/Institutions/Donnelly-College/json/2025-2026/Faculty-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Donnelly-College/json/2025-2026/Faculty-Handbook.json

Academic Integrity and Freedom

Academic Integrity:

Academic honesty is important to the functioning of any institution of higher learning. Instructors are required to consistently adhere to college policy and procedures. A student will be guilty of violating Academic Integrity if he/she:

a) Uses or obtains unauthorized assistance in any academic work

b) Gives fraudulent assistance to another student

c) Represents previously completed academic work as current

d) Fabricates data in support of an academic assignment

e) Inappropriately or unethically uses technological means to gain academic advantage

f) Knowingly represents the work of others as his/her own

Academic integrity is to be maintained at all times to ensure genuine educational growth. Cheating and plagiarism in all forms will be subject to disciplinary action. Serious infractions will be reviewed by an ad hoc committee, appointed by the Dean of the college. Appropriate sanctions will be imposed.

The policy can be found in the online catalog. In the event that a student submits plagiarized material, instructors should do the following:

1. Inform the student
2. Fill out an Academic Integrity Incident Report form (available on the Donnelly website)
3. Submit the Academic Integrity Incident Report form to the Vice President of Academic Affairs

Academic Freedom:

Donnelly College accepts the definition of academic freedom contained in the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure agreed to by the American Association of University Professors and the Association of American Colleges. The following are the relevant principles to which the College ascribes:

• Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution (1940).
• Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects but should be careful not to introduce controversial matters which have no relevance to the subjects being taught. (1940) Controversy is at the heart of the free academic inquiry which (this) entire statement is designed to foster. This passage serves to underscore the need for teachers to avoid persistently introducing intrusive material which has no relation to the subject. Instructors are expected to reflect a respectful attitude toward the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
• As members of their community, teachers have the rights and obligations of any citizens. They measure the urgency of these obligations in the light of their responsibilities to the subjects, to their students, to their profession, and to their institution. When they speak or act as a private person, they should avoid creating the impression that they speak or act for their colleges or universities. As citizens engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, teachers have a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of academic freedom.