Academic Honesty Policy

As members of an academic community which places a high value on truth and the pursuit of knowledge, Saint Leo students are expected to be honest in every phase of their academic life and to present as their own work only that which is genuinely theirs. Each student has the responsibility to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and to refrain from cheating plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty.

Academic dishonesty is representing another’s work as one’s own, active complicity in such falsification, or violating test conditions. Plagiarism is stealing and passing off the ideas and words of another as one’s own or using the work of another without crediting the source.

Plagiarism is the presentation of writing or ideas other than one’s own as one’s own. Thus, it is simply put, cheating or stealing. If a student uses an article from, e.g. Newsweek or Time, and presents it as his/her own, it is plagiarizing. It is also plagiarizing if a student attempts to make the thoughts of another appear as his/her own by altering the language, by paraphrasing, or by omitting, rearranging or forming new combinations of words. In such cases, though, only the ideas or information are used, but credit must be given to that person through proper documentation (for example, through the use of footnotes).

Questions of academic honesty are of great importance to Saint Leo University. Consequently they are addressed by the offices of both Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. The Academic Affairs office informs the Student Affairs office of all cases of academic dishonesty. The vice president for Student Affairs will initiate appropriate disciplinary action according to the Student Handbook. Neither academic penalties imposed by Academic Affairs nor any disciplinary action imposed by Student Affairs is to be considered in any way a substitute for sanctions imposed by the other for the same offense.

When there is a reason to suspect that a student has violated either the University’s policy on academic honesty or the classroom instructor’s specific codes as outlined in the course syllabus, the instructor may, in person and if possible, in private, discuss the charges and the evidence with the student.

Without taking any punitive action, the instructor will submit, in writing, a report to the delegate or vice president for Academic Affairs as soon as possible. The report of the instructor will normally include these points:

1. The instructor’s charge against the student; 
2. The evidence supporting the instructor’s charge:
3. A summary of the discussion between the student and the instructor, including any admissions or denial of guilt on the part of the student.

Upon receipt of the instructor’s report the delegate or vice president for Academic Affairs will write and inform the student of the right to a hearing. The vice president for Academic Affairs or delegate will also enclose copies of the instructor’s report. A student is not permitted to withdraw from a course that is under investigation.

ADA Policy

Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodation(s), should contact Dr. Karen Hahn in Lewis Hall, Room 134, or email karen.hahn@saintleo.edu, or call (352) 588-8464.

Saint Leo University, Copyright 2000