Academic Policies
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Academic Honesty Policy
Enrollment in an academic course at Nichols College obligates the student to follow the College's Academic Honesty Policy, the violation of which can lead to serious disciplinary action. The Policy may be stated simply as follows:
The College expects all academic work submitted by a student (papers, exams, projects, computer programs, etc.) to be the student's own. Plagiarism (as defined below), cheating during examinations, and assisting others in the acts of plagiarism or cheating, are expressly prohibited by the Policy. In sum, a student's academic performance must be an honest representation of the student's ability.
The following are detailed descriptions of some possible Academic Honesty Policy violations.
- Plagiarism is defined as the unaccredited use of words or ideas, which are the result of other persons' creative efforts.
Examples of Plagiarism include the following:
- Copying of other persons' work during examinations, with or without their permission;
- Duplication of other persons' homework, themes, essays, reports, research papers, computer code, spreadsheets, graphics, etc. with or without their permission;
- Use of specific passages or detailed use of specific ideas as set forth in books, journals, magazines, etc. without proper citation (footnotes, bibliography);
- Use of materials provided by term paper services.
- Complicity in plagiarism by condoning copying of one's own work including homework, themes, essays, reports, research papers, computer code, spreadsheets, graphics, etc.
- Use of notes or "crib sheets" during examinations (unless the instructor specifically authorizes use of such materials or an "open book" examination format).
Examples of penalties imposed for violation of the Honesty Policy include failing grades, forced withdrawal from courses or suspension from the College.
The severity of the penalties suggests that it is most important for all Nichols students to fully understand the specific kinds of behavior that violate the Policy.