Academic Integrity

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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Academic integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities, will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.

Examples of cheating, plagiarism, collusion, or abuse of source materials include, but are not limited to:

  • Copying from another student’s test paper or devices;
  • Failing to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test;
  • Possession of materials during a test which are not authorized by the person administering the test, such as class notes or other unauthorized aids;
  • Using, buying, stealing, transporting, selling, or soliciting in whole or part items including, but not limited to, the contents of an un-administered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program;
  • Collaborating with, seeking aid, or receiving assistance from another student or individual during a test or in conjunction with other assignments without authority;
  • Discussing the contents of an examination with another student who has taken or will take the examination without authority;
  • Appropriation through purchasing, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means, material that is attributable in whole, or in part, to another source including words, ideas, illustrations, structure, computer code, other expression, and media, and presenting that material as one’s own academic work to instructors for credit;
  • Unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic assignments offered for credit, or collaboration with another person to commit a violation of any section of the rules on academic dishonesty.
  • Unauthorized use of Generative AI to produce work of any type (text, image, code, etc.) and presenting that work as one's own;
  • Citation of sources that do not exist or citation of material within a source that does not exist;
  • Misrepresentation of information or phrasing taken out of context changing the original meaning of the source;
  • Falsifying research data, laboratory reports and/or other academic work offered for credit;
  • Substituting for another person or permitting another person to substitute for oneself to take a course, take a test or complete any course-related assignment.

The appropriate instructional dean or campus director may investigate to determine if the charges have merit, and/or if they can be disposed of administratively by mutual consent of the student(s), and the College official who referred the matter. After the initial investigation, the instructional dean or campus director may issue one or more of the following:

  • Take no action.
  • Take administrative action to counsel, advice, or admonish the student.
  • Forward the grievance to an appropriate administrator/committee.
  • Take disciplinary action against the offending student ranging from warning to suspension or expulsion. The range includes:
  • Warning: A notice in writing to the student that the student is violating or has violated institutional regulations.
  • Probation: A written reprimand for violation of specified regulations. Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to be violating any institutional regulations during the probationary period.
  • Discretionary Sanctions: Re-writing paper, completing a substitute project or other classroom assignment, re-taking a test.
  • Grade of Zero: Grade of zero on an assignment, project, test. (whole or portion)
  • Failure of the Course: A grade of “f” is recorded on the student’s transcript for the course.
  • Withdrawal: Withdrawal is administrative removal of a student from a class.
  • College Suspension: Separation of the student from the College for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified such as a psychological examination by an approved professional.
  • Withdrawal: Withdrawal is administrative removal of a student from a class.
  • Expulsion: Permanent severance from Weatherford College.

NOTE:  In extreme cases information gathered during the investigation may be required to be reported to agencies within and/or outside the institution. Examples include, but are not limited to: Counseling, DHS, Law enforcement, clinical agencies, and accrediting boards. individual departments and/or programs may create and enforce a more stringent version of the Academic Integrity Policy as required by their discipline and as approved by the Weatherford College Board of Trustees.

Appeals from disciplinary actions by the faculty may be made pursuant to the Student Appeals Procedure.

Academic Dishonesty Reporting Process:

  1. The instructor of record shall report in writing an allegation of academic dishonesty to the department chair for the coursework impacted by the alleged violation. Because the authenticity of the student work presented is in question, the assignment cannot be graded at this time.
  2. The department chair shall review the allegation of academic dishonesty as well as any supporting documentation regarding the incident to determine if the allegation merits further action and if there is sufficient evidence to support the allegation, the chair may either dismiss the allegation or advance it to the division dean for further action.
  3. The divisional dean shall review the allegation and supporting documentation and, when warranted, may conduct further investigation into the incident. The Dean shall schedule a mandatory meeting with the student who is alleged to have violated the Academic Integrity Policy to discuss the allegation. The dean shall issue a finding regarding the alleged violation and authorize either grading of the assignment or dismissal of a compromised assignment. Compromised assignments cannot be awarded academic credit. When the divisional dean determines a violation has occurred, the dean may recommend academic and/or disciplinary action. The divisional dean shall inform the student of any academic and or/ disciplinary action as well as the due process procedure for appeals.
  4. Appeals of academic action (grades) may be addressed to the Executive Vice President of Academic Services
  5. Appeals of Disciplinary Action may be addressed through the Student Appeals Policy (FMA, Local).