Undergraduate Disclosure Notices
To the Smeal College Undergraduate Community:
We would like to thank you for your continued support of the Smeal College Honor Code and the important principles and values it represents. While the vast majority of Smeal College students uphold the Honor Code, there have been instances during this reporting period in which some have fallen short of the mark. In identifying these shortcomings, both students and faculty members have taken the responsibility to step forward. In addition to the faculty initiated actions, Smeal College students have brought academic integrity concerns to their respective instructors resulting in formal resolution through our review process.
As we do each semester, here is a breakdown of the academic integrity violations that were referred and resolved during the previous twelve months.
For the April 2016 – March 2017 reporting period:
There were 63 referrals to the academic integrity violation process.
Uncontested Cases: 60
Contested Cases: 3 Students found responsible and sanction appropriate
Violation categories:
- Falsifying attendance records
- Collaboration with another student to gain unauthorized access to exam
- Theft of academic credit, with clicker violation
- Submission of assignment completed by another student
- Forgery of student signature certifying an academic deliverable
- Unapproved collaboration with another on homework assignment
- Usage of cheat sheet during an exam
- Plagiarism
- Improper access/usage of electronic device during an exam
The sanctions for these violations ranged from reduced scores on the exams or assignments; zero credit on the exams or assignments; reduction of final course grades; to course failure. In some cases, there were referrals to the Office of Student Conduct for disciplinary review at the university level.
The Smeal College Honor Code represents an important distinction for our students and alumni. With your support, the Smeal College of Business will continue to represent the highest values through its graduates entering business communities throughout the world.
Charles H. Whiteman, Dean, Smeal College of Business
Jeffery M. Sharp, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education