Academic Dishonesty

Lamar State College Port Arthur expects all students to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action.

1. Lamar State College Port Arthur and its official representatives, acting in accordance with part 10 below, may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including but not limited to: cheating on an examination or other academic work which is to be submitted, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. Definitions and penalties for academic dishonesty infractions shall be the same regardless of whether the offense occurs on the campus or in an on-line course.
2. “Cheating” includes but is not limited to:
   1. Copying from another student’s test paper, laboratory report, other report, computer files, data listings, and/or programs.
   2. Using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person administering the test.
   3. Collaborating, without authorization, with another person during an examination or in preparing academic work.
   4. Knowing, and without authorization, using, buying, selling, stealing, soliciting, coping, transporting, or possessing, in whole or in part, the contest of an un-administered test.
   5. Substituting for another student; permitting any other person, or otherwise assisting any other person, to substitute for oneself or for another student in the taking of an examination or the preparation of academic work to be submitted for academic credit.
   6. Bribing another person to obtain an un-administered test or information about an un-administered test.
   7. Purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one’s own work, any research paper or other writing assignment prepared by an individual or firm. The section does not apply to the typing of the rough and/or final versions of an assignment by a professional typist.
   8. The unauthorized use of electronic devices during an examination.
   9. Engaging in any other activity intended unfairly or false to receive credit for academic work which is not reflective or representative of the student’s own efforts.
3. “Plagiarism” means the appropriation of another person’s work or idea and the unacknowledged incorporation that work or idea into one’s own work offered for credit.
4. “Collusion” means the unauthorized collaboration with another person preparing work for credit.
5. “Abuse of resource materials” means the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft, or alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.
6. “Academic work” means the preparation of an essay, problem, assignment, or other project that the student submits as a course requirement or for a grade.
7. The procedures for administering an academic penalty for dishonesty differ from ordinary student discipline cases. Texas State University System and college policies permit academic dishonesty cases to be first considered and reviewed by the faculty member. If, after reviewing the case, the faculty member determines that the student is guilty of the charge, the faculty member may asses an academic penalty prescribed by the college. Students have the right to appeal the decision to the Department Chair, Dean (if applicable), and eventually the Vice President for Academic Affairs (whose opinion shall be final) before imposition of the penalty.
8. During the appellate process, the student shall be entitled to written notice of the offense and/or the administrative decision, an opportunity to respond, and an impartial disposition as to the merits of the case. The procedures for considering and disposing of a student’s appeal of an academic dishonesty decision are not the same as the procedures for resolving student grievances in matters relating to academic performance, i.e. the Student/Faculty Relations Committee is not involved.
9. After the process for assigning an academic penalty has been completed, and in particularly severe cases of academic dishonesty including but not limited to flagrant repeated violation, the Vice President for Academic Affairs may refer the matter to the Dean of Student Services for any additional discipline that may be appropriate. The process for considering disciplinary action shall not delay the consideration or implementation of an academic penalty.
10. Academic penalties for academic dishonesty are listed below.
    1. Requiring a student to retake all or part of an examination or resubmit all or part of an academic work;
    2. Assigning no credit, less than full credit, or a grade of “zero” to the part of the examination or academic work in question;
    3. Assigning a grade of “zero” to the entire examination or academic work in question;
    4. Assigning a grade of “F” for the course. In the case of a student’s first offense the decision to fail the student for cheating should be one shared between the instructor and the Department Chair prior to notifying the student. In the case of a student with repeated violations, the faculty member may make this decision without consulting with the Department Chair, but most immediately notify the Department Chair of the action taken and the circumstances that prompted it.