Code of Conduct Policies of US Universities

Code of Conduct Policies
Locate three Code of Conduct policies from three different universities/colleges.
Codes of conduct from three universities have been explained below;
Thomas Edison State University (TESU)
This code of conduct policy aims at defining and advising enrollees of the institution’s conduct code, and describing violations and associated penalties. Further, it outlines a student appeal and hearing process to aid those students who feel the institution has wrongly charged them with violation of scholastic integrity standards.
Boston University (BU)
The academic code of conduct of BU attempts at facilitating the cultivation of an environment conducive to student learning. It explains the ethical requirements of BU students, in addition to guaranteeing student responsibilities and rights owing to their being a member of an academic community. Additionally, it is clear on procedures and policies pertaining to academic conduct. It forms the basis of a professional atmosphere of student integrity in the institution, helping ensure all students are appropriately recognized for their efforts.
Brown University
Brown University’s conduct code represents a shared declaration of the institution’s dedication to maintaining legal, ethical, and professional standards that form the base of everyday as well as long- run actions and decision- making.
SNo
Similar
Different
1.
Plagiarism- Plagiarism, or the presentation of other authors’ works as being one’s own, forms a component that is common to each of the three institutions’ policies. It encompasses, but isn’t limited to: cheating on exams by copying a fellow examinee’s answers, reproducing others’ ideas or works orally or in writing (whether electronically or in print) whilst failing to cite the right source, and collaboration with an individual in any academic project but failing to acknowledge their contribution.
Out of all three reviewed institutions, Brown University alone possesses a comprehensive policy that integrates general and academic conduct codes. BU and TESU have in place separate academic conduct codes.
2.
Appeals- Each of the aforementioned policies offer students a chance at appealing decisions that entail disciplinary action. Written appeals need to be presented before the vice president and provost within ten business days following receipt of AIC (Academic Integrity Committee) hearing decision. Grounds of appeal need to be clearly stated.
In the case of TESU, violating its Nonacademic Conduct Code on the university campus in the course of institution- related activities/ events, or that negatively impact the institution’s community, will be the grounds for penal action on the part of the University. However, the other two institutions (i.e., Brown and BU) have specified no such thing.
3.
Each of the three policies offers examples of violations potentially resulting in a conduct code policy infringement.
The chief emphasis of Brown University’s academic conduct code is plagiarism – little to no emphasis is laid on other academic misconduct facets. Meanwhile, TESU and BU offer comprehensive discussions on other infringements like alteration, forgery, or intentional misuse of grade lists, formal document records, graded tests, and quizzes.
Best practice Code of Conduct policy
Purpose
This policy aims at defining and advising enrollees of the institution’s conduct code, and describing violations and associated penalties. Further, it outlines a student appeal and hearing process to aid those students who feel the institution has wrongly charged them with violation of scholastic integrity standards.
Violations
Code violations encompass attempts at deceptiveness or dishonesty when carrying out an academic activity within or outside class, altering academic records and official information on electronic or paper- based CVs, or illegal collaborations with other student(s). Violations encompass, but aren’t limited to the following:
· Plagiarism.
· Cheating at tests/ exams.
· Information falsification or misrepresentation when conducting experiments and surveys, preparing reports, and so forth.
· Exam question paper theft.
· Unauthorized communication in the midst of exams.
· Alteration, forgery, or deliberate misuse of grade lists, official document records, graded tests or quizzes.
· Giving permission deliberately to fellow students to represent one’s works as their own.
· Exam paper destruction or theft following its submission.
· Violating team work policies.
· Submission of the exact same piece of work in two or more courses without educator consent.
· Alteration or destruction of fellow enrollees’ records or academic work, alteration of all sorts of records, removal of materials from offices/ libraries without permission, or hindering a fellow student’s scholastic performance through interfering with their work.
· Not sitting at one’s allotted seat in an exam.
· Behaving against public law outside of the University campus, which directly impacts the enrollee’s professional and academic status, following the imposition of sanctions by civil officials.
· Wrongful influence attempted when it comes to the awarding of grades, honor or credit.
· Deliberate false statements/ misinformation presented before the AIC.
· Not abiding by code- imposed sanctions.
Disciplinary process
Charges of academic conduct code infringement can be made by institutional faculty, fellow enrollees, or mentors. Specific academic conduct code infringement charges need to be presented to the relevant dean’s office in writing. For violations owing to inappropriate course- related conduct, the relevant dean represents the course- providing school’s dean. In other instances, the relevant dean would be that of the School the violator is an enrollee of. The issue will be analyzed by the dean, and a written notification will be sent to the student regarding accusation details and imposed sanctions. If the sanctions or charges are disputed by the student, he/ she needs to present, in writing, a hearing request before the dean within a period of ten days of receiving the notice, failing which it will be assumed that the sanction has been accepted.
Likely sanctions imposed on the student accused of violation include:
· Reduced/failed assignment grading
· Reduced/failed course grading
· Rescinding degrees/certificates
· Rescinding credits
· Being suspended from the institution
· Being dismissed from the institution
· Academic sanctions recorded on transcript
Hearing
If a student accused of conduct code violation requests a hearing, it will be organized at the institution within three weeks (twenty- one business days) following receipt of the request by the institution.
Appeal
The accused student can appeal all decisions that involve any disciplinary action. Written appeals need to be presented before the vice president and provost within ten business days following receipt of AIC (Academic Integrity Committee) hearing decision. Grounds of appeal need to be clearly stated. The appealing student will be provided with copies of all AIC-considered material, a tape- recorded hearing copy, and one of the AIC’s report. If the accused student is an enrollee of a School besides the one where the hearing took place, and has been appealing the penalty as well as judgment, the enrollee’s College Dean will request a judgment appeal decision from the Dean of the institution where the hearing took place. Subsequently, the former Dean will present his/ her decision on penalty appeal.
Standard on Appeal: The designated Dean’s decision ought to be upheld, except if the appeal reveals that this decision was unjust and unwarranted. The appealing student will be informed regarding the decision by the Dean. Further, the letter will notify the student regarding the appeal process when it comes to appealing to the University’s Provost. In a period of two weeks following receipt of final dean response to the appeal in the School, the accused student can appeal the penalty/ judgment to the University’s Provost. Written appeals incorporating the appeal’s basis and stating what is being appealed (i.e., the penalty, the judgment, or both) ought to be presented.
Bibliography
Boston University. (2019, December 28). Academic Conduct Code. Retrieved from Boston University: https://www.bu.edu/academics/policies/academic-conduct-code/
Brown University. (2019, December 28). The Academic Code. Retrieved from Brown University: https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/degree/sites/brown.edu.academics.college.degree/files/uploads/Academic-Code.pdf
Thomas Edison University. (2019, December 28). Academic Code of Conduct. Retrieved from Thomas Edison University: https://www.tesu.edu/academics/catalog/academic-code-of-conduct