Academic Integrity Agreement Form
Fall 2006
Preston Andrews and Patricia Freitag Ericsson
Engl 507 & Hort 502 Rhetorics of Sustainability

The information below is taken directly from the WSU Student HandbookIntroduction. Read the information carefully, print it, sign at the bottom, and return to the teacher during the first week of class.

WAC 504-25-300. As an institution of higher education, Washington State University is committed to principles of truth and academic honesty. All members of the University community share the responsibility for maintaining and supporting these principles. When a student enrolls in Washington State University, the student assumes an obligation to pursue academic endeavors in a manner consistent with the standards of academic integrity adopted by the University. To maintain the academic integrity of the community, the University cannot tolerate acts of academic dishonesty including any forms of cheating, plagiarism, or fabrication. Washington State University reserves the right and the power to discipline or to exclude students who engage in academic dishonesty. To that end, the University has established the following rules defining prohibited academic dishonesty and the process followed when such behavior is alleged. These rules incorporate Washington State University’s Academic Integrity Policy, the University-wide document establishing policies and procedures to foster academic integrity. This policy is applicable to undergraduate and graduate students alike, as it pertains to dishonesty in course work and related academic pursuits. In cases of dishonesty in research and original scholarship, the University’s Policy and Procedural Guidelines for Misconduct in Research and Scholarship may take precedence over the policies and procedures contained herein.
Overview of Academic Integrity Procedures
WAC 504-25-305
1) The University prohibits acts of academic dishonesty in order to foster the principles of truth and academic honesty. The academic integrity procedures used by the University are considered a part of creating an educational environment that does not award undeserved credit.
2) Settlement procedures, hearings, or appeals conducted as part of the academic integrity procedures are not subject to many of the constraints of criminal or civil hearings.
3) The purposes of the academic integrity procedures are as follows:
a) to determine the facts about the allegation(s);
b) to determine the responsibility of the accused student;
c) to determine the appropriate penalty if the accused student or student organization is found responsible for a violation;
d) to help any students found responsible for any violation of the academic integrity standards understand the negative impact of their actions;
e) to educate the students, although sanctions can include temporary or permanent removal from the University.
4) Students involved in these procedures should expect to be treated fairly and go through the process in a timely manner.
5) A student’s mental state, or use of drugs or alcohol, that may have influenced a student’s behavior will generally not limit the responsibility of the student for his or her action.
Definitions
WAC 504-25-310
1) Academic Dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, falsification, fabrication, multiple submission, plagiarism, abuse of academic materials, complicity, or misconduct in research, all of which are defined below.
2) Cheating. Cheating is the intentional use of, or attempt to use, unauthorized material, information, or study aids in any academic activity to gain advantage. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, communicating improperly with others, especially other students, during tests or the preparation of assignments for classes; copying from books, notes, or other sources during a test when this is not permitted; copying from another student’s work (reports, laboratory work, computer programs, files, etc.); making improper use of calculators or other devices during a test; illegitimately procuring or using copies of current examinations; allowing a substitute to take an examination or write a paper for oneself.
3) Falsification. Falsification is the intentional and unauthorized alteration of information in the course of an academic activity. Falsification includes, but is not limited to, altering the record of data, experimental procedures, or results; falsely describing the source of information (e.g., reproducing a quotation from a book review as if it had been obtained from the book itself); altering academic records; altering a returned examination paper and then seeking a higher grade based on the result.
4) Fabrication. Fabrication is the intentional invention or counterfeiting of information in the course of an academic activity without proper authorization. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to, counterfeiting data, research results, information, or procedures with inadequate foundation in fact; counterfeiting a record of internship or practicum experiences; submitting a false excuse for absence or tardiness.
5) Multiple Submission. Multiple submission includes, but is not limited to, submitting the same paper or oral report for credit in two courses without the responsible instructor’s permission; making minor revisions in a paper or report for which credit has already been received and submitting it again as a new piece of work.
6) Plagiarism. Plagiarism is knowingly representing the work of another as one’s own, without proper acknowledgment of the source. The only exceptions to the requirement that sources be acknowledged occur when the information, ideas, etc., are common knowledge. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, submitting as one’s own work the work of a “ghost writer” or work obtained from a commercial writing service; quoting directly or paraphrasing closely from a source without giving proper credit; using figures, graphs, charts, or other such material without identifying the sources.
7) Abuse of Academic Materials. Abuse of academic materials occurs when a student intentionally or knowingly destroys, steals, mutilates, or otherwise makes inaccessible library or other academic resource material that does not belong to him or her. Abuse of academic materials includes, but is not limited to, stealing, destroying, or mutilating library materials; stealing or intentionally destroying another student’s notes or laboratory data; hiding resource materials so others may not use them; destroying computer programs or files needed in others’ academic work; copying computer software in ways that violate the terms of the licensing agreement that comes with the software.
8) Complicity in Academic Dishonesty. A student is guilty of complicity in academic dishonesty if he or she intentionally or knowingly helps or attempts to help another or others to commit an act of academic dishonesty of any of the types defined herein. Complicity in academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, knowingly allowing another to copy from one’s paper during an examination or test; distributing test questions before the time scheduled for the test; collaborating on academic projects when students are expected to work independently; taking a test for another student; or signing a false name on a piece of academic work.
9) Misconduct in Research. Graduate and undergraduate students on research appointments for the University are responsible for compliance with the University’s Policy and Procedural Guidelines for Misconduct in Research and Scholarship found in the Faculty Manual. Misconduct in research is treated as academic dishonesty.
10) Responsible Instructor. The responsible instructor in the academic integrity process is the person who assigns the grades, supervises students’ work, or is responsible for teaching operations in the course of study in which the alleged violation occurred. The term “responsible instructor” can include, but is not limited to, instructors, graduate assistants, another instructor, and clinical supervisors. If the conduct does not relate to a particular course, the role of instructor for these procedures may be a department chair or academic advisor.

I have read the above information and agree to abide by its definitions and procedures.

Written Signature_______________________________________________

Printed Signature________________________________________________

Date__________________________________________________________