Academic Integrity Policy
Postsecondary students are scholars. As such, students earn course completion credit by demonstrating the requisite level of content mastery (i.e., knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation) via original thought often supported by appropriately cited work of others (i.e., credible, scholarly, published). Students are expected to maintain academic honesty by refraining from academically dishonest behaviors (i.e., plagiarism, collusion, cheating).
Faculty guard against student academic misconduct to preserve the integrity and reputation of the learning and teaching environment. CTC leverages technology to aid in detecting academic misconduct. By enrolling in CTC courses, students agree that all assignments and assessments (i.e., required papers, exams, class projects, portfolios) submitted as coursework to faculty may be further reviewed and evaluated by SafeAssign or a similar vendor for originality and intellectual integrity. CTC also employs Biometric Signature ID (BioSig-ID) via Internet Protocol (IP) address tracking to determine host/network interface location that the registered student is indeed the person submitting the coursework and/or completing the exam or assessment.
Students must not:
- Plagiarize = present the words or ideas of another as their own to include:
- Copy without proper citation/source
- Duplicate ideas without proper citation
- Self-plagiarize = presenting (i.e., recycling) large portions or in entirety one’s own previously completed, submitted, and graded work as original and new without current assignment faculty permission and proper citation
- Commit collusion = someone other than the student authors some or all of the presented work unless such joint preparation is explicitly approved in advance by the faculty member. NOTE: Collaboration becomes collusion when the intention is to deceive (e.g., permitting someone other than themselves to log in to CTC systems via shared password or BioSig-ID and/or prepare coursework or complete an exam/assessment on behalf of the enrolled student).
- Cheat = act in an attempt to gain an academic advantage (e.g., looking at another’s answers, copying another student’s coursework, using unauthorized written or web-based materials during an exam or assessment, masking IP addresses or otherwise disguising location, permitting someone other than themselves to prepare/submit coursework or complete an assessment/exam).
NOTE: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Dall-E, GitHub Copilot) are emerging technologies still in their infancy. As such, material generated by these new tools are known to be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic (i.e., not original work, potentially considered automated plagiarism, built-in bias, lack critical thinking). At CTC, academic departments determine permissible use. Students may be encouraged and allowed use of generative AI platforms in one course while use is discouraged and not allowed in other courses. Contact your instructor for details regarding use of AI technologies before submitting course assignments.
Academic Integrity Policy Violation Actions and Sanctions
First offense: The faculty member will assign a grade of 0 for the assignment or examination where academic misconduct is determined to have occurred. The student will be notified in writing of the offense. The notification will contain directions for the first level of the appeal process.
Subsequent offenses: Subsequent violations of the Academic Integrity Policy detected at any time throughout the student’s enrollment at CTC result in the faculty member assigning a grade of 0 for the assignment, the student receiving an F in the course, and the student receiving a disciplinary referral. The student will be notified in writing of the offense. The notification will contain directions for the first level of the appeal process. Subsequent violations of the Academic Integrity Policy demonstrate a pattern of behavior, and thusly will include a referral to Student Disciplinary Conduct, starting with Disciplinary Probation and escalating per the Student Code of Conduct. Please refer to the Student Handbook for specifics.
Academic Integrity Policy Violation Decision Due Process Timeline
At each level of appeal, the student has three business days to appeal in writing. At Appeal Level 1 and Appeal Level 2, the respondent has three business days to render an appeal decision to the student. Appeal Level 3 requires five business days for the Academic Misconduct Committee to convene and for the Dean to render a final written appeal decision to the student.
Academic Integrity Policy Violation Decision Appeal Process
A student retains the right to appeal any decision regarding a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. The written notification of the violation from the faculty member includes directions for proceeding with the appeal process. A written response from the student to the faculty member invokes the appeal process. If no written response is received within three business days, the initial decision is final.
Level 1: Should the student invoke the Level 1 appeal process by submitting a written appeal to the faculty member, the faculty member has three business days to review the student’s written appeal and render a decision whether to affirm or reverse the initial decision. The student or faculty member may request a meeting—either virtually or in-person—or communicate via email. Within three business days of appeal receipt, the faculty member will provide a written appeal decision to the student. If reversed, faculty grade the student work and replace the sanctioned grade with a corresponding numeric grade. If affirmed, students may further appeal to the Department Chair. If no written response is received by the Department Chair within three business days, the Level 1 appeal decision is final.
Level 2: Should the student invoke the Level 2 appeal process by submitting a written appeal to the Department Chair, the Department Chair will review the student’s written appeal and render a response—either affirming or reversing the faculty decision—to the student within three business days. If reversed, faculty grade the student work and replace the sanctioned grade with a corresponding numeric grade. If affirmed, students may further appeal to the responsible Dean. If no written response is received by the responsible Dean within three business days, the Level 2 appeal decision is final.
Level 3: Should the student invoke the Level 3 appeal process by submitting a written appeal to the responsible Dean, the responsible Dean will convene an Academic Misconduct Committee (AMC). The AMC will review documentation related to the appeal, then provide a recommendation to the responsible Dean. The responsible Dean renders a decision in writing to both the student and faculty member. If reversed, faculty grade the student work and replace the sanctioned grade with a corresponding numeric grade. If affirmed, the sanction stands. This is the final level of appeal.
Note: Some departments, such as Nursing, have other discipline-related accreditation standards which may require them to have additional approvals, steps, or timelines to the process while still being congruent with CTC’s policies. For example, Nursing will always have the Director of Nursing included in the appeal process.