Section 172-90-100. Violations and sanctions.

(1) Violations: Violations of academic integrity involve the use or attempted use of any method or technique enabling a student to misrepresent the quality or integrity of any of his or her work. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to:

(a) Plagiarism: Representing the work of another as one's own work;

(b) Preparing work for another that is to be used as that person's own work;

(c) Cheating by any method or means;

(d) Knowingly and willfully falsifying or manufacturing scientific or educational data and representing the same to be the result of scientific or scholarly experiment or research; or

(e) Knowingly furnishing false information to a university official relative to academic matters.

(2) Classes of violations:

(a) Class I violations are acts that are mostly due to ignorance, confusion and/or poor communication between instructor and class, such as an unintentional violation of the class rules on collaboration. Sanctions for class I offenses typically include a reprimand, educational opportunity, and/or a grade penalty on the assignment/test.

(b) Class II violations are acts involving a deliberate failure to comply with assignment directions, some conspiracy and/or intent to deceive, such as use of the internet when prohibited, fabricated endnotes or data, or copying answers from another student's test. Sanctions for class II offenses typically include similar sanctions as described for class I violations, as well as a course grade penalty or course failure.

(c) Class III violations are acts of violation of academic integrity standards that involve significant premeditation, conspiracy and/or intent to deceive, such as purchasing or selling a research paper. Sanctions for class III violations typically include similar sanctions as given for class I and II violations, as well as possible removal from the academic program and/or suspension or expulsion.

(3) Sanctions: A variety of sanctions may be applied in the event that a violation of academic integrity is found to have occurred. Sanctions are assigned based primarily on the class of the violation and whether or not the student has previously violated academic integrity rules. Absent extenuating circumstances, assigned sanctions are imposed without delay and are not held in abeyance during appeal actions. Sanctions may be combined and may include, but are not limited to:

(a) Verbal or written reprimand;

(b) Educational opportunity, such as an assignment, research or taking a course or tutorial on academic integrity;

(c) Grade penalty for the assignment/test;

(d) Course grade penalty;

(e) Course failure;

(f) Removal from the academic program;

(g) Suspension for a definite period of time; and

(h) Expulsion from the university.

If a student was previously found to have violated an academic integrity standard, the sanction imposed for any subsequent violations should take into account the student's previous behavior.

(4) Sanctioning authorities:

(a) Instructors may impose reprimands, educational opportunities, grade penalties, and/or course failure sanctions and may recommend more severe sanctions.

(b) The academic integrity board has the authority to impose the same sanctions as an instructor, or to modify any sanctions imposed by the instructor. In addition, the AIB may remove a student from an academic program, with the concurrence of the instructor and the department chair. The AIB may also refer the case for an AIB hearing per WAC 172-90-170 for cases where possible sanctions include suspension or expulsion.

(c) In response to an AIB hearing panel's recommendation to suspend or expel a student, the vice-provost may concur with such recommendations and impose the suspension or expulsion, or may impose one or more lesser sanctions.

(d) In all cases, suspension and expulsion sanctions must also be approved by the provost before such sanction is imposed.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.35.120(12). WSR 15-14-079, § 172-90-100, filed 6/29/15, effective 7/30/15; WSR 14-20-082, § 172-90-100, filed 9/29/14, effective 10/30/14.]

RCW 28B.35.120(12). WSR 15-14-079, § 172-90-100, filed 6/29/15, effective 7/30/15; WSR 14-20-082, § 172-90-100, filed 9/29/14, effective 10/30/14.

Rules

172-90-170,