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Academic Regulations, Probation &
Honesty
2009 - 2010
Policies and
Procedures
Monmouth College believes that the responsibility to develop and respect
general conditions conducive to the freedom to teach and learn is shared
by all members of the College. Policies,
procedures, and expectations are designed to ensure this freedom and to
promote the meaningful, effective functioning of the Monmouth College
community.
The act of
matriculation is a commitment to share responsibility for the development
of our collegial life as well as to achieve personal academic
objectives. Thus, students are encouraged to participate with faculty and
staff in the review, evaluation, and formulation of regulations,
standards, and procedures. The development of effective social communities
is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The College community
presents us with an opportunity to work toward such a goal.
It is, therefore, the intent of the
regulations and procedures described to promote individual opportunity and
freedom within a context of responsibility to the Monmouth College
community.
Academic Regulations
Academic Regulations are
described most fully in the Monmouth College Catalog, a current copy of
which should be consulted. Academic regulations as they involve particular
classes are spelled out in syllabi for those courses. Students should know
that all faculty reserve the right to amend syllabi, making the
announcements while class is in session. Students are expected to attend
class regularly and be aware of such changes in the course syllabus.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes regularly and to inform
instructors promptly of any condition that prevents them from doing so.
Instructors formulate their own policies with regard to attendance,
make-up examination, and related assignments.
W and WF Grades
The W grade is given when the student withdraws from a course during
the first week or after the ninth week if the student is passing at the
time. The WF grade is given when a student withdraws from a course after
the ninth week and is failing at the time of withdrawal. If, after the
ninth week of a semester, a student is dismissed or suspended or if he/she
withdraws, the student may be assigned grades of W and WF with the
approval of the instructor, the adviser, and the dean of the College.
Otherwise, an F will be recorded.
Academic Probation
A student who fails to make normal progress as defined in the current
College catalog may be dismissed or placed on academic probation. The
Committee on Admission and Academic Status reviews such cases
individually, and makes recommendations to the dean of the College.
Classifications
Class promotion is in accordance with the following schedule of course
credits earned: sophomore, 28 course credits; junior, 59 course credits;
and senior, 90 course credits. A student is placed on academic probation
as a result of unsatisfactory progress, either a low grade average or lack
of earned credits. As a condition of probation, the Admissions and
Academic Status Committee may require a student to register for an
Academic Skills course and/or restrict participation in extracurricular
activities (including inter-collegiate athletics).
Academic
Honesty
Philosophical Statement
We believe that academic honesty is of the utmost
importance for the maintenance and growth of our intellectual
community. At Monmouth College, the faculty and staff strive to
create positive and transformational learning experiences. One step
in our mission to provide excellent teaching involves our emphasis
on the promotion of free inquiry, original thinking and the holistic
development of our students. Monmouth College strives to offer a
learning environment which stresses a vigorous work ethic and
stringent moral codes of behavior. We believe that one of our core
commitments is the fostering of personal and academic integrity. Our
students are encouraged to think of the campus as an educational
community with ties to the local, national and global society.
Honesty in one’s academic work is of the utmost importance for the
maintenance and growth of the individual and of our intellectual
community. We therefore require all our students to contribute to
this community of learners and to make a vigorous commitment to
academic honesty. We view academic dishonesty as a threat to the
integrity and intellectual mission of our institution. Any breach of
the academic honesty policy – either intentionally or
unintentionally - will be taken seriously and may result not only in
failure in the course, but in suspension or expulsion from the
college. It is each student’s responsibility to read, understand and
comply with the general academic honesty policy at Monmouth College,
as defined here in the Scots Guide, and to the specific guidelines
for each course, as elaborated on the professor’s syllabus.
The following areas are examples of violations
of the academic honesty policy:
- Cheating on tests, labs, etc;
- Plagiarism, i.e., using the words, ideas, writing, or
work of another without giving appropriate credit;
- Improper collaboration between students, i.e., not
doing one’s own work on outside assignments specified as group
projects by the instructor;
- Submitting work previously submitted in another
course, without previous authorization by the instructor.
Please note that this list
is not intended to be exhaustive.
Informal Resolution of a Violation of the Academic Honesty Policy
Instances involving a violation of
the academic honesty policy by a student are handled
immediately by the faculty member instructing the class,
usually after conferring with the department chair
and/or other faulty members within the department.
The proper steps
to be taken include the following:
- The instructor properly investigates the matter which
includes an opportunity for the student to respond
to the allegation(s) before a decision by the
instructor is reached.
- If it is determined that a violation of the academic
honesty policy has occurred a report that includes the student’s
name, a brief description of the infraction, and the penalty
imposed must be reported to the associate dean of the faculty.
- The associate dean of the faculty maintains a record
of such reports to monitor repeat behavior.
The student has the right to include a statement in the
file.
- The associate dean of the faculty will inform the
student(s) involved of any infractions that have been reported
and educate the student about the importance of maintaining an
ethos of academic honesty.
The associate dean of the faculty will also inform the
Office of Student Affairs, so that the student’s need for
counseling may be considered.
- The student may appeal. (See APPEAL below)
Formal Resolution of a Violation of the Academic Honesty Policy
In the case of an unusually
flagrant and premeditated violation or repeated
violations, the associate academic dean of the faculty
will ask the Admissions and Academic Status Committee to
convene a hearing to consider further action which may
include the suspension or expulsion of the student.
In such cases,
the following will occur:
- The student receives a written statement summarizing
the charges.
- The student will have a chance to respond to those
charges.
Only committee members, elected student
representatives to AASC, the involved faculty member, and the
student may participate at the hearing. The student may bring a
support person from the college community, (faculty member, student
or employee) but that individual may not participate unless invited
to do so by the group.
AASC (Admissions and Academic
Status Committee) will make its recommendation to the
associate dean of the faculty, who will then notify the
student in writing of the action to be taken and the
student’s right to appeal.
Appeal
The student has the right to appeal to the vice
president for academic affairs (VPAA)* any actions taken by the
instructor, the committee or the associate dean of the faculty for
either a first or subsequent offenses. The student must appeal in
writing and include the following information:
- a brief summary of the case in question and its
outcome, as viewed through the student’s
perspective;
- compelling reasons, substantiated by tangible
evidence, as to why the case should be reviewed by the VPAA.
*Where
appropriate throughout the policy the vice president
for academic affairs may appoint a designee or
committee.
The VPAA reserves the right to decide whether or not the petition for an appeal has any merit. If the VPAA overturns any decision on an appeal brought to the VPAA, the VPAA shall explain that decision to the Admissions and Academic Status Committee, the Department Chair, and the Faculty Member involved.
Last Updated:
August 06, 2009 |
