMINFO.html

Related References, Policies, Procedures, Forms and Appendices

Course Syllabus Policy