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Kansas State University

University Handbook, Appendix F:
Academic Conduct, Academic Honesty, and Honor System Constitution

 

Academic Conduct, Academic Dishonesty, and Honor System Constitution
(FSM 4-11-89, 10-10-89, 4-18-98, 2-10-04)

I.  Academic Conduct

Rights and Responsibilities: Undergraduate and Graduate Students

A.  Every student has:

  1. Freedom of inquiry, conscience, expression, association, and the right to petition for redress of grievances.
  2. The right to have information about his or her opinions and associations acquired by professors and administrators in the course of their work as instructors, advisors, and counselors held confidential and not disclosed to others unless by the student's consent.
  3. Freedom from unfair treatment on the part of faculty and administration in the assignment and evaluation of academic work done for the completion of requirements for a particular course of his or her program for a degree.
  4. The right to due process in the conduct of proceedings pursuant to the provisions of this document or any other proceedings conducted under any other provisions of any other rule or regulation governing Kansas State University .
  5. The right to immunity from reprisal in the form of University disciplinary action or proceedings for seeking redress pursuant to the provisions of this document.

B.  Every student is responsible for:

  1. The exercise of applicable rights and freedoms, as enumerated in Section I.A. above, in a manner which shall not materially and substantially interfere with the requirements or appropriate discipline in the operation of the institution or infringe on the rights of other students.
  2. Completing the requirements and meeting the standards of any course in which he or she is enrolled; requirements for participation in classroom discussion and submission of written assignments are not inconsistent with this section.

 

II. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

(FSM revised 2-15-94)

All academic relationships ought to be governed by a sense of honor, fair play, trust, and a readiness to give appropriate credit to the intellectual endeavors of others where such credit is due. Since the academic community expects that the process of intellectual and creative endeavor is beneficial to a student, the student's original work, created in response to each assignment, is normally expected. The following rules and guidelines are intended not to replace an atmosphere of trust and cooperation in the pursuit of knowledge, but rather to assure due process and to provide guidelines for action in those instances where the proper relationships and attitudes have broken down.

The definitions, procedures, and penalties included in this report shall be publicized and made available to all students; any student enrolling at Kansas State University implicitly indicates by so enrolling that he or she accepts the stipulations concerning academic honesty and the procedures they entail as outlined in this report.

A. Cheating: Plagiarism

1.   Definition of plagiarism.

  1. “Plagiarism is the academic and literary equivalent of robbery, taking somebody else's property. If you copy somebody's test answers, take an essay from a magazine and pass it off as your own, lift a well-phrased sentence or two and include them without crediting the author or using quotation marks, or even pass off somebody's good ideas as examples of your own genius, you are guilty of intellectual thievery. If you are caught you should expect punishment or contempt or both." Quote from Robert M. Gorrell and Charlton Laid, Modern English Handbook, 6th edition (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1976), p. 71.
  2. Plagiarism covers unpublished as well as published sources; borrowing another's term paper, handing in as one's own work a paper purchased from an individual or agency, or submitting as one's own any papers from living group's, club's, or organization's files; all are punishable as plagiarism.

2.   Avoidance of plagiarism: "Acknowledge indebtedness ":

  1. whenever you quote another person's actual words;
  2. whenever you see another person's idea, opinion, or theory, even if it is completely paraphrased in your own words; and
  3. whenever you borrow facts, statistics, or other illustrative material--unless the information is common knowledge." William W. Watt, An American Rhetoric, 4th edition (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1970) p. 8.

3.   The form and standard for attribution and acknowledgment of literary indebtedness is set by each discipline. Students should consult with their department or with recognized handbooks in their field if in doubt.

4.   The ethical standards outlined in the above definition of plagiarism and suggestions for its avoidance govern all relationships in academe. Hence the guidelines apply to faculty and research assistants in their possible use of students' and colleagues' research and ideas, as well as to student use of source materials and authorities and student use of other students' ideas and work.

  1. In any graduate program considerable cross-pollination of ideas between faculty and students will exist. If it becomes apparent that public dissemination of the results of cooperative efforts is likely, the attribution and distribution of credit should be agreed upon, preferably in writing, before release of the material to publishers, if not at the time collaboration begins. If the parties cannot agree upon distribution of credit or responsibility, the head of the department and/or dean should be called upon to adjudicate; if any party feels that satisfactory resolution was not obtained there, grievance procedures may be instituted.
  2. In cases where substantial contributions to faculty professional activities, creative works, papers, or publication come from students in classes, seminars, etc., the student contributors should be recognized in acknowledgments, a note, or in any other appropriate manner, by name if such specific attribution is possible. Of course, student debts of the same kind to faculty and other students should be similarly acknowledged.

5.   Honesty, courtesy, and open dealing with others underlie all the above stipulations. Whenever possible, in cooperative intellectual ventures, all parties should be fully informed at the outset, preferably in writing, of the allotment of responsibilities, recompense, and credit and recognition to be given to all parties to the enterprise.

Other Forms of Academic Cheating

  1. Definition: In addition to plagiarism as defined above, various other forms of academic dishonesty occur which shall be subject to the penalties provided below (Section III). These include, but are not limited to, consultation of textbooks, library materials, or notes in examination where such materials are not to be used during the test; use of crib sheets or other hidden notes in such an examination, or looking at another student's test paper to copy strategies or answers; having a confederate supply questions or answers from an examination to be given or in progress; having a person other than the one duly registered and taking the course stand in at an examination or any other graded activity (in which cases all consenting parties to the attempt to gain unfair advantage shall be deemed culpable and subject to penalties); deliberate falsification of laboratory results, or submission of samples or findings not legitimately derived in the situation and by the procedures prescribed or allowable; submission in a paper, thesis, lab report, or other academic exercise of falsified, invented, or fictitious data or evidence, or deliberate or knowing concealment or distortion of the true nature, origin, or function of such data or evidence; procurement and/or alteration without permission from appropriate authority of examinations, papers, lab reports, or other academic exercises, whether discarded or actually used, and either before or after such materials have been handed in to the appropriate recipient; collaborating with others on projects where such collaboration is expressly forbidden; submission of one's previously graded work for a new assignment (without the instructor's consent); and other forms of academic dishonesty and fraud. The application of the above definition of academic cheating and that of the definition of plagiarism in II.A. above within a given discipline shall rest finally with the department or discipline concerned.

  2. Procedures: While the governing principle, once cheating is suspected, is that due process shall be observed and no charge made without adequate objective evidence, it is apparent that prior to that, it is most desirable to exercise due care so that tempting, compromising, or ambiguous situations do not arise.

Honor System Constitution

We, the undergraduate and graduate students and faculty of Kansas State University, in order to conduct our academic endeavors under high standards of individual responsibility, thereby promoting personal honor and integrity, set forth this constitution of the Honor System.

ARTICLE I. ROLE/PURPOSE

  1. The Honor System is intended to contribute to an environment at Kansas State University that fosters academic honesty and integrity.
  2. All members of the academic community, both students and faculty, are urged to report violations of the honor pledge.
  3. The honor pledge statement: On all assignments, examinations, or other course work undertaken by students, the following pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."
  4. The K-State Honor System specifies how alleged violations of the honor pledge are adjudicated by the Honor Council.
  5. The Honor Council employs the Faculty Senate definitions for academic dishonesty in interpreting and applying this Honor System.
  6. Grading disputes and non-academic, behavior-related issues are handled elsewhere by existing K-State systems.
  7. Breaches of faculty honesty and integrity are covered by existing university policies that are published in the Faculty Handbook.

ARTICLE II. SELECTION OF HONOR COUNCIL MEMBERS

  1. The Honor Council includes faculty and undergraduate students from each of the following colleges: Agriculture, Architecture Planning and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Human Ecology, Technology and Aviation. Each college is represented by two student and two faculty members, with the exception of the College of Arts and Sciences, which is represented by three students and three faculty members, and the College of Technology and Aviation, which is represented by four students and four faculty members. In addition, the dean of student life will appoint three staff members and the associate Provost for diversity will appoint three students at large to serve on the Honor Council. Ten graduate students will be appointed at large by the graduate student council president upon the recommendation of the Graduate Student Council.

  2. Undergraduate student members:
    1. Undergraduate students are nominated to the Honor Council by the student body president.
    2. Student nominees must have completed two semesters at Kansas State University, be in good academic standing and be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours.
    3. Diversity may be a consideration in appointing members.
    4. The student body president nominates student members from each of the previously mentioned colleges.
    5. All nominations are subject to approval by Student Senate.
    6. The student body president forwards the names of nominees to the Provost, who ensures eligibility.

  3. Graduate student members:
    1. Graduate student nominees must be currently enrolled and in good academic standing.
    2. Diversity may be a consideration in appointing members.
    3. Graduate student nominees are forwarded to the Provost who ensures eligibility

  4. Faculty Members:
    1. Faculty apply for membership to their respective dean.
    2. Deans' nominations are forwarded to the Provost and the president of the Faculty Senate who jointly approve members from each college.
    3. Diversity may be a consideration in appointing members.
    4. All appointments are subject to approval by Faculty Senate.

ARTICLE III. DUTIES OF HONOR COUNCIL MEMBERS

  1. Attend scheduled meetings of the Honor Council.
  2. Communicate and promote the Honor System to the Kansas State University community.
  3. Advise students and faculty who report violations of the honor pledge.
  4. Serve as neutral investigators of alleged honor pledge violations.
  5. Serve as panel members during hearings of alleged honor pledge violations.
  6. If elected, serve as Chair or vice-Chair of the Honor Council.

ARTICLE IV. HONOR COUNCIL TERM OF OFFICE

  1. Members' terms are two years, except for initial appointments, which are divided equally between one-year and two-year terms.
  2. Members' terms begin at the end of the spring semester and end at the conclusion of the spring semester of the final year of their appointment.
  3. No member of the Honor Council may serve two consecutive full terms.
  4. Members participate in a training process developed by the Director of the Honor System.
  5. If members resign or are removed from office, replacement appointments are made by the respective entity for the remaining portions of their terms.

ARTICLE V. REMOVAL FROM HONOR COUNCIL

Members are subject to removal from office pursuant to the procedures and grounds for removal in the bylaws.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS OF THE HONOR COUNCIL

  1. Chair
    1. The Chair is chosen annually from the membership of the Honor Council by majority vote.
    2. The Chair presides at meetings of the Honor Council and serves in a parliamentary role.
    3. The Chair, with the assistance of the Honor Council, annually evaluates the performance of the Honor System Director and forwards the evaluation and a recommendation to the Provost.
    4. If the Honor System Director has a conflict of interest in an alleged violation, the Honor Council Chair serves in the role of Honor System Director for that case.

  2. Vice Chair
    1. The vice Chair is chosen annually from the membership of the Honor Council by majority vote.
    2. The vice Chair performs the duties of the Chair when the Chair is unable to do so.

  3. Director
    1. The Director of the Honor System is appointed by the Provost to oversee the Honor Council.

    2. Director's responsibilities:
      1. Communicate and promote the Honor System to the Kansas State University community.
      2. Receive alleged violations of the Honor System.
      3. Determine whether alleged violations should proceed to a hearing panel.
      4. Select investigators, panels for hearings and appeals, and panel Chairs.
      5. Provide the equipment and technical assistance for recording hearings.
      6. Record findings of the hearing and appeal panels.
      7. Maintain the records of all Honor Council proceedings.
      8. Review Honor System policies and report annually to the Provost, Faculty Senate and Student Senate.
      9. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Honor Council.
      10. Develop and conduct a training program for members of the Honor Council.

ARTICLE VII. EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE HONOR COUNCIL

  1. The Provost and the dean of student life, or their representatives, may serve an advisory role at Honor Council meetings.
  2. The Director of the Honor System and staff members of the Honor Council have speaking rights during Honor Council meetings.

ARTICLE VIII. STUDENT RIGHTS

Students' rights are enumerated under Article XII of the K-State Student Governing Association constitution.

ARTICLE IX. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

  1. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any member of the faculty, undergraduate or graduate student at Kansas State University.
  2. All amendments must be approved by 3/4 vote of the Honor Council selected and qualified.
  3. All amendments are subject to approval by Faculty Senate and Student Senate.

ARTICLE X. INVESTIGATION AND ADJUDICATION REVISIONS

Investigation and adjudication revisions must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the total Honor Council selected and qualified.

 

* Excludes the School of Veterinary Medicine