Academic integrity is honesty concerning all aspects of academic performance including clinical performance. Academic integrity in the classroom is defined in the PLU Student Rights and Responsibilities. Academic dishonesty in the clinical setting include, but are not limited to:
- Plagiarizing clinical assignments, including care plans, drug reviews, falsifying data in a patient’s record, or other required work,
- Submitting work written by others as one’s own work,
- Unauthorized collaboration with others in fulfillment of assignments,
- Falsifying data or deliberately submitting inaccurate information; and
- Covering up or denying knowledge of an error in the clinical setting.
When an instructor believes a student has violated the university’s academic integrity policy, s/he will contact the student to inform him or her of the issue and will follow the PLU policy for resolving an academic dishonesty incident.
1. The instructor may meet informally with the student to resolve the matter.
2. The instructor may ask to meet with the student in the presence of witnesses to resolve the matter. In this case, the student will be informed in writing of the purpose of the meeting, and of his or her right to have a witness present.
When an instructor is unable to meet with a student, as at the end of Spring Term or a term before a student studies abroad, the instructor will document the allegation and send it to the student, via certified mail or email, together with a letter stating the penalty to be imposed.
3. The instructor may submit an Academic Dishonesty Report Form (ADRF) and supporting documentation to the chair of the Campus Life Committee (CLC).
4. The instructor may request a formal hearing administered by an Academic Dishonesty Hearing Panel (ADHP) by notifying the chair of the CLC on the ADRF. The Associate Director for Student Rights and Responsibilities will then notify the student of the charge of misconduct and initiate a hearing as outlined below in “Formal Hearing Process.” The Associate Director for Student Rights and Responsibilities will also initiate a search of any prior academic misconduct records for that student. When a hearing is requested by the instructor or is required, the student and instructor will be notified at least 48-business hours in advance.
The instructor has the authority to impose penalties with respect to his or her class. The minimum penalty grade for dishonesty in coursework that constitutes 30% or more of a course grade shall be an “E” for the course, unless the student is enrolled “pass/fail” in the class, and then the course grade will be an “F”. Dishonesty in other required course work shall result in a minimum penalty grade of zero for that work.
The violation and the sanction will be documented in writing. The student will be given a copy of the description of the violation and the sanction, and copies should be forwarded to the Dean of the School of Nursing, School of Nursing RAP Committee and when appropriate, to the university’s Academic Dishonesty Hearing Panel (ADHP).
Students who disagree with a penalty imposed by the faculty or the filing of an ADRF may request a formal hearing by an ADHP. Such a request must occur within five business days of notification of the grade in question or the notification of suspected academic dishonesty. The process for disputing the penalty or filing an ADRF is outlined in the Academic Integrity section of the PLU Students Rights and Responsibilities.
All issues of Academic Integrity will be reviewed by the School of Nursing RAP Committee to determine if the breach is severe enough to warrant a recommendation of further sanctions, including dismissal from the program.