The Meaning of Academic Integrity
As an institution of higher learning, Sacred Heart University places special emphasis on academic integrity, which is a commitment to the fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Only when these values are widely respected and practiced by all members of the University—students, faculty, administrators, and staff—can the University maintain a culture that promotes free exploration of knowledge, constructive debate, genuine learning, effective research, fair assessment of student progress, and development of members’ characters.
These aims of the University require that its members exercise mutual responsibilities. At its core, academic integrity is secured by a principled commitment to carry out these responsibilities, not by rules and penalties. Students and faculty should strive to create an academic environment that is honest, fair, and respectful of all. They do this by evaluating others’ work fairly, by responding to others’ ideas critically yet courteously, by respecting others’ intellectual and physical property, and by nurturing the values of academic integrity in all contexts of university life.
Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken for violations of academic integrity, including plagiarism, cheating, any use of materials for an assignment or exam that is not permitted by the instructor, and theft or mutilation of intellectual materials or other University equipment. Faculty will assign failing grades for violations of the University’s policy on academic integrity and students may immediately receive an F for a course in which they commit a violation. Violations of academic integrity are kept on file; second violations will bring additional sanctions, up to dismissal from the University. For any disciplinary action, the University affords the student the right of due process in an appeals procedure. All matriculated students will be provided with a full description of the University’s standards for academic integrity, consequences for violations, and the appeals procedure.