Academic Integrity
All WCC students, are held to the same academic and conduct standards regardless of course format: online, hybrid or traditional. The WCC Academic Integrity and Student Code of Conduct Policies apply to all students.
From the Wayne Community College General Catalog and Student Handbook:
III. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
- Wayne Community College expects all students to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. A violation of academic integrity includes but is not limited to the following:
- Acquiring or attempting to acquire possession of any academic material not intended for students (test information, research papers, notes, etc.)
- Receiving or giving help or attempting to receive or give help during a test
- Submitting papers or reports (that are supposed to be original work) which are not entirely the student’s own, not giving credit for others’ work (plagiarism), etc.
- Permitting one’s academic work to be represented as the work of another in traditional, hybrid, and online courses
- Substituting for another student in order to meet course requirements in traditional, hybrid, and online courses
- Use of cell phones, beepers, walkie-talkies, or other electronic communication devices in the classroom, lab or library setting. All systems of communication are required to be turned off during instructional, lab, or library time. Intentional plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft that violates widely recognized principles of academic integrity. Plagiarism may occur with respect to unpublished as well as published material. Intentional plagiarism is the act of representing the words, ideas, or data of another as one’s own without providing proper attribution to the author through quotation, reference, or footnote. At the discretion of the instructor, any student who violates the academic integrity of the college will be subject to one or more of the following sanctions:
- Student receives a grade of “0” on the assignment or test in traditional, hybrid, and online courses
- Student receives “F” in course
- Student is removed from program if they are enrolled in a limited enrollment program.
- All violations of academic integrity must be reported to the instructor’s immediate supervisor. Students may be subject to the disciplinary procedures and sanctions described in Section V and VI. All students have the right to appeal any decision by the instructor, division dean, or designee according to the grade appeal process.
IV. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
The college reserves the right to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment for students and staff. Therefore, when, in the judgment of college officials, a student’s conduct disrupts or threatens to disrupt the college community, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken to restore and protect the sanctity of the community. Students and student organizations are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with generally accepted standards of scholarship and morality. This expectation applies to all students and student organizations at college-sponsored events whether on-campus or off-campus. The purpose of this code is not to restrict student rights but to protect the rights of individuals in their academic pursuits.
The following regulations set forth rules of conduct which prohibit certain types of student behavior. Violation of one or more of the following regulations may result in one or more of the sanctions described in section VI.
A. Academic Dishonesty – taking or acquiring possession of any academic material (test information, research papers, notes, etc.) from a member of the college staff or student body without permission; receiving or giving help during tests; submitting papers or reports (that are supposed to be original work) that are not entirely the student’s own; not giving credit for others’ work (plagiarism).
B. Theft of, misuse of, or damage to college property; or theft of or damage to property of a member of the college community or a campus visitor on college premises or at college functions; unauthorized entry upon the property of the college or into a college facility or a portion thereof which has been restricted in use and thereby placed off limits; unauthorized presence in a college facility after closing hours.
C. Possession of or use of alcoholic beverages or being in a state of intoxication on the college campus or at college sponsored or supervised functions off campus or in college owned vehicles. Possession, use or distribution of any illegal drugs, except as expressly permitted by law. Any influence which may be attributed to the use of drugs or of alcoholic beverages shall not in any way limit the responsibility of the individual for the consequences of his/her actions.
D. Lewd or indecent conduct including public, physical or verbal action (profanity) or distribution of or wearing clothes bearing obscene or libelous written material.
E. Mental or physical abuse of any person on college premises or at college-sponsored or college supervised functions, including verbal or physical actions which threaten or endanger the health or safety of any such persons or which promote hatred or racial prejudice.
F. Any act, comment, or behavior which is of a sexually suggestive or harassing nature and which in any way interferes with a student’s or an employee’s performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
G. Intentional obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration or disciplinary proceedings, or other college activities, including public service functions, and other duly authorized activities on college premises.
H. Occupation or seizure in any manner of college property, a college facility or any portion thereof for a use inconsistent with prescribed, customary, or authorized use.
I. Participating in or conducting an assembly, demonstration or gathering in a manner which threatens or causes injury to person or property; which interferes with free access to, ingress or egress of college facilities; which is harmful, obstructive, or disruptive to the educational process or institutional functions of the college; remaining at the scene of such an assembly after being asked to leave by a representative of the college staff.
J. Possession or use of a firearm, incendiary device or explosive, except in connection with a college approved activity. This also includes unauthorized use of any instrument designed to inflict serious bodily injury to any person.
K. Setting off a fire alarm or using or tampering with any fire safety equipment, except with reasonable belief in the need for such alarm or equipment.
L. Gambling.
M. Smoking or use of tobacco products on the WCC campus. This includes all buildings, facilities, College vehicles, walkways, out-of-door areas, campus grounds, parking lots and the instructional areas of off-campus college programs and courses.
N. Violation of college regulations regarding the operation and parking of motor vehicles.
O. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of college documents, records, or instruments of identification with intent to deceive. Falsification of admissions documents resulting in incorrect information which could be used in the consideration of admissions to the college, financial aid, or limited admissions programs.
P. Failure to comply with instructions of college officials acting in performance of their duties.
Q . Violation of the terms of disciplinary probation or any college regulation during the period of probation.
R. Fiscal irresponsibility such as failure to pay college-levied fines, failure to repay college-funded loans, or the passing of worthless checks to college officials.
S. Violation of a local, state, or federal criminal law on college premises adversely affecting the college community’s pursuit of its proper educational purposes.
T. Use of cell phones, beepers, walkie-talkies, or other electronic communication devices in the classroom, lab or library setting. All systems of communication are required to be turned off during instructional, lab, or library time.
U. Eating or drinking in classrooms, laboratories, shops and the Library is prohibited. Any exceptions must be requested in writing (WCC Room Reservations Form) and pre-approved by the appropriate person.
V. Computer misconduct including any activity that violates college computer and internet usage policies (e.g., TAUP) including any prohibited internet activities.