Students Rights and Responsibilities

College Policies and Federal Laws

Academic Integrity/Dishonesty Policy

In order for the Doane College community to provide, clarify, and preserve an atmosphere in which individuals can strive for academic excellence, the following policy has been adopted to deter acts of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty, the act of knowingly and willingly attempting or assisting others to gain academic success by dishonest means, is manifested in various ways.

“Issues and Perspectives on Academic Dishonesty” (Gehring, et al, 1986) suggest four categories of academic dishonesty: cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism. These categories have been adopted and appropriately modified for use at Doane. Provided with each category is the respective Gehring definition and a list of isolated, but not inclusive, examples of infractions. It must be noted that the essential, qualifying characteristic that must be implied with each is that the grading instructor must consider the alleged offense to be dishonest.

Cheating

“Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized information or study aids in any academic exercise.” (Gehring, et al, p. 6)

• Intentionally using an unauthorized source to complete an objective. This may include looking at another’s paper during an exam, using unauthorized, prewritten responses and electronically-stored information such as crib notes and computer discs, and/or stolen test materials.
• Submitting someone else’s work as one’s own research or data.
• Allowing another to complete an exam in one’s place.
• Submitting a project that has been or is currently being used to satisfy requirements from another course without the explicit permission of both instructors.
• Improper collaboration on projects beyond that permitted by the instructor.
• Sharing information between exams in multiple sections of a course.

Fabrication

“Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.” (Gehring, et al, p. 6)

Examples:

• Supplying fabricated “dry lab” data or altered data for an experiment or laboratory project.
• Fabricating all or a portion of a bibliographic entry for a documented project.

Facilitating Academic Dishonesty

“Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of dishonesty” (Gehring, et al, p.6) and/or coercing others to do the same.

Examples:

• Allowing one’s own work to be submitted as another’s work for a course project.
• Providing or offering unauthorized aid to another for a course objective. This would include allowing another to observe one’s answers on an exam.
• Making threats or offers of compensation to others in order that those threatened or coerced will provide unauthorized aid for course projects.
• Unauthorized acquisition or subsequent use or possession of stolen test materials. This would include acquiring, distributing, and/or possessing the stolen materials.

Plagiarism

“Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercises (either oral or written).” (Gehring, et al, p. 6)

Examples:

• Purchasing a paper from a commercial or private source, using a paper from an organization’s files, copying sections or chapters from reference works, or borrowing or stealing another’s paper and submitting it as one’s own work.
• Failing to indicate a direct quote from a reference source by using quotation marks and proper citation of the source.
• Attempting to represent the work, words, and ideas of another (paraphrasing) as one’s own without proper citation or documentation.
• Failing to acknowledge information obtained in one’s reading or research which is not common knowledge.

Sanctions for Academic Dishonesty

All acts of academic dishonesty threaten the integrity and scholarly pursuit of Doane College. Because these acts, by their nature, impact the academic environment and integrity of the College, all alleged violations involving academic dishonesty will be reported in writing to the dean. In this manner, the college fulfills its responsibility for maintaining the academic integrity of the institution. Consequently, each student has a responsibility to avoid direct acts of academic dishonesty, the aiding of others in committing acts of academic dishonesty, and/or acts that may lead to the suspicion of academic dishonesty.

The college adheres to a policy that places the responsibility for the disposition of academic dishonesty cases for first offenders in the hands of the faculty member involved. If a student or group involved is not currently enrolled in the course in question, they will be referred to the dean for investigation and sanctioning. The course instructor may impose one or more of the following penalties for cases of academic dishonesty arising in his/her classes:

The rejection of the assignment/exercise with the request that the work be resubmitted.

A reduced grade for the assignment/exercise.
A grade of “F” or “0” on the assignment/exercise.
A reduced grade for the course.
A grade of “F” for the course.

Additionally, due to the seriousness of the infraction, the instructor may recommend imposition of greater penalties which may include suspension or expulsion from the college. All such recommendations will be handled by the dean, who will render a decision.

Sanctions for a second and subsequent offense(s) of academic dishonesty must be handled by the dean at the initiation of the appropriate faculty member. The dean may impose any of the above sanctions and/or any of the following:

A grade of “F” for the course with the notation that the “F” resulted from an act of academic dishonesty to be recorded on the student’s transcript. The transcript will carry this notation for the period of time designated by the vice president for academic affairs. The student may appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs in writing to have the notation expunged.

Suspension from the college for a designated period of time that will be established by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The student’s transcript will note the suspension for violating the academic dishonesty policy of the college and may be expunged at the written request of the student upon reinstatement.

Expulsion from the college. In such cases, the student’s transcript will permanently note the expulsion decision having been based on an act(s) of academic dishonesty.

This Academic Dishonesty Policy was approved and adopted by the Doane College Faculty in May, 1987.

Work Consulted: Gehring, D., Nuss, E., and Pavela, G. (1986). “Issues and Perspectives on Academic Integrity.” Columbus Ohio: National Association of Student Personnel Adminstrators, Inc.

Access/Services for Students with Disabilities

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (section 504) and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) provide that “no otherwise qualified disabled individual in the United States… shall, solely on the basis of disability, be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any institution receiving federal financial assistance.” This regulation requires that Doane programs be accessible to the disabled, but it does not require that every building or part of a building be accessible. Thus it may be necessary to reschedule classes to accessible classrooms or take other steps to open some of the programs to students with mobility impairments.

1. Students interested in services related to a disability should notify the college of any special circumstances that would affect their ability to compete equally in the college environment. To assist the college in providing services, documentation of such disabilities must be provided by qualified professionals upon request.
2. While students are encouraged to self-identify at the earliest possible time, they can access services at any time by initiating the process described in number one above.
3. To initiate this process, students are encouraged to contact an academic advisor before beginning classes so their needs can be anticipated, reviewed and accommodated.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Doane College wants to ensure prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any discrimination or other conduct prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (20 U.S.C. 794.)  If at any point a student, faculty or staff member believes that there has been a violation of ADA or Section 504, he or she should follow these steps:

1. To file a grievance, the student, faculty or staff member must contact the college’s Section 504 Coordinator within 30 working days of the alleged discrimination or other conduct. (In special circumstances an extension may be granted for filing a grievance.) All grievances should be filed with Laura Sears, Director of Human Resources and the College’s designated Section 504 Coordinator. She may be contacted at (402) 826-6773 or via email at laura.sears@doane.edu.
2. The 504 coordinator will make contact with the student or employee filing the grievance within two business days. The 504 coordinator will make a record of the meeting and may request person filing the complaint to present the grievance in writing.
3. The 504 coordinator or her designee will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation of the complaint, during which all parties will have the opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence. 
4. Upon review of the documentation and information gathering, the 504 coordinator will render a findings report to Doane College and will provide a copy of the findings report to the student or employee grievant.   The parents or guardians of a student grievant, if FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) permits, may request a copy of the findings report within 30 days after its filing.
5. The person filing the complaint may request reconsideration of the report determination and findings if he or she is dissatisfied with the resolution.  This request should be made to the Section 504 Coordinator within 10 working days. The findings report will be provided to the Vice President for Student Leadership when a student requests reconsideration and to the Vice President for Finance and Administration when a faculty or staff member requests reconsideration.  The designated Vice President will be responsible for reviewing the report findings and resolution and making a determination in writing and providing copies of the written determination to the person filing the grievance within 10 working days. Report findings will also be filed with the 504 Coordinator.

The college will take steps, as appropriate, to remedy the effects of and prevent the recurrence of discrimination of which it has notice.

Access to College Records FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts of 1974 (commonly referred to as “FERPA” or the “Buckley Amendment”) is designed to protect the confidentiality of students educational records and to give students access to their records to assure accuracy. FERPA outlines four rights with respect to students Education Records. They are:

1. Access to Education Records: students have the right to inspect and review their Education Records within 45 days of the day the College receives a written request for access, anytime after their matriculation.
2. Request for Amendment of Education Records: students have the right to request amendment of Education Records if they believe the records are inaccurate, misleading or in violation of their privacy rights.
3. Disclosure of Education Records: this right protects confidentiality of student records and requires the student’s signature to release academic records, such as transcripts. Some exceptions exist such as school officials who’ve been determined to have a legitimate educational interest, or information determined to be directory information. Examples of directory information include: name, addresses, email, telephone numbers, major and/or minor fields of study, degree sought, expected date of completion of degree requirements and graduation, degrees conferred, awards and honors (e.g. Dean’s list), full or part time enrollment status, dates of attendance, or photograph.
4. Compliance: students have the right to submit complaints concerning the College’s compliance with the requirement of FERPA to the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 202024605, email address: ferpa@ed.gov.

For more information on FERPA, or to view the entire FERPA policy, please visit the Registrar’s web page or office.

Anti-harassment Policy

The Anti-harassment policy is found in the Employee Handbook.

Title IX Policy Statement

It is the policy of Doane College not to discriminate on the basis of gender in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments.

Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX may be directed to the Director of Human Resources, Doane College, 1014 Boswell Avenue, Crete, NE 68333 or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C., 20202.

Verification of Student Identity

To meet federal guidelines, Doane requires all electronic coursework be submitted through Black Board or Doane e-mail. Blackboard requires students to login each time using their Doane login and student selected password. All coursework e-mail correspondence is done using Doane assigned e-mail accounts. When student accounts are set-up the password is mailed to the students’ permanent address via US mail. Students can change their password via the web at any time to maintain their security.