SANTA MONICA COLLEGE CODE OF ACADEMIC CONDUCT

Cheating will not be tolerated on tests or assignments. Any student caught cheating on exams or duplicating assignments will receive a grade of zero for the activity and may be assigned a failing grade for the course.

 CODE OF ACADEMIC CONDUCT AND REPORTING POLICY

Santa Monica College, as a community oriented, open-door, educational institution whose purpose is to educate and enlighten members of the community who seek knowledge, cannot and will not tolerate academic dishonesty. In order to uphold the academic integrity of the institution, all members of the academic community, faculty and students alike, must assume responsibility for providing an educational environment of the highest standards, characterized by a spirit of academic honesty; therefore, given this premise, under no circumstances will academic dishonesty be tolerated at this institution.

ACADEMIC CONDUCT DEFINED Santa Monica College defines academic dishonesty as the act of or assistance in deceiving, including fraud or deception, in any academic exercise. This includes, but is not limited to, the following actions not authorized by the instructor or testing officer: •Allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade in any of the following: testing, field trips, or attendance. •Falsifying or attempting to falsify grade rosters. •Representing the words, ideas or work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise (plagiarism), including the use of commercial term paper companies. •Changing answers on a previously scored test, assignment, or experiment with the intent to defraud. •Copying or allowing another student to copy from one’s paper or answer sheet during an examination. •Inventing information for the purpose of completing a laboratory experiment or case study analysis with the intent to defraud. •Giving and/or taking information during an examination by any means, including electronic transmission.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES The ultimate success of this code of academic conduct will depend in large part on the degree to which it is willingly endorsed and supported by students. In order to achieve this support, the following recommendations are made to the students of Santa Monica College. 1. Each student is responsible to conduct him/herself in a manner that encourages learning and prohibits academic dishonesty. 2. Each student is responsible to act with fairness towards other students in the classroom, including the notion that students should not seek an unfair advantage over other SMC students when completing an assignment, taking an examination, or engaging in any other kind of academic activity.  

CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATING ACADEMIC CONDUCT Given an alleged violation of academic honesty, any or all of the following actions may be imposed: 1. The instructor may assign a failing grade to the examination or assignment in which the alleged cheating or plagiarism occurred. 2. In more serious instances, the instructor may assign a failing grade for the course, upon consultation with the Department Chair. 3. The instructor may dismiss the student from the class or activity for the present and/or following class session. 4.  In more severe incidents of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to impersonation, stealing exams or research papers, or repeated violations, the College disciplinarian may suspend or recommend expulsion of a student from the College.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES In order to maintain an environment free of academic dishonesty, the following recommendations are made to faculty regarding their responsibility to uphold the academic integrity of Santa Monica College: 1. Make every attempt to conduct your classroom in a manner that encourages honorable behavior and learning to ensure student success and discourage academic dishonesty; 2. Inform students of the course requirements, grading procedures, and expectations for acceptable academic conduct and behavior; 3. Inform students of the SMC policy on academic conduct and the consequences to be implemented if any behavior counter to the policy occurs; and 4. Inform students of their right to due process should they wish to contest a cheating allegation.

REPORTING A VIOLATION Given an incident of academic dishonesty, a faculty member is encouraged to adhere to the following procedure: 1. Inform the student of the nature of the alleged violation and the impending course of action. 2. Complete the Academic Dishonesty Report Form and submit, along with any related evidence, the first copy to the College disciplinarian and the second copy of the form to the student within ten (10) working days of the allegation. The College disciplinarian will, in turn, send copies to the campus ombudsperson and the department chair, and place a copy in the student’s disciplinary records as defined in the Student Conduct Appeals Procedures. This information shall remain a part of the student’s records for up to two years, providing there are no further acts of misconduct.

APPEAL PROCEDURE Given an alleged violation of academic honesty, a Santa Monica College student has the right to appeal the action taken by the faculty member through the appeal procedures established by the College. 1. Whenever the penalty for academic dishonesty involves a failing grade for an examination, an assignment or the course, the accused student has five (5) working days after notification of the allegation and penalty to appeal it. He or she shall be provided the opportunity for a conference with the campus ombudsperson (or designee), faculty member involved, and department chair (or designee). Such a conference will be arranged by the campus ombudsperson (or designee) at the request of the student, and notice will be given to all participating members at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled appointment. 2. If the conference yields no informal resolution satisfactory to the student, the student may file a formal Petition for of Grade with the Dean of Admissions and Records. Such a filing must be made within ninety (90) calendar days following the filing date of the Academic Dishonesty Report Form. For further information regarding this procedure, please refer to the Grade Appeals process as outlined in the Santa Monica College Administrative Regulations.