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Academic Integrity
Code and Judicial Process
Publication sources: Student Handbook; Undergraduate Bulletin; Graduate Bulletin; Faculty Handbook; Judicial Procedures Pamphlet (Office of Student Affairs)
Absolute integrity is expected of every member of the Pratt Community in all
academic matters, particularly with regard to academic honesty. The latter includes
plagiarism and cheating. In addition, the continued registration of any student
is contingent upon regular attendance, the quality of work and proper conduct.
Irregular class attendance, neglect of work, failure to comply with Institute
rules and official notices or conduct not consistent with general good order are
regarded as sufficient reasons for dismissal. The faculty member and/or the Academic
Integrity Board adjudicate cases of academic infractions. The Board does not hear
grade disputes because these receive a final review at the level of the school
dean. Students and faculty are expected to be familiar with and observe academic
standards and policies as well as the procedures to address infractions or resolve
disputes. A full description of these policies and procedures may be found in
the Student Handbook and the Bulletin.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
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Academic
Integrity Code |
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When a student submits
any work for academic credit, he/she makes an implicit claim that the work is
wholly his/her own, done without the assistance of any person or source not explicitly
noted, and that the work has not previously been submitted for academic credit
in any area. Students are free to study and work together on homework assignments
unless specifically asked not to by the instructor. In addition, students, especially
international students, are encouraged to seek the editorial assistance they may
need for writing assignments, term papers and theses. Our Writing and Tutorial
Center staff is always available to clarify issues of academic standards and to
provide writing and tutorial help for all Pratt students. In the case of examinations
(tests, quizzes, etc.), the student also implicitly claims that he/she has obtained
no prior unauthorized information about the examination, and neither gives nor
obtains any assistance during the examination. Moreover, a student shall not prevent
others from completing their work. |
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Examples of violations include but are not
limited to the following: |
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- The supplying or receiving of completed papers,
outlines, or research for submission by any person other than the author.
- The submission of the same, or essentially the same paper or report for
credit on two different occasions.
- The supplying or receiving of
unauthorized information about the form or content of an examination prior to
its first being given, specifically including unauthorized possession of exam
material prior to the exam.
- The supplying or receiving of partial
or complete answers, or suggestions for answers, of assistance in interpretation
of questions on any examination from any source not explicitly authorized. (This
includes copying or reading of another student’s work or consultation of
notes or other sources during examinations.)
- Plagiarism. (See statement
following which defines plagiarism.)
- Copying or allowing copying
of assigned work or falsification of information.
- Unauthorized removal
or unnecessary “hoarding” of study or research materials or equipment
intended for common use in assigned work, including the sequestering of library
materials.
- Alteration of any materials or apparatus which would interfere
with another student’s work.
- Forging a signature to certify
completion of a course assignment or a recommendation and the like
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Plagiarism |
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Plagiarism means presenting, as one’s own,
the words, the work, information, or the opinions of someone else. It is dishonest,
since the plagiarist offers, as his/her own, for credit, the language, or information,
or thought for which he/she deserves no credit.
Plagiarism occurs when one
uses the exact language of someone else without putting the quoted material in
quotation marks and giving its source. (Exceptions are very well-known quotations,
from the Bible or Shakespeare, for example.) In formal papers, the source is acknowledged
in a footnote; in informal papers, it may be put in parentheses, or made a part
of the text: “Robert Sherwood says...”
This first type of plagiarism,
using without acknowledging the language of someone, is easy to understand and
to avoid: When a writer uses the exact words of another writer, or speaker, he/she
must put those words in quotation marks and give their source.
A second
type of plagiarism is more complex. It occurs when the writer presents, as his/her
own, the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of material, or the pattern of thought
of someone else, even though he/she expresses it in his/her own words. The language
may be his/hers, but he/she is presenting as his/her work, and taking credit for,
the work of another. He/she is, therefore, guilty of plagiarism if he/she fails
to give credit to the original author of the pattern of ideas.
Students
writing informal theses, in which they are usually asked to draw on their own
experience and information, can guard against plagiarism by a simple test. |
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They
should be able to honestly answer “no” to the following questions: |
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- Am
I deliberately recalling any particular source of information as I write this
paper?
- Am I consulting any source as I write this paper? If the answer
to these questions is no, the writer need have no fear of using sources dishonestly.
The
material in his/her mind, which he/she will transfer to his/her written page,
is genuinely digested and his/her own. The writing of a research paper presents
a somewhat different problem for here the student is expected to gather materials
from books and articles read for the purpose of writing the paper. In the careful
research paper, however (and this is true of term papers in all college courses),
credit is given in footnotes for every idea, conclusion, or piece of information
that is not the writer’s own; and the writer is careful not to follow closely
the wording of the sources they have read. If the writer wishes to quote, they
must put the passage in quotation marks and give credit to the author in the footnote;
but they write the bulk of the paper in their own words and their own style, using
footnotes to acknowledge the facts and ideas they had taken from their reading.*
*Reprinted with permission of Macmillan Publishing
Company from Understanding and Using English by Newman P. Birk. 1972. |
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Attendance & Conduct |
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The continued registration of
any student is contingent upon regular attendance, the quality of work and proper
conduct. Irregular attendance, neglect of work, failure to comply with Institute
rules and official notices or conduct not consistent with general good order are
regarded as sufficient reasons for dismissal.
There are no unexcused absences
or cuts. Students are expected to attend all classes. Any unexcused absences may
affect the final grade. Three unexcused absences may result in course failure
at the discretion of the instructor. |
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Attendance and Religious
Beliefs |
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Pratt Institute recognizes
and respects the diversity of its students and their respective religious obligations
and practices. The Institute will therefore make every effort to afford all individuals
appropriate opportunity to fulfill those religious obligations and practices.
With the concurrence of the appropriate deans and academic administrators, students
will have the opportunity to make up examinations that are missed because of religious
obligations and practices. |
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Privacy & Confidentiality |
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The Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act of 1974, popularly known as the “Buckley Amendment,”
guarantees certain rights of privacy for students and controls access to their
records. Students may secure from the Registrar’s Office a full copy of
the written policy of Pratt Institute on these matters which includes the location
of all education records and more fully explains the other matters set forth below.
With certain exceptions, students have the right to review information contained
in their education records. Students also have the right to challenge the contents
of their education records through informal and formal procedures.
In addition,
students have the right to prevent disclosure, with certain exceptions, of personally
identifiable information from their education records. In certain cases, the Institute
is required to keep a record of disclosures which are made. A recent federal law
provides that Institute officials have the right to notify parents or legal guardians
of students under 21 who have been involved in illicit drug or alcohol-related
incidents. Students may file complaints concerning any alleged failure of Pratt
Institute to comply with the act with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act Office, Department of Health and Human Services, 330 Independence Avenue,
S.W., Washington, DC 20201. |
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ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY CODE PROCEDURES
Pratt’s judicial process has been established to resolve alleged violations of Pratt's Academic Integrity Code, and if a violation is demonstrated, to render an appropriate sanction. The judicial process is not intended to be a formal legal process although fundamental fairness applies. The judicial process, educational in nature, has as its goal to protect the rights of individuals while at the same time providing an experience from which they can learn.
A centralized Institute-wide Academic Integrity Hearing Board is convened by the Judicial Affairs Coordinator to hear and make decisions about students’ alleged academic infractions. Most prominent among these are cases of alleged academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating. The Academic Integrity Hearing Board does not hear grade disputes because these receive a final review at the level of the dean of each school.
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JURISDICTION |
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All incidents of misconduct will be reported and recorded in both faculty and Academic Integrity Hearing Board adjudicated cases.
Every attempt is made to resolve alleged infractions at the lowest informal level possible. That is, between the student and the faculty member; or when that fails, between the student, faculty member and the chairperson of the student’s department.
Cases will be referred to an Academic Integrity Hearing Board under the following circumstances:
1. In the case of a second allegation in the same or another course
2. When the infraction is judged to be so serious that the maximum penalty available to the faculty member (failure of the course) is deemed to be insufficient.
Cases are referred to an appeal board under the following circumstances:
1. When the student chooses to appeal the decision made by the faculty member
2. When the student chooses to appeal the decision made by an Academic Integrity Hearing Board |
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COMPOSITION |
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Academic Integrity Hearing Board
1. Five faculty members and one non- voting administrative chair It is the chairs responsibility to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
2. Selection
A centralized Institute-wide Academic Integrity Hearing Board is drawn from a judiciary pool of trained faculty, and administrators following the model of the Student and Administrative Hearing Boards. Each time the Board is convened, its membership is selected by the Judicial Affairs Coordinator from among the judiciary pool.
3. General Guidelines
a. If a member of a board perceives a conflict with respect to the case at hand, that member must withdraw and an alternate will be selected.
b. A member may not serve on a board if he or she was a witness or an active participant in the case being heard.
c. If by majority vote, the board decides that a member may be prejudicial with respect to the case at hand, an alternate will be selected.
d. If the respondent or complainant objects to a member for good cause, and the board so decides, an alternate will be selected.
Appeal Board
The Appeal Board is composed of two faculty members, and one administrator or staff member selected from among the judiciary pool. The Chairperson, a voting member and appointed by the board, will ensure that proper procedures are followed.
1. PROCEDURES
Faculty: A faculty member may, after considering the evidence available at the time, and after interviewing the student (unless the student resists the interview), take any of the following actions:
a. Dismiss the case after counseling and advisement.
b. Impose sanctions he/she deems appropriate subject to the student's right of
c. Refer the case to an Academic Integrity Hearing Board.
For a first incident of academic misconduct in a course, the range of sanctions from which the faculty member can choose includes: fail assignment, re-do assignment, lower grade for the course, written warning, fail the student in the course.
If the faculty member believes that the infraction warrants a more severe sanction, he or she should impose one of the above sanctions and then refer the matter to the Academic Integrity Hearing Board for further review and determination.
Once the faculty member has determined that an infraction has occurred he or she must report the incident to the Registrar., regardless of the sanction.
The respondent will be told the outcome as soon as possible and will be given written notification of the charges and the sanction imposed. In most cases, the notification will also remind the respondent that he or she may appeal the decision within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) from the receipt of the written findings.
The appeal must be in writing and sent to:
Academic Integrity Appeal Board
c/o Office of the Provost
Pratt Institute, Main Building, 200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
Note: Faculty may consider the evidence and make a determination even if the respondent refuses to attend the meeting.
1. Academic Integrity Hearing Board
Whenever a case is referred, the board will be convened and conducted as follows:
a. Submission of Written Complaint
The Provost, upon initial determination and notice to the individual, will within seven (7) business days of the determination present a written complaint to the Academic Integrity Hearing Board. The complaint should contain all facts available at the time, including a list of witnesses. In unusual circumstances in which the board feels that the respondent did not have access to the facts necessary to make the complaint complete when first submitted, the board may allow the respondent to submit an amended complaint.
b. Notice of Hearing
The Board will conduct a hearing as soon as possible, but no later than ten (10) business days of receipt of a written complaint. Care will be taken to hold the hearing at a time and day least likely to conflict with class schedules. Note: If, during the summer or vacation periods, the respondent is not present or if a full board cannot be convened, the hearing will be scheduled within ten (10) business days after classes resume. All parties will be notified in writing of the hearing date.
c. Quorum
All five (5) members of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board, must be present to constitute a quorum.
d. Failure to attend
If the respondent fails to attend or file a request for continuance for good cause, the board will, at its discretion, still hear the case. If the case is heard and guilt is determined, the respondent will be appropriately disciplined as though he or she had been present.
e. Representation
Another person, including a family member or a friend, may attend the hearing for moral support or character testimony only. Note: Attorneys cannot be present except in cases where the respondent is also facing court action. In this case, the attorney may not question witnesses or board members, but may only advise his or her client.
Note: In some cases, at the discretion of the Provost, an Institute advocate may be appointed to assist the respondent through the judicial process.
f. Scope of Inquiry
The board may not consider any matter not included in the written complaint. A respondent’s academic and social standing, previous discipline record, if any, or other mitigating circumstances may not be considered when determining guilt or innocence, but may be taken into account when deciding upon a sanction.
g. Examination of Witnesses and Documents
The board chairperson will summon witnesses at the request of the parties involved. In addition, the board will have the power to summon witnesses on its own initiative. If a witness cannot appear in person for good cause, the board may, at its discretion, accept a signed statement from the witness. The board will consider whatever documents it deems relevant to the case and will make such documents part of its record. However, in the case of bulky documents, specific reference to the documents will suffice.
h. Cross Examination
The respondent has the right to be present at all meetings at which witnesses testify and may ask witnesses questions if they wish to do so. The board reserves the right to rule on the relevance of the questions.
i. Access to Documents
Both the complainant and the respondent will have access to all documents submitted to the board from any source and advance access will be given whenever possible. Whenever a party submits new evidence at the hearing, the board may, at its discretion, grant an adjournment to give the other party an opportunity to review the material and prepare a rebuttal.
j. Findings
When possible, after the board has arrived at its decision, the findings will be given verbally to the respondent by the chairperson. At the board's discretion the complainant may be allowed to hear the findings. Within ten (10) business days of the hearing, the chairperson will issue to the involved parties written findings of fact, the decisions and/or recommendations of the board, and information about the appeal process.
k. Adjudication
After hearing the case, the board is empowered to impose such disciplinary penalties, as it deems appropriate. The range of sanctions that may be given by the Academic Integrity Hearing Board includes: WD, F in the course, or recommendation to the Provost for dismissal from the Institute. The decision of the board may be appealed by the complainant and the Provost, as well as the respondent. The sanction imposed will remain in effect pending the appeal outcome.
3. Appeal Board
The Appeals Board will be convened whenever a student appeals a decision that has been rendered by a faculty member or by the Academic Integrity Hearing Board
a. Scope of Review
On appeal, neither party will be entitled to a rehearing of the entire case. Rather, the Appeal Board will limit its review of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board’s determination to the following three issues:
• Did the board or the faculty member conduct themselves in such a way that both parties had an adequate opportunity to prepare their case?
• Was the evidence presented at the hearing substantial enough to justify a decision?
• Is there evidence that the board or the faculty member acted in a capricious or prejudical manner?
b. Written Appeal
The appeal must be in writing and must touch upon one of the three issues listed above and submitted either by delivering or mailing a copy to:
Chairperson, Appeal Board
c/o Office of the Provost
Pratt Institute, Main Building, 200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
c. Time of Appeal and Review
The appeal must be submitted within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of the receipt of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board’s or faculty member’s written decision . The Appeal Board chairperson will convene the Board to review the appeal as soon as possible, but no later than ten (10) business days after receipt of the written appeal. The Appeal Board will limit its inquiry to the issue(s) put forward in the appeal. The Appeal Board, at its discretion, may ask either or both sides to make an oral presentation.
d. Record on Appeal
The record on appeal will be composed of the written appeal and all other relevant documents, including the written decision of the judicial board.
e. Determination
The Appeal Board may accept the Academic Integrity Hearing Board’s decision, return the case to the board or to the faculty member for further review in keeping with suggestions that the Appeal Board may make, or reverse the judicial board's decision and dismiss the case. In cases where the appeal board decides to reverse the decision, the faculty member will be advised of the reversal and if a grade is involved the faculty member will be asked to review the grade in light of the Board’s conclusions. |
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PENALTIES |
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For academic violations, most notably plagiarism and cheating, the penalties range from written warning or failure in the course (rendered by the faculty member) to dismissal for the Institute (recommended by the Academic Integrity Hearing Board to the Provost). Penalties may also include other sanctions, such as those listed below:
1. Oral or Written Warning. A verbal or written notice to the individual indicating that
additional violations may result in more severe sanction.
2. Social Probation. The student is placed in a marginal relationship to the Institute, and his or her status at the Institute in jeopardy. This means that further violation of standards or policies may result in suspension or dismissal from the residence halls and/or the Institute. Students placed on Social Probation may not hold certain positions (e.g., Resident Advisor, Orientation Leader), nor may they participate in varsity athletics or hold a major student leadership position for the duration of the probationary period. The terms of probation may also include one or more of the following:
• A recommendation for alcohol or psychological counseling.
• Satisfactory attendance at, or development of, an educational program (preferably relating to the offense).
• Completion of a project or other type of service to the Institute or the community at large.
• Restitution.
3. Restriction. Denial of the use of certain facilities or the right to participate in
certain activities or privileges for a specified period of time.
4. Suspension. Suspension from the Institute for a stated period of time. Suspension from the Institute requires a petition for re-instatement.
5. Dismissal.
Dismissal from the Institute.
6. Restitution. A student may be required to make restitution for damage or loss to
either Institute or individual property. This may include forfeiture of part or all of the student's security deposit (in the case of a resident student) and imposition of additional charges if warranted. Failure to make restitution will result in withholding the student's transcript and/or denial of either graduation or continued enrollment at the Institute.
7. Service. A student may be required to fulfill an educational project or program.
Note: One or more sanctions may be imposed when and if appropriate.
From
the Student Handbook
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