RULE OF ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of every student at the University of South Carolina-Columbia to adhere steadfastly to truthfulness and to avoid dishonesty, fraud, or deceit of any type in connection with any academic program. Any student who violates this rule or who knowingly assists another to violate this rule shall be subject to discipline. Please visit the Office of Academic Integrity for additional information on the honor code, Carolina Creed, policies and procedures related to academic integrity or violations http://www.housing.sc.edu/academicintegrity/.

This Rule is intended to prohibit all forms of academic dishonesty and should be interpreted broadly to carry out that purpose. The following examples illustrate conduct that violates this Rule, but this list is not intended to be an exhaustive compilation of conduct prohibited by the Rule:

1. Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance, or attempting to give or receive such assistance, in connection with the performance of any academic work;

2. Unauthorized use of materials or information of any type or the unauthorized use of any electronic or mechanical devise in connection with the completion of any academic work;

3. Unauthorized access to the contents of any test or examination or the purchase, sale, or theft of any test or examination prior to its administration;

4. Use of another person's work without proper acknowledgement of source;

5. Intentional misrepresentation by word or action of any situation of fact, or intentional omission of a material fact, so as to mislead any person in connection with any academic work (including, without limitation, the scheduling, completion, performance, or submission of any such work);

6. Offering or giving any favor or thing of value for the purpose of influencing improperly a grade or other evaluation of a student in an academic program;

7. Conduct intended to interfere with an instructor’s ability to evaluate accurately a student’s competency or performance in an academic program.

See the Carolina Community: USC Columbia Student Handbook and Policy Guide at http://www.sa.sc.edu/carolinacommunity/ for the Rule of Academic Responsibility and

Academic Discipline Procedures. Sections A, B, D, E, and F shall apply to all alleged violations of the rule. The College of Nursing has adopted substitute procedural rules for Academic

Responsibility; The Honor Code.

Policies for Student Academic Responsibility-The Honor Code This Honor Code is intended to prohibit all forms of academic dishonesty and should be interpreted broadly to carry out that purpose. The following examples illustrate conduct that violates this Honor Code, but this list is not intended to be an exhaustive compilation of conduct prohibited by the Honor Code.

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1. Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance, or attempting to give or receive such assistance, in connection with the performance of any academic work.

2. Unauthorized use of materials or information of any type or the unauthorized use of any electronic or mechanical device in connection with the completion of any academic work.

3. Access to the contents of any test or examination or the purchase, sale, or theft of any test or examination prior to its administration.

4. Use of another person's work or ideas without proper acknowledgement of source.

5. Intentional misrepresentation by word or action of any situation of fact, or intentional omission of material fact, so as to mislead any person in connection with any academic work (including, without limitation, the scheduling, completion, performance, or submission of any such work).

6. Offering or giving any favor or thing of value for the purpose of influencing improperly a grade or other evaluation of a student in an academic program.

7. Conduct intended to interfere with an instructor's ability to evaluate accurately a student's competency or performance in an academic program.

Whenever a student is uncertain as to whether conduct would violate this Honor Code, it is the responsibility of the student to seek clarification from the appropriate faculty member or instructor of record prior to engaging in such conduct.

Investigation of Complaints-Office of Academic Integrity

1.1 Upon receiving a report of an alleged violation of the Honor Code, the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Integrity will review the report and relevant evidence, has the duty to investigate, and consult with relevant parties regarding the incident in question. The Assistant Vice Provost will consult eh Dean to determine if the evidence warrants a charge. The Dean will ultimately determine wither a charge is warranted. If a charge is warranted, the Office of

Academic Integrity will send written notification to the charged student indicating what sections of the Honor Code were allegedly violated.

Options and Resolution Procedures for Allegations of Violations of the Honor Code Students who have violated the University of South Carolina Honor Code are subject to both academic and non-academic penalties.

2.1 Outcomes of the initial meeting with the student. When an instructor of recording or the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Integrity meets initially with a student regarding an allegation of a Honor Code violation, there are four possible outcomes of that meeting:

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1. Student does not contest the allegation(s) or sanctions. If a student does not contest the allegation (s) of a Honor Code violation, please see section 2.2.2.1 for resolution.

2. Student does not contest the allegation(s), but contests the sanctions. If a student only contests the sanctions of an Honor Code violation, please see section 2.2.2.2 for

procedures for resolution.

3. Student contests allegations. If a student contests the allegation(s), please see section 2.2.2.2 for procedures to resolution.

4. Allegation is dismissed by the Dean

2.2 Procedures for Resolution of allegations of Honor Code violations.

2.2.1 Academic Resolution. The student should have the opportunity to meet with the instructor of record to discuss any academic penalty that may be applied. The instructor of record will determine the academic evaluation of the student's work and any academic penalty if necessary.

Non-Academic Resolution. A non-academic resolution is the disciplinary punishment imposed by the university, which may be in addition to any grade penalty. All allegations must be referred to the Office of Academic Integrity for investigation. The instructor of record may also make a recommendation to the Office of Academic Integrity regarding non-academic sanctions (see Section 5). The student will have the opportunity to meet with Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Integrity for Academic Integrity to determine the nature of the recommended non-academic penalty, if any.

At the conclusion of the meeting between the charged student and the Assistant Vice Provost, the Assistant Vice Provost will recommend to the Dean either:

1. To dismiss the charges if they are unsupported by evidence OR 2. Recommend one of the options below to resolve the charges.

The final determination will be made by the Dean. This matter may also be forwarded to the office of Student Judicial Programs for additional disciplinary action, if appropriate.

If the charged student fails to meet with Assistant Vice Provost, a hold may be placed on the student's registration preventing him/her from registering for future classes until the matter is resolved. Any student who has an outstanding Honor Code allegation cannot graduate until the matter has been resolved.

*Rules may be changed at any time

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