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Academic Integrity Policy

Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Supporting and affirming these values is essential to promoting and maintaining a high level of academic integrity, and educating community members about the value and practice of academic integrity is central to Marymount University’s mission. Each member of the academic community must stand accountable for his or her actions. As a result, a community develops in which students learn the responsibilities of citizenship and how to contribute honorably to their professions.

If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated. Members of the Marymount community are expected to foster in their own work the spirit of academic honesty and not to tolerate its abuse by others.

First responsibility for academic integrity lies with individual students and faculty members of this community. A violation of academic integrity is an act harmful to all other students, faculty and, ultimately, the University.

The Marymount University Academic Integrity Policy governs all student conduct directly related to the academic life of the institution and is in effect during all phases of a student’s academic career. The policy is applicable to any academically related experience involving Marymount University students whether occurring on the campus, in a distance-learning situation, or at host institutions or sites. Violations of this policy include cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification of information or citations, and facilitating the academic dishonesty of others.

When a violation of academic integrity is suspected, students and faculty are encouraged to meet to determine an appropriate course of action. Penalties for first violations vary with the severity of the offense and may be assigned by the faculty member involved or through an academic integrity hearing process. Second violations require a penalty of suspension or expulsion, and must involve an academic integrity hearing. All alleged violations of the policy must be resolved in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy and under the direct authority of a Marymount University faculty member or the Academic Integrity coordinator. The complete Academic Integrity Policy provides detailed information on the nature of academic integrity violations, possible penalties, the adjudication process and student rights and responsibilities under the policy. A summary of the policy may be found in the Marymount University Student Handbook; the complete policy is available online at ww.marymount.edu/academic/asc.html.