Academic Integrity Policy

Approved by Faculty Senate 10/20/2023

Part of the mission of Walla Walla University is to prepare students to be responsible members of an academic community by cultivating in each student a sense of personal and professional integrity.

Central to any scholarly endeavor is a commitment to seek the highest quality information, verify the accuracy of that information, and acknowledge the source. All work submitted for credit should also provide an honest representation of the knowledge and abilities of each member of the university community. Finally, adherence to standards of academic honesty builds a community of equity, fairness, and trust. These principles form the basis for academic integrity guidelines.

Violations of academic integrity include cheating, plagiarism, forgery, misrepresentation, falsification, prohibited collaboration, and other acts that create an unfair advantage or violate stated guidelines.  Departments or schools may have discipline-specific guidelines as indicated in course syllabi. Tools such as generative AI or problem-solving software should only be used if explicitly permitted for a particular assignment or class and must always be properly acknowledged. Students should consult the course syllabus for guidelines on the use of these tools and check with the course instructor for additional clarity if needed.

Examples of dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• Submitting work that is not your own without proper citation. This includes using material obtained in whole or in part from hard copy sources, websites, commercial entities, or content generated or altered by software or artificial intelligence without proper acknowledgement or permission. 
• Copying work from another student or allowing others to copy your work.
• Collaborating on assignments or examinations if not authorized to do so.
• Taking an assessment for another person or allowing someone to take an assessment for you.
• Fabricating or falsifying data.
• Using electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, smart watches, or other technologies to copy, retrieve, or send information during an assessment if not authorized to do so.
• Falsifying information on a university document.
• Falsifying information that has a bearing on the excuse for class absence or missed requirements (exams, reports, assignments, etc.).
• Stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining access to unauthorized materials.

Reporting and Outcomes

In any violation of academic integrity discovered before a student has completed a degree or certificate, instructors and administrators are expected to follow this procedure in a timely manner:

1. An instructor with reasonable evidence of a violation will talk privately with the student about the incident. If the student does not respond in a timely manner to the instructor’s request to meet, the instructor will move on to step 2 and notify the student of any actions taken.
2. If the instructor is convinced an intentional violation occurred, the instructor will consult with the department chair/school dean on the evidence and the action to be taken.
3. After consultation, the instructor may assign the student a failing grade for the assignment and/or for the class.
4. If any such action is taken, the instructor will submit a report describing the offense and will send it to the Associate Vice President for Academic Administration (AVPAA) or Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies (AVPGS), who will keep it on file for tracking further academic integrity violations. Academic Administration may consult the file when writing university recommendations.
5. A copy of the report, supporting materials, and a cover letter from the Associate Vice President are sent to the student and the instructor.  Should a student wish, they may send a letter to the AVPAA (or AVPGS) to accompany the report in the student’s file. The student may also appeal the action to the Academic Standards Committee (or Graduate Council).
6. The Associate Vice President may refer the report and supporting materials to the Academic Standards Committee (or Graduate Council) for further action based on the degree or extent of a violation. If such referral is to be made, the student will be notified in advance of the committee consideration and have the opportunity to address the committee in writing. The committee will review the materials, including any student response, and has the authority to take further actions.
7. If multiple violations occur, the AVPAA (or AVPGS) will submit the cases to the Academic Standards Committee (or Graduate Council) for consideration of further actions including potential expulsion from the university. The student will be notified in advance of the committee consideration and have the opportunity to address the committee in writing.
8. If the student believes they have been treated in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner they may address their concern to the University Grievance Committee.

In any violation of academic integrity discovered after a student has completed a degree or certificate, the instructor, department chair, or school dean may recommend appropriate action to the Academic Standards Committee (Graduate Council for graduate students). The Associate Vice President will make a reasonable effort to contact the former student and apprise them of the situation and provide a copy of the report, supporting materials, and a cover letter. The committee will review the materials, including any student response, and has the authority to take further actions, including change of course grade(s) or removal of degree(s). If the student believes they have been treated in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner they may address their concern to the University Grievance Committee.